Here is the problem that I have:

I have read everywhere, that most everyone, media or fans, called Stallworth a murderer that “bought” a disgraceful sentence by a corrupt legal system only because he was a “rich, famous” person”. Some went as far as asking for a life sentence. So, in order to hear those arguments I asked a very simple, direct question asking for simple and direct answer.

Everyone had an opinion but never in the esence of my question which was to place oneself in relationship to Reyes family ( or your own) and decide:

IS 4-5 YEARS JAIL TIME FOR STALLWORTH MORE IMPORTANT THAN FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR MY FAMILY?

For the life of me I really dont see why it’s so difficult to understand.

A very interesting point just now mentioned in this article by Stallworht ’s atty. was that Goodell must not make an example of his client or else “the commissioner and the NFL” has a problem.

I mentioned in one of my comments a few days ago that I felt Stallworth was well represented and that Goodell can not be stupid enough to overplay his hand and assume the role of Judge and Executioner.
I have a feeling if he does, fireworks afe going to fly !!!!

If that happens, everyone will know the facts and I’m convinced Stallworth was not the murderer that every one is saying and that the Reyes family was fortunante in dealing with someone like Stallworth. They made the absolutely right decision in accepting full RESTITUTION (settlement) allowing everyone to put this horrible ACCIDENT behind.

Fonzie, you just seem to be looking for a particular answer. ANd noone can really give you one. It’s all speculation.

I read it. It’s mostly a rear-covering piece for the NFL as it stands now, I’m afraid.

They do mention a couple of issues arising from the Miami Herald, and I, for one, will go back and search this case in the Herald before I believe anything I read in NFL.com, which has a clear stake in all this.

If, in fact, Reyes dashed across a high-traffic street (I’ve seen guys killed doing just that on Broadway and Queens Blvd., yes) then that is a horrible, tragic accident caused by poor judgment, and a mandatory manslaughter charge might be negotiated downwards. But the fact that it’s a DUI manslaughter charge means we may never know how much more Stallworth may have been able to react if he’d had his wits about him at that moment. And that fact changes everything in the case and raises the stakes immensely. This is why the issues within those negotiation sessions become so important.

Thanks for sending the link along, though.

It’s not an issue of what I would do in that spot; I’ve just explained what I think I would most likely do if shoved into the horrible string of events the Reyes family faced.

The wording in your reply shows clearly what you would do, sir, what your choice would be. I cannot fault you for that. It is the most intensely intimate decision each of us would be forced to confront. You clearly have made your decision for you and your family for that possible situation. Fine.

This is the only real division between your point and mine:
You state, “Knowing a very limited amount of facts, I assume the Reyes family considered all the information and advice available to them and decided that it was in the best interest of the family as a whole, to accept the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ settlement as PART of restitution.”

I cannot make those same level of assumptions because I also know a limited amount of facts here.

There is just no way for either of us to know what went on within those deliberations and all the issues that were on the table. My only disagreement with your position is the extreme amount of assumption you need to come to it. I refuse to leap to fact from conjecture.

Unfortunately, my life experiences have taught me each of the questions I raised in my earlier post. It’s not about the answers (I have none); it’s about the questions (thankfully, I have plenty).

Just as with any case before the law (and I’ve been on a half dozen juries over the years and involved with a number of legal matters), ANY of the following could possibly be afoot:

Stallworth is an Angel/Devil/Just a Victim here.
The Reyes family could be Angels/Devils/Just Victims here.
The Reyes’ lawyers could be Angels/Devils/Just doing their best here.
The Florida courts could be Angels/Devils/Just doing their best here.

Any of these could be the truth. From the truth, justice springs.

But for now, we have no solidly reported facts (that I have seen) outside of the sports pages or quick blurbs on CNN/FOX upon which to begin to determine what exactly happened either on that street or in those negotiations between the defense and the prosecution on which to base a determination. And since this will be a negotiated settlement, we can assume that the case will be locked and we will never know what transpired in those rooms.

It’s the job of good reporting to dig down into all of these possibilities to help the community learn which of the scenarios here are correct.

I admire your passion in this, my friend, but I just do not see the factual basis that’s necessary to support it.

If you guys want an objective, not a blowhard view that you get from most media and fans, sensitive to the facts, report check this site:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d810ef405&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true

First, thank you for having the will and conviction to anwer my question point blanc.

However your nobleness and elequence does not relate to the real world, if only from my simple perspective. Knowing a very limited amount of facts, I assume the Reyes family considered all the infomation and advice available to them and decided that it was in the best interest of the family as a whole, to accept the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ setlement as PART of restitution.

To insinuate that there is possible “malfeasance perpetrated by the family”" in this settlement is an assumption on you part that is not only arrogant but downright misleading.

Saying that, it appears from the facts that the Reyes are a common hard working family that needs all the effort possible from everyone within to support themselves. In other words, MR Reyes, a contruction worker on the night shift, was running to catch a bus tells me that this family must work hard to meet their DAILY needs.

