Stallworth suffers bad burns in balloon mishap

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Donte Stallworth (BLOOMBERG THE WASHINGTON POST)

MIAMI -- NFL free agent Donte Stallworth was hospitalized Saturday with serious burns after the hot air balloon carrying him and two other people crashed into power lines above South Florida, his agent said.

The 10-year NFL veteran won't suffer any permanent damage from the accident in Homestead, said Drew Rosenhaus, Stallworth's agent.

"He's going to be OK. He has some burns, but he's going to be fine," Rosenhaus said. "He will be able to continue his NFL career. The injuries are not to the extent they will jeopardize his career."

The basket carrying three hot air balloon passengers crashed into the power lines while airborne, according to Miami-Dade Police spokesman Roy Rutland.

Two passengers were injured and transported to a trauma centre, Rutland said. A third passenger in the basket was not injured.

Rutland referred additional questions to the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB had no immediate information about the crash.

Stallworth played in one game last season for the New England Patriots, then went on injured reserve with an ankle injury. He has 35 career touchdown catches.

He was suspended for the 2009 season after a car he was driving struck and killed a pedestrian in South Florida that March. He spent 24 days in jail for a DUI manslaughter conviction.

Revis a richer Jet

NEW YORK -- Darrelle Revis is still with the New York Jets. And, he's got $1 million more to show for it.

The star cornerback, the subject of trade rumours, earned a roster bonus as a result of a clause in his contract with New York. According to the clause, the bonus kicked in on Saturday since Revis remains on the Jets' roster -- not traded or cut -- at the end of the business day.

There has been intense speculation in the past several weeks that the Jets will try to trade their best player, who is recovering from a torn knee ligament. Some thought that move could have come by Saturday so the Jets could have avoided the clause, but that "deadline" was not considered to be a factor in the team's thinking.

Revis will receive the bonus later in the year and it counts on New York's salary cap -- whether or not he remains with the team. He also has a $1 million workout bonus that would kick in in late June and another $1 million reporting bonus that would go into effect in July at the start of training camp.

The trade talk could pick up at the NFL meetings in Phoenix, starting Monday.

Patriots re-sign 3 DBs

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots have released receiver Brandon Lloyd and re-signed defensive backs Aqib Talib, Kyle Arrington and Adrian Wilson.

The team made the announcements on Saturday.

Arrington tied for the NFL lead in 2011 with seven interceptions. Wilson is a five-time Pro Bowl selection. Talib was acquired by trade with Tampa Bay in November and started five of six games after arriving.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 17, 2013 B11