Something just doesn't rub me the right way concerning the glaring differences between Michael Vick's and Dante Stallworth's circumstances. Michael Vick, of course, dealt with Federal and State charges but a good portion of that was served concurrently. Stallworth, on the other hand, dealt with the State of Florida, which is one of the most aggresive criminal law states in the land.
Vick was reported to have killed several dogs. No telling how many were killed outside of his hands. Usually, when dogs lose a fight, they are killed immediately following the fight. I got that from several sources straight from the street.
In the end however, I'm having a hard time reasoning how a man who actually killed a human being receives less legal penalties, and still maintains his place on the Cleveland Brown's roster. How does this work?
I'm not trying to place more emphasis on human life than dogs but this blog HAS to go that direction. My brother and I talked about this situation, we felt as if Stallworth should have received the treatment that Vick did and vice versa.
A hard working 57 year old man was killed at the price of a man who was inebriated way beyond the legal limit. Meanwhile, the NFL, drills players over and over again on these kinds of issues. Simply put, Stallworth getting a taxi would have saved a man's life.
But I don't see the protestors in Stallworth's situation. I don't see the outrage on how Florida's legal system smacked him on the hand. Yes, a 30 day sentence is a smack on the hand. Heck, he only did one day anyway.
"Stallworth was given a 30-day jail sentence and reached an undisclosed financial settlement with Reyes’ family. Besides jail time, Stallworth’s sentence included two years of house arrest, eight years of probation and other restrictions." -AP
I understand that there was no true mens rea with Stallworth. In other words, he didn't intend on killing the victim. Vick on the other hand had a solid mens rea and dogs died because of it. But it's sad we live in a time where people defend dogs over human life. Miami should have been outraged by Stallworth's actions. The Browns should have cut him from the roster. At what point do we take a stand and say, you need to be punished so you don't do this again?
Instead, Stallworth is back at home and can already leave the house to train for his return to the game. For the most part, he's living comfortable again, something Vick didn't have an option on. I can't put my finger on it, but these circumstances smells like injustice to me. Are you catching the same whiff?
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