The way the New England Patriots are going about the off season so far, I am beginning to think someone either has a free agency sale, a Groupon or maybe they really are “free”.
On Monday afternoon Bill Belichick proved once again he is either a mastermind or a nutcase by signing two more free agents. First he brings back WR Donte’ Stallworth, once a target of Tom Brady, who was with the Patriots in the unbeaten season of 2007.
Stallworth, who since leaving New England, hasn’t been the same guy he was in previous Foxboro days. He first signed with Cleveland, then coached by Eric Mangini, in 2008. Then in the off season in Miami FL he hit and killed a pedestrian with his car while he was intoxicated. He spent 30 days in jail, 2 years of house arrest and 1,000 hours of community service. He also received 8 years probation, a lifetime suspension of his Florida drivers’ license. Stallworth was also suspended for the 2009 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and in order to avoid a civil trial he paid the family a lump sum monetary settlement.
After he was reinstated to the NFL he worked off one-year contracts with the Baltimore Ravens in 2010 and with the Washington Redskins in 2011. Prior to coming to New England, the former Tennessee Volunteer was a first round draft pick (13th overall) of the New Orleans Saints in the 2002 NFL Draft. After 4 seasons in the Big Easy he was traded in August 2006 to Philadelphia.
The team also picked up former Oakland Raider and Seattle Seahawk offensive lineman Robert Gallery.
Gallery, who plays tackle and guard, was the first round pick (2nd overall) of the Oakland Raiders in the 2004 NFL Draft out of Iowa. After seven seasons in Oakland, he left as a free agent in 2011 for a 3-year deal in Seattle but he was released just days before signing with New England.
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Photo credit: IndyStar.com
