Only shock will be if Stallworth plays in '09
Remember, the Rams' Leonard Little was suspended eight games when he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in a 1998 accident -- and that was under a more lenient commissioner. Roger Goodell is a guy who sat down "Pacman" Jones one season for a series of run-ins, even though he never was never found guilty, and that should serve as a guide here.
Goodell is all about cleaning up this league -- or, at least, trying to clean it up -- and there's no way he goes soft on Stallworth. Stallworth's attorney said the wide receiver "acted like a man" in stopping after hitting a pedestrian "and cooperated fully." Great. He still killed somebody while driving drunk. Now he suffers the consequences. He got off easy with a 30-day jail sentence only because he entered into a plea agreement, but Goodell won't be as forgiving. There are no deals with the commissioner.
I say Stallworth is gone for this season, and that's not exactly going out on a limb. As Goodell pointed out, Stallworth's conduct was "inexcusable," and his actions caused "irrepable harm to the victim and his family," as well as the NFL. The hammer comes next. Donte' Stallworth doesn't play this year.
Ex-Bills QB Losman should consider UFL
Two years ago Losman was the starting quarterback for Buffalo. Now he can't find a job. It doesn't make sense. I don't know what's killing the guy in terms of reputation, but I do know how he restores the faith of the NFL: He goes somewhere else to play.
The perfect spot is the UFL, where he will have six games to prove he's better than most of the backups in the NFL. The perfect coach would be Las Vegas' Jim Fassel, because he's been a successful mentor for young quarterbacks. I suggest he consider drafting Losman. I don't know if the UFL is interested in the former Bills' quarterback, but it should be. I also don't know if Losman would consider the new league, but he should. One could help the other.
Let's hear it for Jets' Ryan
UFL could make it
Rams' Devaney reached out to Vick
Billy Devaney visited Vick in prison roughly 5-6 months ago but not to gauge his interest in playing football again; he did it, as he said, for "purely humanitarian reasons." Devaney, who worked with Vick while the two were in Atlanta, checked with Falcons' owner Arthur Blank before making the trip to see if it was OK. Once Blank gave his permission Devaney went to see the quarterback, spending two hours with him just to see how he was doing. "It wasn't an under-the-covers type of deal," said Devaney. "I went with Arthur's blessing. He asked about a couple of players and wanted me to say, 'Hello.' It wasn't anything like the Michael trying to do anything with the Rams."
The Rams have made it clear they are not interested in signing Vick if and when he is released by Atlanta, and they are not alone. At last week's NFL owners' meetings I couldn't find one team that expresed interest in taking a flyer on the guy. I do, however, give Devaney credit for doing what he thinks is right, which is to re-connect with a player he once knew, who once carried the club for which Devaney worked and who might have wanted to see a familiar face. That he spent two hours with Devaney seems to be proof that Vick not only appreciated the GM's concern but enjoyed his company.
McDaniels on Rocky Mountain high
Bills still hot for Tinoisamoa
Taylor returns to Miami for one reason
Jason Taylor's return to the Miami Dolphins had nothing to do with money. "It was all about family," agent Gary Wichard said. And so it was. Though there was talk about Taylor going to New England the former All-Pro defensive end really wasn't all that interested in the Patriots or anyone else. If the Dolphins hadn't agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal Taylor probably would have retired. In fact, I would have banked on it. Taylor returns after one year away from the Dolphins, and he returns as someone determined to prove something -- basically that he still has something left. Give Taylor credit: He walked away from a big day in Washington to take less money ... a lot less money ... and stay close to his family.
Kuharich gone in K.C.; three survive purge
Three months ago, the Detroit Lions asked Kansas City for permission to speak to vice president of player personnel Bill Kuharich. Chiefs' GM Scott Pioli denied the request. Fair enough ... if you plan to keep a guy. Pioli did not. He has fired Kuharich and all but three members of the team's scouting department in a purge that had been expected. According to league sources, the three who survived are Ray Farmer, director of pro personnel; Willie Davis and Terry Delp, both area scouts. Kuharich was notified of his dismissal Wednesday morning. His exit has been expected after Carl Peterson stepped down as team president and Pioli took over. One of Piolo's first acts was to dismiss coach Herman Edwards, whom Peterson had hired. As with the Kuharich situation, Pioli waited before acting -- with Edwards fired over three weeks after the season's end. Edwards was 2-14 last season and had lost 23 of his last 25 starts, but the Chiefs were a rebuilding team -- with young and inexperienced starters everywhere, including at quarterback where they were forced to go with a third-stringer for most of the season. Still, they were competitive and showed signs of achieving respectability soon. If that happens, it will happen on Pioli's watch. In dismissing Kuharich and others, he dismantled a personnel department that generally was credited with having the best draft a year ago and with putting into place the foundation of an ambitious rebuilding movement. Nevertheless, he did not have Kuharich involved in this year's draft decisions. Now, Kuharich's future is uncertain. Detroit went ahead and hired James Harris, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars, as the team's senior personnel executive, a position for which Kuharich presumably would have been auditioned.
Maybe you don't want to be like Mike
Stafford move a no-brainer
Rams considering Curry
Eagles not in Gonzalez talks
Contrary to what you may have heard, the Philadelphia Eagles were not inovlved in serious discussions to acquire Tony Gonzalez. That doesn't mean the Eagles didn't talk to Kansas City. They did. But the Chiefs called them, asking for a second-round draft pick in exchange for Gonzalez. The Eagles said they weren't interested. And that was it. Period.
Harvin's foot injury might be a concern
If it's Draft Week then somebody must be a concern, and that somebody is Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin. When I spoke to a scout whose team was interested, I asked about character issues. Yes, he said, it's something you consider. But it's not the biggest issue with the guy? So what is? "He has a medical," he said. That means an injury, and with Harvin it's a bone in his foot that might need repair, he said. That was confirmed by another club that has an interest in the wide receiver. One guy told me that Harvin could play with it or could have it repaired with a metal plate. If he requires surgery, he said, he was told it would be eight weeks before Harvin is ready. That could knock Harvin down the board, though some clubs I contacted on Thursday said they didn't think it was a concern. Two teams that are interested think it is, and they won't make a decision on the guy until Saturday.
Jets-Jags deal would be ideal
If there's a trade that should happen it's the New York Jets moving up to the eighth spot (Jacksonville) to take quarterback Mark Sanchez ... provided, of course, that Sanchez is there. It will cost them. One club I spoke with said that Jags' GM Gene Smith wanted next year's No. 1 in addition to this year's, and the price might be steeper for the Jets. In fact, I would guarantee it. They need a quarterback. They like Sanchez. They want to move up. It makes too much sense. Plus, one of the players Jacksonville is interested in is running back Chris "Beanie" Wells, and he should be there at 17. As I said, it makes too much sense not to happen.