NFL Notes: Stallworth suspended indefinitely

Stallworth suspended

NEW YORK -- Cleveland Browns receiver Donte' Stallworth was indefinitely suspended by the NFL yesterday for driving drunk and killing a pedestrian in Miami.

"The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable," Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a letter to Stallworth.

"While the criminal justice system has determined the legal consequences of this incident, it is my responsibility as NFL commissioner to determine appropriate league discipline for your actions, which have caused irreparable harm to the victim and his family, your club, your fellow players and the NFL," Goodell said.

Stallworth, who will not be paid during the suspension, pleaded guilty this month to a DUI manslaughter charge for striking Mario Reyes on March 14. He began serving a 30-day jail sentence Tuesday and has reached a financial settlement with the family of the 59-year-old construction worker.

After jail, Stallworth must serve two years of house arrest and spend eight years on probation. The house arrest provisions would allow him to play.

Goodell said that, eventually, he would contact Stallworth's representatives before determining the length of the suspension.

Saints, Chiefs stay put

The Louisiana Senate has approved an essential part of Gov. Bobby Jindal's deal to keep the New Orleans Saints in the state. The measure, which allows the state to lease office space from Saints owner Tom Benson, was already approved by the House.

Benson plans to buy and redevelop a vacant office complex and mall next to the Louisiana Superdome.

Also yesterday, Missouri officials approved a deal to bring the Kansas City Chiefs training camp back to the state for at least 10 years.

The package from the Missouri Development Finance Board guarantees the Chiefs will train in Missouri over that span in exchange for $25 million in tax credits. If the Chiefs don't follow through, they would owe penalties to the state.

Bucs' QB race heats up

TAMPA, Fla. -- Two months after drafting Josh Freeman as their quarterback of the future, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not ruling out the prospect of him earning the starting job much sooner than expected.

Veterans Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich remain the frontrunners, however, the team's first-round draft pick has shown enough during offseason workouts and this week's minicamp that the Bucs are rethinking their stance on bringing him along slowly.

"I'm going to play the best guy," coach Raheem Morris said, looking forward to the start of training camp on Aug. 1.

Elsewhere

• Holdout wide receiver Brandon Marshall reported to camp -- his own. The Denver Broncos receiver, who skipped the team's mandatory minicamp last weekend in a contract dispute, is holding a two-day youth football camp for 500 kids ages 7-18 at a local high school.

• Pittsburgh signed a trio of draft picks to three-year contracts. The Steelers signed receiver Mike Wallace, defensive end Ra'Shon Harris and center A.Q. Shipley. Six of their nine picks from this year's draft are now under contract.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been awarded long-snapper Jeremy Cain off waivers from the Washington Redskins. -- From Wire Reports