Story on former Dolphin Cecil Collins

[Nublar7]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-dave-hyde-cecil-collins-071209,0,524411.column?page=1

Whatever happened to Cecil Collins?

"You're looking at it,'' he says, sitting in prison-blue shirt and pants at the Hendry Correctional Institution somewhere in the Florida Everglades. He's just come in from playing the only football he has since he fell through the trapdoor a decade ago. He was the Dolphins' risky hope to the future then, the running back Jimmy Johnson took a fifth-round flier on, the guy with a background who lit it up in preseason and scored a couple early touchdowns only to hurt his shoulder, break his leg and, ultimately, get arrested after breaking into an apartment where a woman slept.

Collins is "on the turn," as they say in here, meaning the end of his 15-year sentence is within sight. He has three years left, so would serve the demanded 12 years and six months of the total.

He doesn't want to talk about how he got 15 years for his non-violent crime when Donte Stallworth was released Friday after serving 24 days for driving drunk and killing a pedestrian. He doesn't talk much about Michael Vick, other than to say he should be able to play now that he's served his time.

What he wants to say is, "I'd like to get out and work with kids. I've got something to tell them. I'm a walking example of what can happen to a guy who has all the talent in the world and doesn't use his head."

 

[dlockz]

What he neglects to mention is the charges that got him onto probation in the first place. He has a history of breaking into places and being charged with assault and such. This is what probation means , that u have to keep on straight and narrow. He was a dangerous guy and deserved what he got.

 

[ZachThomas76]

And yet Stallworth gets 24 days in jail for killing someone. Pathetic. The justice system in Canada is joke as far as slaps on the wrist, but that is sickening.

 

[dlockz]

And yet Stallworth gets 24 days in jail for killing someone. Pathetic. The justice system in Canada is joke as far as slaps on the wrist, but that is sickening.

Stallworth has nothing to do with Collins. I agree though that he should get more time.

 

[ZachThomas76]

Stallworth has nothing to do with Collins. I agree though that he should get more time.

I wonder how much cash the judge took on that ruling. I mean seriously.

 

[FuturePhin]

I remembered when Collins came on board...he quickly became my number one fav back that Miami had....but what a disapointment......

 

[jlfin]

I remembered when Collins came on board...he quickly became my number one fav back that Miami had....but what a disapointment......

It's really a shame. If you could have put Karim Abdul Jabbar's head and heart in Cecil Collins' body, you would have had someone possibly better than Emmitt Smith.

 

[dlockz]

I wonder how much cash the judge took on that ruling. I mean seriously.

Well Compare that to the teacher that ran over multiple black children in tampa a few years ago and got probation. This after leaving the scene and cleaning off the vehicle. Also was at an amusement park the next day. So its not only NFL players that get pref treatment

 

[ccdolfan]

Do not get me wrong I agree with you all that the punishment should fit the crime, i.e. Stallworth got off easy.

However, from a legal standpoint there is reasoning other than money behind the sentencing. In Cecil's case he was already on probation and he violated his probation through a burglery (breaking and entering the home of another w/o permission w/the intent to steal the property of another). Due to the sentencing guidliness he got an increased sentence b/c he already had a record and was on probation (more points = increased sentence).

In Stallworth's case, he was charged with DUI Manslaughter. This is a killing while under the influence w/o the intent to kill (no malice or forethought). Stallworth also had a squeaky clean record I believe, was completely cooroperative with the police, and got a great plea deal. Hence, the easy sentence.

All in all, I agree that Stallworth got off WAY too easy, but that is our legal system.

 

[Danny]

Do not get me wrong I agree with you all that the punishment should fit the crime, i.e. Stallworth got off easy.

However, from a legal standpoint there is reasoning other than money behind the sentencing. In Cecil's case he was already on probation and he violated his probation through a burglery (breaking and entering the home of another w/o permission w/the intent to steal the property of another). Due to the sentencing guidliness he got an increased sentence b/c he already had a record and was on probation (more points = increased sentence).

In Stallworth's case, he was charged with DUI Manslaughter. This is a killing while under the influence w/o the intent to kill (no malice or forethought). Stallworth also had a squeaky clean record I believe, was completely cooroperative with the police, and got a great plea deal. Hence, the easy sentence.

All in all, I agree that Stallworth got off WAY too easy, but that is our legal system.

ok but 24 days? he deserved years...how many I'm not sure.....tell the victimes family that he didn't mean to do it.....the fact is that we all make mistakes and the law is there to show people that they can't get away with stuff like that...in his case he got away with it.....just like OJ got away with murder but now he's where he belongs.

Ozzy rules!!

 

[Mr. Magoo]

Such a waste of talent. I hope he finally gets it, though of course you never know. Some people just fundamentally aren't wired right.

Highlights from LSU in 1997:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6mpmox6gx8

That's a pretty remarkable blend of power and speed. Oddly enough, he kind of reminds me of a poor-man's Lawrence Phillips, who's the best college running back I've ever seen. But of course, like Phillips, he pissed it all away.

 

[Geforce]

I wonder how much cash the judge took on that ruling. I mean seriously.

The judge had very little to do with the sentance Stallworth received. While I agree that Donte should have received years in prison for this tragedy, he did accept the plea deal from the district attorney which took into account the role of the pedestrian in this accident.

 

[ccdolfan]

ok but 24 days? he deserved years...how many I'm not sure.....tell the victimes family that he didn't mean to do it.....the fact is that we all make mistakes and the law is there to show people that they can't get away with stuff like that...in his case he got away with it.....just like OJ got away with murder but now he's where he belongs.

Ozzy rules!!

Well he is on probation for 7 or 8 years and he lost his driver's liscense for Life. As a person, I TOTALLY agree with you. As a laywer, I realize that is the system and he had a good enough lawyer to work it correctly.

The judge had very little to do with the sentance Stallworth received. While I agree that Donte should have received years in prison for this tragedy, he did accept the plea deal from the district attorney which took into account the role of the pedestrian in this accident.

Actually, the judge has a lot to do with sentencing and he has the discretion to depart from the sentencing guidlines. The judge does not even have to accept the plea deal (they usually do though). Technically the DA's plea deal is a recommendation to the judge for sentencing. Mitigating factors, such as coorporating with the police, not fleeing the scene, 1st time offender, the victim's family not wanting to draw this out, Stallworth's settling with the victim's family for an "undisclosed amount", the pedestrian/victim's role (you are right about that), and Stallworth's reputation/past charitable service in the community all went into reducing his sentence.

But, I feel you. He was Drunk, got into a car like an idiot, and Killed a man. It was a horrible, horrible crime and IMHO he should have gotten a lot more jail time. But, our legal system is VERY flawed and there are cases like this and worse everyday.

 

[GoonBoss]

I wonder how much cash the judge took on that ruling. I mean seriously.

The judge in the Stallworth case went with what the prosecution said he should. They did not press charges against Stallworth, because he could have walked due to the way FL drunk driving laws are

 

[Phinj]

Cecil was well loved here in Baton Rouge at one time and could have been a legend.