Stallworth feels lucky for NFL, Patriots comeback

Share

FOXBORO -- Donte' Stallworth probably didn't think his re-introductory Patriots press conference would end without mention of his guilty plea to D.U.I. manslaughter in 2009.
It's been five years since Stallworth was a Patriot, and the accident -- as well as his 30-day jail sentence, house arrest, probation and one-year NFL suspension -- cleaves the time tragically.
He said Tuesday that the experience forced him to mature.
"The year I was out and just sitting around and watching my teammates play and watching my friends play, it was not a good feeling. It's the same even when you're hurt. Guys never want to miss games. Anytime you miss something that you appreciate in life or that you love in life, if you have an opportunity to get it back, you always have a better appreciate for it next time."
Asking if Stallworth wishes he could rewind time receives an obvious answer: Of course. Thing is, he would go all the way back -- back to his first year in the league.
The knowledge he's gained, both on the field and off, would have helped a great deal.
"Hindsight is always 2020. Yeah, definitely if I could go back to 2003 then I would. I'd have a lot better career."
Better he understands the impossibility of the exercise. Though Stallworth acknowledged his tumultuous past, he sounded very much in the present.
"Here I am, 31-years old, still trying to make things happen" he said. "I feel good. I feel healthy. Guys are working hard right now, so we're all looking forward to Monday and getting ready for practice."
Back to football. No matter how conversations begin with Donte' Stallworth, they usually circle back around to football -- it's the course his life has taken.
And it's brought him back to New England.
"Do your job," he said of Monday's expectations. Stallworth laughed to parrot the famous Patriots mantra.
"It's always exciting when you can get back out there, put the helmets on, when you can finally start easing out of the weight room and conditioning part of it, and get back into practicing and football-specific things, then that's always the fun part. Guys are excited.
"Obviously I feel we had a good draft class, picked up some guys in the offseason. Right now we're just trying to put this thing together. We got I'm not sure how many coaching sessions, but Monday will be the fun day and I'm sure everyone is looking forward to it."

Contact Us