Morning News
and more from the Philadelphia Inquirer.



The Inquirer
• Home page
• Front page
• Local • U.S. & world
• Sports • Business
• Arts / Lifestyles
• Weekend • Q&As



philly.com
• Breaking news all day
• Blogs & podcasts


What Is Early Word?
The Philadelphia Inquirer's experimental online "morning show", which began in Sept. 2005, went on hiatus in the summer of 2006, after a gradual shift to putting more of its content directly on Philly.com.



About the Host
Peter Mucha, husband and father of two, grew up in Cherry Hill and is a lifelong Philly sports fan. He's been writing and editing for The Inquirer for 18 years. His motto (at least for today): "If I'm not brief, give me grief."

View Blogger profile.

Tip on posting comments: After you click a comment link, select "other" or "anonymous" in the pop-up box. That way, you won't be asked for a password.





Early Word logo
The Inquirer's ever-evolving way to start your day. Email. Phone: 215-854-2388.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

March Arrest Part of Reason Saints Unloaded Stallworth? 

AP Photo/Bill FeigThe Eagles "got a hell of deal'' in trading for receiver Donte Stallworth, says ex-teammate and friend Joe Horn. "He is a playmaker and his ability is undeniable," said Eagles d-lineman Darren Howard, who played with Stallworth on the Saints and in college. "Stallworth can flat-out fly," says Ron Jaworski. So would did the Saints let a deep threat go for so little? One factor might be character issues hardly mentioned by these first reports:

In March, Stallworth was jailed in Miami Beach, and his Bentley was towed, after he was charged with "resisting arrest without violence," according to newspaper reports. After being pulled over for expired tags and giving an officer his driver's license, Stallworth allegedly tried to drive off. The report is quoted as saying: "Defendant then stated this was going to cost us a lot of money, and that he would have our jobs. Defendant further stated he knew the chief of police, and that we would be hearing from his lawyer." (Wonder if by "lawyer," Stallworth meant his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.) Could find no word on the case's final outcome.

The Saints, who reportedly tried to deal Stallworth during the draft, were apparently also concerned about erratic performances, nagging injuries and lateness for meetings. According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune: "He would alternate between 140-yard receiving games and zero-catch games, sometimes struggling with dropped balls and/or other mental errors. ... He was chastised on occasion by both coaching staffs for arriving late for meetings. ... The biggest setback, however, came when he missed almost the entire offseason program this year because of arthroscopic shoulder surgery, then missed part of training camp with a minor groin injury. He was unable to adjust quickly enough to Payton's new offense to solidify his place in the starting lineup. "

The article also states, however: "He was not a bad character guy -- in fact, he was one of the most well-liked teammates in the locker room."

"He knows in his heart why he got traded," Horn told the New Orleans paper. "So he has to take that with him and take it to Philadelphia and be a better person, be a better receiver, be better than he was last year." His advice to Stallworth: Tell McNabb "you're going to work. You have to get there and learn that playbook and make plays and let Donovan and Coach Reid know that you're there to take care of business."


Go to: Early Word = Philadelphia Inquirer = philly.com = Lighter Side

Most Recent Posts
• Phinish the Phrase: T.O. will lead Dallas to ...

• For Drunks, We're No. 9!

• Phinish the Phrase 2

• Phinish the Phrase ...

• Google Search Tips

• Better Definition for a Planet?

• And Another Wacky Thing ...

• Weekly Wacky Web Scoreboard: The Animals Are Winning!

• Eagles Poll: You Agree 'This Is a Super Bowl Team'?

• Philly's Treasure Hunter Nears the Jackpot




 Early Word Archives

   •  September 11, 2005
   •  September 18, 2005
   •  September 25, 2005
   •  October 02, 2005
   •  October 09, 2005
   •  October 16, 2005
   •  October 23, 2005
   •  October 30, 2005
   •  November 06, 2005
   •  November 13, 2005
   •  November 20, 2005
   •  November 27, 2005
   •  December 04, 2005
   •  December 11, 2005
   •  December 18, 2005
   •  January 01, 2006
   •  January 08, 2006
   •  January 15, 2006
   •  January 22, 2006
   •  January 29, 2006
   •  February 05, 2006
   •  February 12, 2006
   •  February 19, 2006
   •  February 26, 2006
   •  March 05, 2006
   •  March 12, 2006
   •  March 19, 2006
   •  March 26, 2006
   •  April 02, 2006
   •  April 09, 2006
   •  April 16, 2006
   •  April 23, 2006
   •  April 30, 2006
   •  May 07, 2006
   •  May 14, 2006
   •  May 21, 2006
   •  May 28, 2006
   •  June 04, 2006
   •  June 11, 2006
   •  June 18, 2006
   •  June 25, 2006
   •  July 02, 2006
   •  July 09, 2006
   •  July 16, 2006
   •  July 30, 2006
   •  August 06, 2006
   •  August 13, 2006
   •  August 27, 2006
   •  September 03, 2006
   •  September 10, 2006
   •  September 17, 2006
   •  December 31, 2006
   •  April 29, 2012


Philadelphia
Sports Links

General philly.com sportsInquirer, Daily News columnists610WIPWPENComcast SportsNetNBC10CBS36ABC
Football philly.com footballPhiladelphia EaglesSoul
Basketball philly.com basketballSixers
Ice Hockey philly.com hockeyFlyersPhantoms
Baseball philly.com baseballPhilliesCamden River SharksWilmington Blue RocksReading PhilliesTrenton ThunderAtlantic City SurfScranton-Wilkes Barre Red Barons
More Sports philly.com golfphilly.com collegesphilly.com high schoolsKixxWings