Ex-Eagle Stallworth draws suspension

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Donté Stallworth indefinitely, two days after the Cleveland Browns wide receiver began a 30-day jail sentence for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk in Miami.

In a letter yesterday to Stallworth, Goodell said that the player's actions caused "irreparable harm." He will not be paid while suspended.

Stallworth, who played for the Eagles in 2006, pleaded guilty 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, the 28-year-old Stallworth must serve two years of house arrest and spend eight years on probation. The house-arrest provisions would allow him to play football.

"The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable," Goodell wrote.

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

After a night of drinking at a bar in Miami Beach's Fountainebleau hotel, police said, Stallworth hit Reyes, who was rushing to catch a bus after finishing work about 7:15 a.m. Stallworth told police he flashed his lights in an attempt to warn Reyes, who was not in a crosswalk.

Stallworth had a blood-alcohol level well above Florida's legal limit. He stopped after the crash and reported the accident. Police estimated Stallworth was driving about 50 m.p.h. in a 40-m.p.h. zone.

Steelers sign Shipley. Pittsburgh signed former Penn State center A.Q. Shipley, who was selected in the seventh round, and two other draft picks to three-year contracts.

The Steelers also signed receiver Mike Wallace, a third-round pick out of Mississippi; and defensive end Ra'Shon Harris, a sixth-round selection out of Oregon.

Jaguars awarded Cain. Jacksonville has been awarded long-snapper Jeremy Cain off waivers from the Washington Redskins.

Cain, originally signed as an undrafted rookie linebacker by Chicago in 2004, played in 17 games with the Bears and Tennessee Titans.

Leaf arrest. Ryan Leaf's attorney said the former NFL quarterback is back in West Texas and plans to surrender today on burglary and drug-related charges.

Bill Kelly said he was in court all day yesterday and couldn't get Leaf processed to face one count of burglary and eight drug-related counts associated with the painkiller Hydrocodone.

Leaf was indicted in May in Canyon, Texas, where he coached quarterbacks at West Texas A&M. He was arrested Wednesday in Washington State while returning from Canada and told authorities he planned to fly to Texas that night after posting bond.

Leaf was the No. 2 pick out of Washington State University in 1998. He was released by San Diego after three rough seasons and played part of one season with the Dallas Cowboys.

Smith trial. The trial for former NFL defensive end Bruce Smith on drunken-driving charges in Virginia Beach, Va., was postponed until July 9.

The Hall of Famer, who turned 46 yesterday, was charged with DUI last month after a Virginia Beach police officer stopped him for allegedly speeding on Interstate 264. He also is charged with refusing to take an alcohol breath test.