GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Casey Therriault accepts that his football career -- and his life, really -- will be judged differently because of a 2009 involuntary manslaughter conviction, but he continues to move forward and succeed as a professional quarterback.

Therriault, a former standout at Wyoming Park High School, recently completed two wildly successful seasons in the German Football League as he led the New Yorker Lions to back-to-back German Bowl titles. He was the league and the title game MVP both years as the team went a combined 25-1.

At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds and a football background that also includes college success at Grand Rapids Community College, Jackson State and then a stop in the Canadian Football League, 25-year-old Therriault would seem worthy of at least a look in an NFL camp.

But that, he said, is a long shot. Whether that has to do with his past is irrelevant to him at this point.

"I've only heard things from third parties, from somebody who said they've spoke to a GM or a coach. I've never heard it directly," Therriault said. "But you have to understand, they have to be socially correct in the NFL and to have a quarterback with that and to have that stress that comes from (having) that player, that's tough."

In 2009, Therriault was sentenced to six months in prison for his role in the death of Jonathan "Jono" Krystiniak following a street fight in January 2008. In an early-morning confrontation between two groups, Therriault was found to have thrown one punch before he left the scene. According to police, two friends and two others continued to beat Krystiniak, who went into coma and died two weeks later.

Krystiniak's mother, Susa Stariha, later met privately with Therriault and forgave him. In a plea deal in April 2009, Therriault was convicted of involuntary manslaughter with a chance to erase the record if he stayed out of trouble.

He has. Three months after he got out of jail, Therriault joined the GRCC football team and was a star. He went on to play two seasons at Jackson State, a predominately all-black school, where he thrived as only the second white quarterback in the program's history. He was known as "the White Tiger."

He was briefly with the British Columbia Lions in the CFL before hooking up with the German League team in Braunschweig.

He was the subject of an ESPN "E: 60" segment in 2011.

H can't escape his past, even in the football arena, Therriault acknowledged. He accepts it. But, he added, he has moved on.

"Nobody wants to deal with distractions and that's always going to be there," he said. "'Hey, what happened in 2008?' Why that is relevant, I have no idea. I've graduated with two degrees since then, went to the CFL, won two championships in Germany. So, why is that still a question? It's exciting for the media to bring up and exciting for people to hear about.

"I'm perfectly fine with accepting that that's what it is. From the moment my life took that course, I knew that it was something I was going to have to deal with. I can't be disappointed for somebody for holding it against me."

Germany was good for Therriault, who went there on a lark and became the toast of the league. This past season, he completed 183 of 261 passes for 2,610 yards and 34 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Playing for the Lions, he said, "has been great" and he enjoyed the opportunity and the recognition.

"It's like a double-edge sword because I know it's a great opportunity and there is national attention with writers saying, 'Casey's too good for this league,'" Therriault said. "But I keep it in perspective."

Therriault wants to push himself to improve. He hopes that means another shot at the CFL in January and a chance to be closer to home.

"It (playing football professionally) is something I appreciate and I don't take it for granted," he said. "Naturally, I want to compete against the best, so I'll keep my options open. But just to be able to play football, no matter the platform, is pretty special."

Pete Wallner covers sports for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at pwallner@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.