Though he admitted the Steelers have internally discussed trading Ben Roethlisberger, team president Art Rooney II said Thursday the team is moving on with Roethlisberger as its quarterback.
That said, Rooney supports a league-mandated discipline for Roethlisberger and will be in contact with commissioner Roger Goodell's office in regard to such action against the quarterback.
Rooney said he does not expect any discipline to be announced until following the draft.
73 comments:
thankfully in Roethlisberger's case anyway, cooler heads have prevailed. trading him would have been a monumental blunder.
i thought they said no trade discussions?
What he said is, "I will say this, we have had no discussions with other teams."
The implication was clearly that they had discussed it internally.
He may not deserve to be traded but he absolutely deserves to be suspended, I say 4 games at least.
Jason La Canfora has said that they will hear to any offers that they might receive for a trade until the draft, any truth to these comments Dale?
I believe if they do decide to keep Ben and he learns about this whole situation a motivation to prove Steeler Nation as well as his teammates that he can be the leader of this football team, as well as a respected person in the community, he can turnaround the whole situation. He is 27 years old and might grow into a great player outside the field. Let's hope he does, I wouldn't like to watch him go.
FWIW, Jason LaCanferra reports the Steelers will listen to offers for BR should they be forthcoming.
I suspect a lot will depend on what, if anything else, the NFL investigators find out over the next several weeks.
I think the Steelers are leaving the door open for Ben's sake, to kinda say, hey we will and can trade you if you dont shape up, you are not bigger than this franchise!! But they cant trade the guy, especially for something that may not have happened, its a he said, she said kinda deal......
A question I havent heard asked yet, is how come the Steelers let this happened, and with Holmes?? I am a Steelers fan lifer and I agree 100% with how the Rooneys run this organization, but shouldnt they have stepped in after the first marijuana arrest, and the first woman civil suit and let it be known, this is NOT STEELER FOOTBALL guys and sanctioned some major discipline to them!!!! They booted Cedric Wilson before all the facts were known, but he was expendable I guess.
Anyway, there are alot bigger thugs in pro sports than big ben. Hell, look at Vick and his return to the NFL in Philly, he got like a standing ovation...
If Ben turns this team back into a winner, changes his attitude and demeanor, and sports fans will forget all about some small little college town....
after listening to the PC I see the implication now, even though its slight - I think its more of a shot across the bow again then a trade consideration.
Of course they'll listen to trade offers. There are always all kind of trade offers at this time of year. Doesn't mean they'll act on them.
But really, I think La Canfora was fed that info - coupled with what Art said today - to let the QB know that he works in Pittsburgh at the leisure of the organization. He's not bigger than the organization.
He's not going anywhere.
Think you meant at the "pleasure of the organization".
Personally, I think the fan backlash is big enough that it will tip the scales toward moving on without BR regardless of the Rooneys' current best laid plans.
I read all the documents at The Smoking Gun and it paints a pretty disgusting picture of what went happened.
Again, you have to remember that what the Smoking Gun published - and I looked at it - is pretty much just what she said.
There's not a lot of the he-said in the situation.
Based on that info, it looks like the DA could have pushed forward with the case. Yet he did not.
There's more to this than meets the eye.
According to The Smoking Gun the accuser claimed she had unprotected sex... so why wasn't there enough DNA to convict Ben? Did Ben die in his motorcycle accident and get replaced by a robot?
I really dont see how this is going to work out...The Steeler fans are very hard on QBs...I am a season ticket holder and have heard people in the stands down Ben way before this...I mean the first bad game and this is going to get ugly...I think it may be best for him and everyone involved to go there seperate ways..He and the Steelers will never get pass this till he leaves the team.
If Ben is as innocent as you guys want to believe, why isn't he telling his side of the story? Because what she said is the truth. Ben's a rapist and he should be prosecuted and booted out of pro football. He's a total creep who will continue to rape women and get away with it. I don't know how you can possibly defend him.
I don't disagree he is a creep. But the reason he is not telling his story is very simple. If he comes across in any way shape or form as apologetic for what he did that night, he basically automatically loses a civil suit for big money. Why would he do that???
Ben admitted to having sex with her so why do you need DNA?
The Steelers almost made a mistake by not picking him in the draft.
Do you really think they're going to make an even bigger mistake by getting rid of him?
I love how some of you say the Steelers and Ben will never get past this.
