Want proof that money can get you out of any trouble? Look no further that the 30 day jail sentence of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth for a DUI manslaughter that killed a Florida crane operator in March, 2009.

Stallworth, 28, pleaded guilty to killing Mario Reyes while under the influence of alcohol. In a plea agreement with prosecutors, he will receive only 30 days in jail, must undergo drug and alcohol testing, will have a lifetime driver’s license suspension and must perform 1,000 hours of community service.

How did Stallworth, who was looking at a 15 year sentence, receive only 30 days? He paid off the family!

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle cited that the financial settlement with the family was one factor for the plea agreement. She also agreed with Stallworth’s attorney that Stallworth stopped immediately after the accident, called 911 and submitted to roadside alcohol testing.

“For all of these reasons, a just resolution of this case has been reached,” Rundle said.

Believe it or not, no one from the Reyes family attended the hearing. Their attorney, Rodolfo Suarez, read a statement saying the family wants to “bring closure to this emotional and tragic event.”

After a night drinking at a bar in Miami Beach’s Fountainebleau hotel, Stallworth hit Reyes, who was rushing to catch a bus after finishing his shift around 7:15 a.m.

Stallworth’s blood-alcohol level was .126 after the crash, well above Florida’s .08 limit.

The night before he hit Reyes he earned a $4.5 million roster bonus from the Cleveland Browns.

So far the Cleveland Browns have no comment on the sentence. It will be interesting to see if the NFL and/or the Browns take action against him.

So life will go on for Donte Stallworth but not for Mario Reyes. I guess nobody cares!

source: sports.yahoo.com

The New York Jets made a bold move in signing rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez to the biggest contract in franchise history. The Jets are betting that Sanchez can lead the Jets to their first Super Bowl in 50 years.

Sanchez, drafted fifth overall, signed a 5 year deal worth $50 million. The deal guarantees Sanchez $28 million with incentives that could reach more than $60 million.

The Jets huge investment is the writing to on the wall for Kellen Clemens, the “other” Jets QB. Clemens was expected to start before Mark Sanchez was signed.

“For me, this is the tip of the iceberg,” Sanchez said yesterday. “There is so much more I want to accomplish. This doesn’t assume that you’re going to be successful. It’s going to take a lot of hard work.”

If the Jets had any reservations about signing a rookie QB to such a large contract, they only needed to look at Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, the first pick in 2008, who let Atlanta to the playoffs.

Hopefully the signing of a new QB, combined with a new head coach, will mark a new beginning for the post-Mangini Jets.