Donte' Stallworth

[General_Failure]

He's probably in there visiting the coach's kids.

[PhillyGirl]

Boston's local NBC station says the Patriots are talking to Stallworth

They're also looking at Randy Moss.

MOSS TO PATS TALK INCREASES

We've mentioned a couple of times over the past few days that the New England Patriots are an under-the-radar candidate for Raiders receiver Randy Moss.

Well, they were under the radar.

John Tomase of the Boston Herald confirms that the Pats have shown interest in acquiring Moss.  Per Tomase, coach Bill Belichick has "long been enamored" with Moss and would welcome the opportunity to bring him to New England at the right price.

The key phrase here is "at the right price."  Under his current deal, Moss is scheduled to earn $9.75 million in 2007 and $11.25 million in 2008.  And with his current abilities tough to gauge through the haze of general crappiness that has been the Oakland offense of late, there's no way that the Patriots could justify devoting nearly eight figures of cap space to him.

The alternative is to convert as much of his salary as possible to a signing bonus, which would reduce the cap number but at the same time limit the team's options if he comes into camp and Belichick decides that he simply doesn't have it anymore.  Though his salary is high, it can all be avoided if he's cut before the start of the regular season.

And don't rule out the possibility that the Pats are merely faking interest in Moss.  Such an approach might prompt a division rival (such as the Dolphins) to jump into the bidding and give up too much to get him.  Likewise, a belief that the Pats want Moss could drive down the price tag for any other free-agent receivers in which they might be interested.

Our gut feeling on this one?  If the Patriots could get him through a trade and a contract that is fair, they'd do it.  For proof of it, look no further than the depth chart at the position, which currently has the names "Reche Caldwell" and "Jabar Gaffney" at the top of the list.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

That would ruin my brilliant plan to take Jabar in the 3rd round of this year's fantasy draft!

[ice grillin you]

if nothing else this stallworth news may certainly give the front office a pass in this situation...its very possible theyve known of this violation (if there was one) for months but arent allowed to say anything...thus the lack of energy towards resigning him

[PhillyGirl]

if nothing else this stallworth news may certainly give the front office a pass in this situation...its very possible theyve known of this violation (if there was one) for months but arent allowed to say anything...thus the lack of energy towards resigning him

The FO is making this whole thing up to cover their asses in not re-signing him.

[Seabiscuit36]

they probably leaked it 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

That doesn't mean he's going to make any fewer plays than he would next year for another team regardless.

He probably was into weed when he first came into the NFL.  The guy was what... 19 years old?  barely 20?  As soon as you enter the NFL's program, you're never officially out, no matter how long you stay clean.

This is bullshtein.

[ice grillin you]

the problem isnt that he got busted its that his margin for error is now zero...and as you said youre never out of it and hes one slip up from a 4 game johnson...now i personally would still take a chance and sign him but this certainly gives the eagles an understandable out...tho more likely than not they werent gonna sign him regardless

[dis12]

does Rosendick have any clients that aren't "trouble"?

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

tho more likely than not they werent gonna sign him regardless

It was a certainty in the first place.

[BigEd76]

PFT last Wednesday:

FREE AGENT IS IN "THE PROGRAM"

We've caught wind over the past few days of a member of the coming free-agent class who is currently within the NFL's substance-abuse program.

We know who the player is, and we won't be disclosing it here.  Though the information is confidential, teams can get access to the information if they are sniffing around a given player.

[Sgt PSN]

So does anyone actually know for a fact if Stallworth ever was put in the program, and why?  I don't ever recall hearing anything bad about him since he came in the league. 

Also, assuming this is something that goes back to his days in New Orleans, wouldn't the Eagles have known about it then as well?  Wouldn't NO be obligated to disclose that info prior to making the trade?  Point is, if the Eagles knew about this and still traded for him, then it should not be a factor in them deciding for or against re-signing him either. 

[SD_Eagle5]

Brookover article

[dis12]

Another receiver in whom the Patriots reportedly are interested, Donte' Stallworth of the Eagles, is reportedly in the substance abuse program.

Per Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the specific level of the program currently occupied by Stallworth is unclear.  Unlike the steroids policy, which mandates a suspension for a first offense, a player is not immediately suspended for violation of the substance abuse policy.  As a result, and in light of the high degree of confidentiality that sometimes applies to the player's status in the program, it's often difficult if not impossible to find out where a player falls within the spectrum of potential levels and penalties before a four-game suspension is imposed.

Stallworth's status in the program likely is a factor in the gap we recently reported between what Stallworth wants and what interested teams are willing to pay.

With that said, former Titans running back Travis Henry is getting plenty of attention in free agency, even though he was suspended for four games in 2005 for violation of the substance abuse policy.  And the Titans traded for him when they knew (or should have known) that he was one visit to Rain Man's house in Georgia away from a one-year suspension.

Bottom line -- if a guy can play, he'll get an opportunity.  For Stallworth, the bigger issue might be the perception that his hamstrings are tighter than guitar strings.

[SD_Eagle5]

Schefter's reporting Donte's on his way to visit New England, and that that's his #1 choice. If he can't get a deal worked out there, his next stop will be Tennessee.