The NFL on Wednesday suspended Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for six games for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
Roethlisberger will not be permitted to take part in team activities until he undergoes counseling. If he meets the terms laid out by the league, the he will be permitted to take part in training camp and the preseason and the suspension could be dropped to four games.
"The Personal Conduct Policy makes clear that I may impose discipline 'even where the conduct does not result in conviction of a crime' as, for example, where the conduct 'imposes inherent danger to the safety and well being of another person'," Commissioner Roger Goodell stated in his letter to Roethlisberger.
The Steelers showed that they had an inkling Roethlisberger's suspension would be a long one when they traded for quarterback Byron Leftwich Tuesday night.
25 comments:
well, I know the Seelers were lobbying the NFL to make an example of Big Ben, but I do believe that is excessive, but then again, I dont know the whole story, etc... I was thinking 2-4 games tops.
Big Ben may be a scum bag as I heard someone say from his days at Miami, Oh, (I dont know him as a person) but NO CRIME was committed! I would have to say there are alot of scum bags in the NFL that should get suspensions for beating up on women, bar room fights, knocking up women, etc.....
So, if DD becomes the starting QB, and lets say he goes 5-1 as a starter, do you dare make a change??
Is that going to be it? Six freakil games? Another stupid move by the National Felons League.
If it would have been one of "Joe Six Packs" were would not got off nearly as easy as that. I guess these special people get special treatment. They know they will get away with it so - they just go ahead and do it.
Dale, it is being reported that the Steelers have called the Rams, 49ers, Raiders, Bills, Jaguars, Seahawks and Browns to see if they are interested in Ben. Have you heard any of this? Any truth to the rumor?
NO CRIME was committed!
or
No prosecutable crime was committed based upon drunken state of 20 year old girl (which was helped by Ben, a 28 year old man).
Not saying Ben is guilty, not saying he is innocent. But from comments from the DA, the Steelers distancing themselves from him and the strict punishment by NFL, you can bet they know a lot more than what has been released to the general public.
The Steelers contact every team in the days leading up to the draft to talk about possible trades.
They say they are not shopping Roethlisberger. That doesn't mean that the other teams haven't inquired about him being available.
As for the actual suspension, I think it will end up being four games - which is what I thought it would be - which is a pretty big thing.
Having spoken with many players over the years, the most difficult thing for them to do is sit and watch when they're healthy. They've played the game all their lives and it's a blow.
I don't know what the one anonymous poster wanted the league to do - kick him out forever for no criminal charges?
That poster seems to be caught up with Roethlisberger buying drinks for a young woman. But if she was in the bar and had run into her in several others, I'd assume she was at least 21.
ESPN reporting that Steelers looking for a top 10 pick for Ben. If the Steelers trade Ben we will rue the day.
I don't like Ben as a person and really never did. I think he is as arrogant as an athlete can be! But I cannot fault his athletic ability one bit. The guy just wins games.
People get completely caught up in worship of celebrities and athletes and fail to realize what their job is.....ENTERTAINMENT! So just let them do their job and entertain us! Stop trying to judge the guy!
The guys is wreckless on and off the field. Plus he is a scumbag. Its funny how everyone is ok with a drunk sexual deviant who shows the fans no respect by his actions or words. Yet some of the fans are upset about him getting possibly six games? He did this to himself, not the NFL, he has disrespected all Steeler fans by his conduct. I cannot see myself rooting for that guy again in any copacity until he acknowledges he has a problem and takes the time he needs to right his ways. Till then the 9th pick from Oakland is not ideal but is fine by me.....
I think extending Leftwhich as they did today spells the end for Ben.
I am a little surprised they extended him before trading Ben but maybe they prefered leverage over Leftwhich to leverage over their eventual trading partner.
No way should we let him go at a discount though unless they expect him to reoffend.
Dale, if you read the GBI documents, you'll find that BR and his group asked the girls how old they were. The girls said they answered honestly that were all 19 or 20.
I think this is a fair suspension. I'd bet the NFL and the Steelers have a lot more non-public info they based their decision on than just the GBI and police reports.
I agree with what Michael Wilbon said today when posed that question.