Believe me, if you idiot fans stop calling for Ben to be cut/traded, we will get past this before training camp opens.
i really think some of you want him to be guilty. Thank god Dale continues to be one of the few voices of reason in the media.
The bottom line again is that Smoking Gun is simply using parts of the statement that are juicy. If you look at the whole thing, Ben gives a conflicting statement of what happened. In fact, the girl, herself, gives a conflicting statement.
Going simply by what's on Smoking Gun, you would think the DA would have had no problem convicting. Yet, he didn't even try.
I'm not saying Ben is completely innocent here. At the very least, he had sex with a very drunk girl.
He needs to grow up.
As far as his side of the story, read the whole report - the parts Smoking Gun didn't put in its site. It serves no purpose for him to discuss publicly what happened. But you can bet he's talked to the Steelers about his side of the story as well as Roger Goodell.
I really think you are fooling yourself if you think most steeler fans will forgive him for this last stupid act ... They have torn apart other Qbs for alot less in the past..Bradshaw even had his battles... I mean try to think of another steeler that has brought this much bad press toward the steeler image ... I feel Ben will not handle the negitive feedback well...and may ask for a trade himself...maybe im wrong but until he owns up to some of this...and It does not look like he will even be able to tell his side to the public... His image with the fans will never be the same and I dont know that it was that great to begin with...let alone in the locker room...Do I want to get rid of one of the best QBs in the game? No...But my guts telling me that this is going to get alot uglier and it may be best for all to part ways.
something tells me we'd be living in a much better world if we trusted post-drinking sorority hearsay on a more consistent basis.
I think the last Steeler to bring this much disgust to Pittsburgh was Neil O'Donnell...
is he booed the first time he takes the field?
is there a huge roar for his first TD pass?
will dixon or batch get a standing ovation when they take the field?
Ben isn't giving his side of the story for legal reasons and because it is the best thing to do. Tigers Woods still hasn't said a word about exactly what happened the night he ran his car into that tree, and he never will. Neither will Ben. When Kobe did what he did, I thought I would always think less of him and hate him. But time has a way of eroding hate. Now, I enjoy watching him play occasionally and definitely rooted for him in the Olympics a couple years ago. The same will happen for Ben in a few years as long as he keeps his nose clean.
I believe the DA could easily have obtained an indictment had he taken the evidence to a Grand Jury as only the prosecution gets to present evidence.
Agree that Ben isn't talking for legal reasons. It's very likely he could only dig the hole he's in deeper. The case is closed, but that doesn't mean it has to stay closed.
"...only the prosecution gets to present evidence."
Then why didn't the DA send the case to the Grand Jury for an indictment if only he could present evidence? I mean the DA made it sound like he didn't even have enough evidence. Juries (Grand or not) don't convene to listen to one side of evidence - they listen to the prosecution and defense. Unless I'm mis-reading what you stated adamg?
Getting an indictment from a grand jury is a world away from getting a conviction at a trial. The DA said that he didn't have enough evidence to prosecute the case effectively.
My concern is that this is going to be the third season out of the last 5 in which he has made stupid mistakes that almost ruined the season for the whole team.
Maybe he has been hit upside the head hard enough to understand he can't do this again but is he bright enough to avoid the next pothole not specifically banned in his contract? Can we predict every stupid option for him? Are there any adults in his "posse" or is it a lord of the flies situation?
Ben is indeed a great QB but he isn't the only one and we don't need the best with our defense. I would trade him if we got a really good offer and think the Steelers will just to avoid the circus that will surround him all year...at least.
If we don't get more then a high 1st I wouldn't do it. I would rather keep him through the suspension until someone pays a reasonable value. 2 number ones plus.
I do trust ownership though and if they decide to keep him I'm going to trust that it is because they think it will work instead of desperation for wins at all cost.
Big Bad Ben of the Oakland Raiders?
Man! That has to be worth a half dozen draft choices! :)
Dale,
This is off-topic, but I'm catching up with old news...
Is it still possible that the Steelers will land Leon Washington as part of the Holmes trade? How is that possible? Because Washington wasn't technically part of the Jets, is it like a wink-wink-nudge-nudge kind of deal that says they'll give us Leon for free when he signs? Or trade him for a 7th or the same 5th or something? It would be very awesome if that happened. I had my eye on trading up for Jahvid Best in the 2nd, but I'd much rather have Washington and use that pick on someone else. Thanks.
Nothing on any deal for Washington at this point. But he doesn't fit into the Jets plans.
