On March 14, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth, while driving drunk, struck and killed a pedestrian.

On May 20, Michael Vick was released from prison after serving 21 months in prison for his role in a dog-fighting ring and has another 2 months under house arrest.

With today's plea agreement, Donte Stallworth will be serving a grand total of 30 DAYS in prison for getting behind the wheel and KILLING a person. In addition Stallworth made an undisclosed agreement with the family of the victim for financial compensation.

He will serve 30 DAYS in prison. FOR KILLING A PERSON.

Michael Vick, kills and hurts some dogs and serves 21 MONTHS.

Continue after the jump for my full opinion about this ridiculous situation

When you get behind the wheel drunk you are knowingly putting yourself in a situation that is dangerous. But this is completely embarrassingly ridiculous of the judicial system. I am in no way arguing that Vick's case should have any bearing on Stallworth's, but the fact that a person can KILL ANOTHER PERSON and suffer 1/23 of the same punishment as a dog-killer is absolutely INEXCUSABLE.

I'm not an animal person, so I don't have some big attachment to pets; I've been accused of being dead inside more than once. BUT when it comes to choosing people or choosing animals that is ALWAYS an easy choice for me. Apparently, for the justice system that is not the case.

Even more importantly, while this happened today and so is in the news, the likelihood of the Stallworth pleas being in the news cycle after this week is extremely low. The story will be glossed over and ignored. WHY!? Is it because at some point many people have at some point driven when they might have been too impaired to do so? People can connect to the act because they've done it and so don't see it as awful because after all, anything THEY do can't be THAT bad.

At the same time, most people have never even BEEN to a dog-fight, let alone participate in running and owning a DOG FIGHTING RING. But you know what, that's FUCKING BULLSHIT. On average over 3,000 people are killed by drunk drivers and over 100,000 people are pulled over for DUIs. So it must be not a huge deal. The media outcry and circus surrounding Michael Vick has been non-stop, from following every movement during his trials, to him being taken to prison to his recent release to house arrest, every action has been breathlessly chronicled. And why not, after all he's SUCH a bad man. Dogs are MUCH more important than people.

I remember how many times I've sat and listened to the incredibly beautiful music that some dog composed, or sat down and read a thoughtful, insightful piece written by some canine that helps me understand the world. Oh no, wait, DOGS DON'T DO THAT, that's PEOPLE who are capable of doing those things. No, dogs provide companionship and slobber. Great.

Meanwhile, the media consensus says that any team that signs Michael Vick is making a major PR blunder but, thanks to his sentence, Stallworth will be out in time for training camp. You know what will happen when he shows up? NOT A GODDAMN THING. He'll be welcomed back on the field, welcomed back to the team like nothing happened. He bought off the family and so who cares right? It's not like he KILLED SOMEONE. Michael Vick has to fight his way to even be reinstated but Leonard Little (another football player who has KILLED a person drunk driving) and Stallworth are allowed to go along on their merry little ways.

If you are stopped with a DUI you could just as easily be charged with attempted murder. Maybe you didn't hit anyone but that's just luck, you're still an asshole. I'm just glad to know that in the eyes of the media and the justice system people's lives are MARKEDLY less important than that of a schnauzer. That's good to know.

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