NFL Notebook

Stallworth hits, kills pedestrian

STALLWORTH No charges filed

Associated Press / March 15, 2009

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Former Patriots wide receiver Donte' Stallworth hit and killed a pedestrian with his Bentley yesterday morning on a busy causeway linking Miami and Miami Beach, police said.

Stallworth was headed toward the beach when he hit Mario Reyes, 59, around 7 a.m., said Miami Beach police spokesman Juan Sanchez. Reyes was taken to a nearby trauma center, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later. Sanchez was near a crosswalk, but it was not clear whether he was crossing legally.

Stallworth, 28, was cooperating and no charges have been filed, Sanchez said. Officers drew blood to test for drugs or alcohol, which is routine. Sanchez said test results could take up to three weeks. Police would not say where Stallworth was coming from or where he was headed.

Miami-Dade County property records show Stallworth owns two condos in a building on Biscayne Boulevard in Miami not far from the causeway and another condo in a different building in Miami.

Stallworth signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns before last season but hardly played because of a nagging hamstring injury. He was due a $4.75 million signing bonus Friday.

Lions get Peterson

Detroit acquired Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson from Seattle for defensive tackle Cory Redding and a fifth-round pick in next month's draft. The Seahawks gave Peterson a $54 million, seven-year contract three years ago after their Super Bowl appearance. Peterson became an expensive asset because linebacker Leroy Hill got $8.4 million guaranteed this year with a franchise tag and Lofa Tatupu signed a $42 million contract a year ago. Seattle's only player in the Pro Bowl, Peterson was dealt after a five-sack, 83-tackle season. The Lions gave Redding a seven-year contract worth nearly $50 million two years ago when they slapped the franchise tag on him after he had a career-high eight sacks . . . The New York Jets bolstered their defensive line with a pair of signings. First, they agreed to terms with backup end Marques Douglas, according to a person familiar with the contract. He is the third former Raven to follow coach Rex Ryan from Baltimore. Later, they inked former Seattle tackle Howard Green to a one-year deal, said agent Albert Elias.

Jones does time

Jacksonville wide receiver Matt Jones was released a day early from a weeklong stay in jail for drinking beer in violation of his plea agreement for a drug charge. The sheriff's department said Judge Mary Ann Gunn issued an order Friday saying Jones could leave the lockup in Fayetteville, Ark., yesterday. Jones awaits an April 13 court appearance. At a hearing last Monday, Gunn ordered Jones to stay in jail until today, after he asked to be locked up rather than spend six weeks in a residential treatment facility. Jones failed a drug and alcohol screening, explaining to Gunn last Monday he drank beer while playing golf with friends the week before.