If something happens there, it will be in the next week.
To me, the fact that the DA chose not to take it to court - despite even Steelers fans saying it looks like Ben is guilty - tells me there's something missing here. Again, I go back to the inconsistencies in the girl's statements.
The fact the sorority sisters were telling similar stories the next day tells me nothing other than that they got together and went over everything. How many times did you go drinking with your buddies and have completely different recollections of what happened?
But you all got together later and everybody got on the same page.
What's missing? Try a victim. Ben's accuser refuses to cooperate w/ the DA, so the DA doesn't have a case.
There are now four accusations against Roethlisberger. Once is an anomaly. Twice is a recurrence. Three times is a trend.
Why do you think Roethlisberger needs bodyguards? Do some digging, and you will find out he had a gun pulled on him a few years ago for feeling up the wrong chick in a club.
I'm thinking its time for Dan Rooney to come home. The Steelers need him more than Ireland does.....
I'm also hoping the Steelers have a chip on their shoulders in training camp, and next season.
Tired of this off season crap, lets get back to Steeler run it down your throat, shut you down D football!!!!!!
y, cuz i am NOT a drama queen, thats y
I think none of us know what happened that night except for Ben and the accuser. But the accuser definitely wasn't able to relay info well or consistenly nor were here friends able to. If you take the time to sort through the statements there are glaring inconsistencies. I agree Ben put himself in a questionable at best situation, but not one deserving of this media & fan hatred.
I wasn't there, but from reading accuser statement (all diff. variation of it) it seems she probably was too drunk & went futher than she intended or Ben probably blew her off after whatever they did. Read what she says:
Said it lasted approx. 3 minutes. She said she never said no but did say "I really don't think this is ok".
And in initial report:
I shouldn't have done this"
Sounds like Ben used her, then blew her off and she had remorse for doing whatever they did. I am not saying that is good conduct on his part, but it doesn't constiture rape or assault!
"I really don't think this is ok"
What's not ok? The sex itself or doing it in a bathroom? People seem to take her comment to mean the sex, but maybe she just didn't want to do it in a bathroom?
"What's missing? Try a victim. Ben's accuser refuses to cooperate w/ the DA, so the DA doesn't have a case."
Didn't the DA admit that he would also have to bring charges against the accuser because of how drunk she was?
"There are now four accusations against Roethlisberger. Once is an anomaly. Twice is a recurrence. Three times is a trend."
1st: lady wanted a little Ben - imo she is a nut
2: Your thinking of the case mentioned by lawyer in Boston right? - He said a friend had a lady come to him and they decided that there wasn't a case. The lawyer later come on the air and said he didn't even have any details. If I were this lady I would be pissed that lawyer was talking about my case on the air. Besides why wait until after Ben is cleared in Georgia and not while the investigation is going on... this incident supposedly happened 5 (6?) months prior to Georgia's case.
3rd - is this the newest one? The one where Ben brought out little Ben and refused to let the lady out? She came back to his house a week later and "ended up" in his bed (how?). I've only seen this described as unsubstantiated.
4th - The Georgia case - this horse is beyond beaten to death. But imo two drunk people did something they regret and some sorority girls are fanning the flames.
Sorry for the long post everyone... Regardless I'm sad to see how divided Steeler Nation seems to be over this.
Dale (and anyone else with an open mind),
There's a poster at the site Steelerfury who is going through the official report and referencing all of the portions of the story that the mass media is ignoring. Since the mass media is bound and determined to destroy Roethlisberger, it's up to amatuers and independant media to try to strike a fair balance:
http://steelerfury.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=6233
The Grand Jury hears only the prosecution side. Witnesses called before a GJ cannot even bring a lawyer into the court room with them. So, yes, imo, Bright could have gotten an indictment. However, he was saddled with the accuser's statements which were somewhat conflicting as well as her BAC level of over .20 which obviously clouded her memory. It was an iffy case to prosecute and the DA correctly did not pursue charges.
So, Dale, the soriety sisters got together and agreed upon a single story? This despite reporting the incident nearly as soon as it happened to the first cop they found?
According to Brad Aurilia, we do know that Ben and his posse all drove home togther and were discussing what went on. Seems more likely that if a story was cooked up, they had a better chance and more motivation to do it.
You can go to the PG, they have it all there. Not just the girl's statements, but the entire investigation.
Some of Ben's witnesses said basically we don't know nothing, didn't see nothing.
