Donte Stallworth signs with the Patriots

[CrazyCowboy]

Source: Stallworth to get $12M guaranteed from PatsESPN.com news services


The Patriots continued their offseason spending spree, adding wide receiver Donte' Stallworth to their 2007 haul, a league source told ESPN.com's Michael Smith.

Stallworth will sign a six-year contract. The deal is believed to be worth a little more that $30 million with close to $12 million guaranteed, the source told Smith.

Stallworth, who played last season in Philadelphia after being acquired from the New Orleans Saints, also was being courted by the Eagles, Dolphins and Titans.


Stallworth, 28, had 38 catches for 725 yards and five touchdowns for the Eagles in 2006. A first-round choice of the Saints in the 2002 draft, he has 233 career receptions for 3,516 yards and 28 touchdowns in 68 games, including 44 starts.

League and union officials are investigating a Philadelphia Inquirer report that Stallworth is in the NFL's substance-abuse program, sources from both parties told ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli.

Citing unnamed sources, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday that Stallworth is a participant in the league program, and that he could be subject to suspension if he suffered a repeat violation of its conditions. The newspaper also reported that a breach of the program's confidentiality agreement can warrant a league fine, and NFL and NFL Players Association officials began to seek out possible sources for the leak on Monday.

The Patriots have been busy this offseason, adding coveted linebacker Adalius Thomas, ranked No. 2 on ESPN.com's list of free agents, as well as Dolphins kick returner/receiver Wes Welker, tight end Kyle Brady and backup running back Sammy Morris.

Senior writer Michael Smith covers the NFL for ESPN.com. Len Pasquarelli contributed to this report.

 

[BlueStar22]

Poor Philly, their top three, Reggie Brown, Hank Baskett, and Jason Avant. Now Kevin *** Curtis is their top priority...lol!

 

[burmafrd]

It looks more and more to me that BB is getting a little desperate to get his 4th SB. The Pats resisted giving big contracts before to FAs; and they stayed away from ANYONE that had a drug issue. Corry Dillon was the only questionable type they went after- and he was never as bad as he was painted anyway. Now with talk that BB even CONSIDERED Moss is telling; before this BB would never have even thought about players like Moss.

 

[lspain1]

It looks more and more to me that BB is getting a little desperate to get his 4th SB. The Pats resisted giving big contracts before to FAs; and they stayed away from ANYONE that had a drug issue. Corry Dillon was the only questionable type they went after- and he was never as bad as he was painted anyway. Now with talk that BB even CONSIDERED Moss is telling; before this BB would never have even thought about players like Moss.

Good points. These FA moves do seem highly out of character for an organizatioin that prided itself on building from within. They are 'feeling the heat' no doubt.

 

[stealth]

he is running out of parcell's players to carry the load.

 

[theebs]

Poor Philly, their top three, Reggie Brown, Hank Baskett, and Jason Avant. Now Kevin *** Curtis is their top priority...lol!

Poor philly? they kicked our tails twice again last year.

You think they will be held back by the wr position? Your crazy.

Make no mistake this is their division.

That is why I believe before we can win anything, we need to win the division. Have a good divisional record and win it and then let everything else fall where it may.

If we dont find a way to beat the eagles we are still not going anywhere

 

[burmafrd]

Brady still has 4-5 years more before he starts slowing down; but several other key players are getting long in the tooth. And since the rest of the league now really has figured out the Cap (some more then others); the Pats no longer have that edge either. The AFC now has at least 2 teams (Baltimore and SD) who are clearly more talented then the Pats are; and a couple (Indy, Pitt, Cinci) who are real close as well. Now that Manning KNOWS he can beat the Pats, that edge is gone, too. BB has got to feel that his window is closing- and he wants that 4th SB real bad.

 

[burmafrd]

Philthy is still the team to beat in this division; BUT its clear that they are more vulnerable now. We have gotten better- they have not. THE ONLY THING I see that they improved on was that Reid suddenly decided to run the ball; but that was with Garcia. It will be INTERESTING to see if they keep it up with McFlab back. Can Westbrook last a whole season as a RB getting 20 carries a game? Can McFlab make it through a full season without injuries? Those are questions the birds have got to be asking themselves.

 

[lspain1]

Brady still has 4-5 years more before he starts slowing down; but several other key players are getting long in the tooth. And since the rest of the league now really has figured out the Cap (some more then others); the Pats no longer have that edge either. The AFC now has at least 2 teams (Baltimore and SD) who are clearly more talented then the Pats are; and a couple (Indy, Pitt, Cinci) who are real close as well. Now that Manning KNOWS he can beat the Pats, that edge is gone, too. BB has got to feel that his window is closing- and he wants that 4th SB real bad.

The free ride the Pats had within their division might narrow some as well. The Jets look much more competitive these days although I'm less certain about the Bills and Phins.