So tell me again, Sir, how you would deprive your family of the only chance they may EVER have of living a common life independent of having to possibly depend on others for support, or how they intend to pay for school if their daughter decides to become a professional.

Tell me again, how you will deny your family this so that ten years from today you may honor your brother by sending a man to jail for 4-5 years for an accident.

Sorry Mike and I hope your profession is as a writer and not in the social field..

1) in answer to the original question, Corey: No. I do not want Stallworth on the Jets. Ever.

2) the legal issues. this breaks down into many sub-issues.

One, the coverage of this story from a legal perspective has been close to non-existent. I have only seen hyperbolic sensationalism from the sports media, which is singularly and totally unqualified to cover such a story (Sorry, Bassett, but this belongs to the city, crime or legal desks, with maybe a sidebar on the sports pages). So, I for one, will offer no opinion on what actually transpired in Florida in that courthouse (other than the quick snark I left on an earlier post which I now regret).

The next sub-issue is the apparent deal made with the family to bring “closure” to “protect” the victim’s 15-yr.-old daughter. That’s an immediate red flag. I have seen too much malfeasance in my life, perpetrated by adults, shielded by “protecting the child.” My question here would be: What will that young woman want in-hand when she is in her twenties or in her forties, looks back upon the loss of her father, and is now in a position to make up her own mind — what’s left of some cash her family got years ago, or the solace from knowing that “justice” had somehow been done? It appears the daughter may be a pawn — and the worst victim — in this whole proceeding.

Another factor not being reported, but which quickly comes to mind, is the family’s legal team and their advice to the family. Could it be that their legal advice was that this money deal was the best they would get? Did they think that the family would lose in court, due to evidence problems, a corrupt system, or money/celebrity justice or any of a hundred other legal roadblocks? Did they see a greater payday for the firm if they took this settlement? T’were me, I would hope I’d fire my lawyer and try as many others as I had to, either to find one who’d protect ME in this case, or to find out that every lawyer in this jurisdiction agrees that, yes in THIS scenario, this is the BEST I’m going to get out of it, so take it and run.

Lastly, to Fonzie’s supremely silly challenge:

I see no one else is answering Fonzie’s challenge directly –
“I would like to know anyone in Reyes position that would NOT have taken the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ !!!!!!” — so I will.

First, I apologize for saying this, Fonzie, but this is a truly ludicrous set up you’ve posted here. Small, petty and coarse. But to humor your concept, let me answer your challenge:

No, I would NOT have taken the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, as you so deftly put it. My family means more to me than that. I have only a brother left. What if he were to be run down by “you” — someone with public celebrity (and/or money) of some type? Who was driving impaired in some way? Meaning that the event may have been avoidable in some way? What would I do? My answer to you, sir, is that my brother has no monetary value (nor do any of the rest of us, really). But his life has incalculable value to the world he inhabits. His life cannot be reduced to your ripping a number of very large bills off that gigantic wad in your pocket. I do not trade my brother’s life for a chance to pay off some bills, or take a vacation or buy some oh-so-cool new toys for the house. You take my brother, I take from you in equally large measure as the law of the land dictates. And I would push forever to see that it does dictate. Because my brother is forever.

Then, years from today, when my heart breaks open yet again upon missing my brother, I would sit with the solace that you ended up just as great a victim in that event — so that I do not forever bear an uneven burden of this tragedy and loss, while you move on to re-establish your life of celebrity and advantage. So that justice, at least, was served. And THAT, my friend, is what allows the healing process to advance.

Could you please quote the post where I inferred that the Reyes family was bought? Because that certainly wasn’t my intention. This is the only place where I implied what the Reyes’ might have been thinking:

“So I think the Reyes family did a lot for Stallworth out of the kindness of their hearts and, perhaps, a desire to get the episode of their lives closed asap.”

Like I said a couple of times. It’s impossible to know what one would do in that situation so what we’re doing here is speculation. And I’m speculating based on my own biases as you are also.

Regardless of what is or isn’t guaranteed, the fact remains that you don’t have to choose between jail time and getting compensated.

They’re NOT mually exclusive. You always have the right to sue for damages in civil court. To win , and how much, is a different matter and a different case. I’m not a lawyer but I can tell you from personal experience nothing is guarenteed in the civil suit. Look at Golmans case Vs. OJ. I don’t think they have gotten 1/4 of what they thought they would get, specially with Florida Laws.

The Reyes family ,I am sure, were very well informed by all involved and all investigation and accepted what they felt, and advised, was the best pssible way to settle this. I’m sure they were very well compensated (for lack of a better word) by Stallworth and they waved the right to civil court.

How can anyone, with a comon sense of decency, infer the Reyes family or the DA for that matter, were bought by Stallworths $$$$$. It would have been absurd for the Reyes not to have thought of their familys future, specially now without their father to share their burden, to forgo an absolute guarantee in order to make an “example” by having Stallwoth serve 4-5 years in jail or even worse POSSIBLY less, much less jailt time !!!

I would like to know anyone in Reyes position that would NOT have taken the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ !!!!!!