If the Steelers trade Ben R. it would be a "giant gross overreaction", and he has a problem with the league trying to legislate morality. Ben was not charged and therefore he was not guilty. It's either or. I couldn't agree more, and I couldn't have said it better.
I do not want to lose Ben, AT ALL! But, Mark Madden mentioned a rumor going around on his show that piqued my interest. He heard that the Steelers will be getting Oakland's 1st rd. pick (#8, I believe) and Nnamdi Asomugha!
Like I said, I do not want to lose Ben, but having 2 picks tomorrow night in the top 20 and receiving arguably the best corner in the league... just imagine.
Dale, does this rumor hold any weight?
Heard same thing about Oakland. But, I heard Pittsburgh media deny it so wanted to see what you thought Dale? Laird is reporting a deal is done with Oakland-to be announced Thursday.
adamg: These girls went to several bars with their fake IDs. Ben's group included a number of police officers. It seems unlikely that they would start telling the truth about their ages.
I'll be interested to see what sort of punishments are handed down when a player is actually charged (but not convicted) with something criminal, rather than suspicion of an "inherent danger"
if you are convicted of a DUI, what do you get from the NFL in terms of suspension??
ya, i agree with the fact that i would assume this girl was at least 21. In all fairness, the girl should be brought up on underage drinking, and the establishments should be charged &/or lose their liq. licenses.
doesnt it seem a little strange that the steelers are on several night games AFTER ben's suspension is up??
How quickly we forget how many games Ben has won for us the past 4 years? How many games we would have lost with another QB in there? Our D last year let us down game after game, and for most of them if it wasn't for Ben throwing it around we would have lost?
Nnamdi and a 1st is not enough in return to trade for Ben, IMHO. Now if they give us a 1st this year, 1st next year, and Nnamdi, I'll think about it. Otherwise we are making a tragic mistake.
I agree with adamg, there might be much more to this situation than what has been made public. What if Ben has gotten into much more trouble that was swept under the rug? What if he had already been given an ultimatum by the team that we would have had no way of knowing about? How many other unsubstantiated accusations might the team have known about?
Nothing against Ken Laird - who I like - but hasn't he been wrong in the past?
I seem to recall him saying Arians was done.
That's not to say Ken isn't right in this case, but I do question it. If it's a done deal, why isn't it done?
For me, a first-round pick and cornerback isn't enough, even if that corner is very good.
John Harris has a column and interview with Marvel Smith. Smith didn't mince many words talking about the role Tomlin and the coaches played in allowing Ben to be bigger than the team. I guess the caveat is that Smith is a fan of Cowher, but still, not a pretty picture.
Harris's column sounds like sour grapes from Marvel.
So Ben didn't act entitled when Cowher told him to wear a helmet and he refused? Wasn't entitled when Bradshwaw told him to park the bike and he got pissed?
Blame Tomlin? and the Rooneys? for letting their franchise QB throw the ball? Having his best seasons under Tomlin and under Cowher when he was allowed to throw the ball during the playoffs?
Ben acts entitled b/c he is a total idiot. He was like that under Cowher and nothing has changed. The only person to blame for how Ben acts is Ben.
agreed, there is only so much a coach can do. i don't see coaches being blamed for idiots like T.O., marshall, moss, vick, pacman jones, etc.
now, as an early thought, would you rather see dixon or leftwich starting the season?
Only idiots blame the coaches when a player acts irresponsibly. These are grown men, in the off-season no less, not children.
Gee, Marvel throwing Tomlin under the bus wouldn't have anything to do with Tomlin getting rid of him, would it?
That's ridiculous and meaningless.
interesting stats about the draft.
the steelers, browns, and chiefs each have 8 picks of the first overall 166 selections. more than any other team.
the patriots are sitting pretty with 4 picks in the first 2 rounds.
the eagles are probably in the best position for a successful draft. one pick in the 1st round, then two picks each in rounds 2, 3, and 4.
Smith was never benched by Tomlin for performance. Smith's release was 100% related to his health. Pro football is an unsentimental business and injured players who can no longer get the job done aren't employed for long. Cowher would have done the same thing in the same circumstances.
As for Smith's account of BR, it pretty much jibes with what every fan saw for themselves - a qb who got his way with the offense and was rarely, if ever, criticized or held accountable for his poor performances by his coaches.
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