 

[theebs]

Philthy is still the team to beat in this division; BUT its clear that they are more vulnerable now. We have gotten better- they have not. THE ONLY THING I see that they improved on was that Reid suddenly decided to run the ball; but that was with Garcia. It will be INTERESTING to see if they keep it up with McFlab back. Can Westbrook last a whole season as a RB getting 20 carries a game? Can McFlab make it through a full season without injuries? Those are questions the birds have got to be asking themselves.

exactly where did they need to get better? they have a great offensive line, and elite qb and running back and versatile and smart wr.

They will bring in guys to fix their needs at say..lb in the draft.

our season might come down to can we beat philly or cant we?

 

[burmafrd]

The Pats division was pretty much a no show for the last few years with the exception of the Jets now and then. I really question if the Jets have enough pieces now to really challenge; but we shall see. Bills and Phins will be better now but not challengers- THOUGH they will give the Pats tougher games now and that will be a factor in wearing them down.

 

[burmafrd]

have to argue about the Elite QB- as far as I am concerned there are only 3 in the NFL - Brady, Manning and probably Palmer. McFlab MIGHT be in the next tier- but his choking (puking) knocks him down. Also I question their WRs; not that great. And their secondary is not what it was claimed to be. And their LBS are a weakness.

 

[lspain1]

exactly where did they need to get better? they have a great offensive line, and elite qb and running back and versatile and smart wr.

They will bring in guys to fix their needs at say..lb in the draft.

our season might come down to can we beat philly or cant we?

This is an excellent subject for its own thread...and I agree with your points. The Cowboys were consistently outcoached every time we played them as well.

 

[Dodger12]

This is an excellent subject for its own thread...and I agree with your points. The Cowboys were consistently outcoached every time we played them as well.

Where do people come up with this?

 

[burmafrd]

critical mismatches happened in our first game last year in that Watkins was fried on long passes and that beat us. Second game we just flat out sucked.
Outcoached in the first game is at least arguable; second game we just laid down. I do not see where we have been consistently out coached; they were good at pinpointing our weaknesses- and they happended to be ones that we could not do much about. With our pass rush so weak, we were toast once they went after our secondary weakness.

 

[hardcorebob]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2794615

The Patriots continued their offseason spending spree, adding wide receiver Donte' Stallworth to their 2007 haul, a league source told ESPN.com's Michael Smith.

Top free agents

StallworthWide reciever Donte' Stallworth is No. 9 on ESPN.com's list of the top NFL free agents on the market. Story

• Scouting report

Stallworth will sign a six-year contract. The deal is believed to be worth a little more that $30 million with close to $12 million guaranteed, the source told Smith.

Stallworth, who played last season in Philadelphia after being acquired from the New Orleans Saints, also was being courted by the Eagles, Dolphins and Titans.


Stallworth, 28, had 38 catches for 725 yards and five touchdowns for the Eagles in 2006. A first-round choice of the Saints in the 2002 draft, he has 233 career receptions for 3,516 yards and 28 touchdowns in 68 games, including 44 starts.

League and union officials are investigating a Philadelphia Inquirer report that Stallworth is in the NFL's substance-abuse program, sources from both parties told ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli.

Citing unnamed sources, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday that Stallworth is a participant in the league program, and that he could be subject to suspension if he suffered a repeat violation of its conditions. The newspaper also reported that a breach of the program's confidentiality agreement can warrant a league fine, and NFL and NFL Players Association officials began to seek out possible sources for the leak on Monday.

The Patriots have been busy this offseason, adding coveted linebacker Adalius Thomas, ranked No. 2 on ESPN.com's list of free agents, as well as Dolphins kick returner/receiver Wes Welker, tight end Kyle Brady and backup running back Sammy Morris.

Senior writer Michael Smith covers the NFL for ESPN.com. Len Pasquarelli contributed to this report.

 

[burmafrd]

First time BB has been willing to get a druggie. Smacks of desperation to me.

 

[stealth]

exactly where did they need to get better? they have a great offensive line, and elite qb and running back and versatile and smart wr.

They will bring in guys to fix their needs at say..lb in the draft.

our season might come down to can we beat philly or cant we?

wait who is the WR you are talking about?

 

[Dodger12]

critical mismatches happened in our first game last year in that Watkins was fried on long passes and that beat us. Second game we just flat out sucked.
Outcoached in the first game is at least arguable; second game we just laid down. I do not see where we have been consistently out coached; they were good at pinpointing our weaknesses- and they happended to be ones that we could not do much about. With our pass rush so weak, we were toast once they went after our secondary weakness.

Agreed. Because a player took the wrong angle, bit on the pump fake and was beat deep, or was out of position, doesn't mean we were outcoached. We have a habbit of blaming coaching for poor play, as if Wade Phillips will miraculously make James or Watkins better in coverage. I'm glad we'll be more agressive this season, but with that we will be giving up big plays.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I'm glad we'll be more agressive this season, but with that we will be giving up big plays.

We didn't last year?