Some witnesses said they discussed it either on the way home or once back at home.
One of his witnesses said they saw the off duty cop lead a girl to the back.
One of his witnesses said Ben told him he was just fooling around and he took that to mean "kissing."
The witnesses that were part of the cop conversation all said the cop who has resigned said he knew it was all BS and she was lying and had like 5 different stories.
Sorry I've read it all and the only evidence there is that the girl ever said she wasn't raped was from the guy who resigned under fire. The guy who lead them to the capital city bar and set them up with the owner/manager. The same guy who told the girls they were wasting their time because he had money.
I also read her lawyer tell them at one point that her therapist said it was too soon for her to relive it. Also the part where the parents were furious with Det. Henderson because he released a cell phone number to the media. They basically told the GBI, one of their agents could come but they didn't want anyone from the police dept. there.
All of the girls statements were basically the same. Ben's witnesses actually had more differences than they did.
To the poster who said why Ben needed bodyguards because he felt a girl up.
Although, I don't know how much can be believed from the first cop, the one who resigned. He said the first words out of one of the off duty cops was, "not this bs again, all these w.... in these towns see a guy with money and accuse him of rape."
Steelerfury is a complete joke. Here is the title of a current thread:
F### YOU BETTIS YOU PLAYOFF CHOKING
The collective IQ of steelerfury is about 60, and that is being generous.
Today's P-G fingers disgraced local cop and fawning football fanboy Blash as the only link to the girl's two alleged conflicting statements.
Get over it, you Ben fanboys. The punk is done.
And Rooney said at his press conference that they'll listen to trade offers. Why bring LaCanforna into it?
steelerfury is the absolute worst web site on the planet. How they forged past stillers.com is an amazing rocketship ride, but it happened.
Yeah they've been calling this girl horrible names from the first day.
One longtime poster over there posted a letter he wrote to MR. Rooney that he couldn't support the team with Ben as QB and they blasted him, called him names, told him to go root for the Browns, etc. Another poster posted that if they traded Ben they would never support the team again and he was applauded.
If you want Ben is Mr. Perfect all the time, that's the board you want to read.
Guys I heard rumors at Pro Sports Daily and it's saying that Quaterback Joe Montana is coming out of retirement and is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This means that Big Ben is probably going to be released
Of course, the people at Steelerfury aren't nearly as smart and reasonable as you people, who merely want to see Roethlisberger's head on a pike outside of the city. Give me a break. Everyone is going nuts over this, and in the end it's all Ben's fault.
If anything, this whole scenario underscores how stupid following professional sports is anyway. How many other scumbags are on the team that we just don't know about? Are you seriously going to be able to watch and enjoy Super Bowl 43 now that it's tainted? Are you going to be counting 4 Super Bowls rather than 6?
--Steelerfury is a complete joke. Here is the title of a current thread:
F### YOU BETTIS YOU PLAYOFF CHOKING
The collective IQ of steelerfury is about 60, and that is being generous.--
Of course, you collective geniuses all know that Bettis was a play-off god. To think otherwise is simply moronic.
Guys I heard rumors at Pro Sports Daily and it's saying that Quaterback Joe Montana is coming out of retirement and is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This means that Big Ben is probably going to be released
Hey, that's even funnier the second time around!
It seems to me that Dale Lolley needs to grow up as much as Little Ben, the mental midget that assaults women. Any normal person knows that where there is smoke there IS fire! Does MR. Lolly have some fear of speaking evil of ANYTHING. Time to stop be PC and get real. BEn is a disgrace to the Steelers, to our area, and to himself. Next thing you know Ben will blame it on his concussions and file for some sort of disability. Dale, why don't you just join Ben's merry 'enablers'.
--Any normal person knows that where there is smoke there IS fire!--
This type of mentality is exactly why the law prohibits the admission of evidence of prior bad actions to show propensity to act in a certain way. Allegation 1 in no way makes Allegation 2 any more likely real; Allegation 2 certainly does not make Allegation 1 any more likely or real. Nevertheless, people will go with the "where there's smoke there's fire" logic and hang people out to dry.
Guys I heard rumors at Pro Sports Daily and it's saying that Quaterback Joe Montana is coming out of retirement and is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This means that Big Ben is probably going to be released
Guys I heard rumors at Pro Sports Daily and it's saying that Quaterback Joe Montana is coming out of retirement and is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This means that Big Ben is probably going to be released
Guys I heard rumors at Pro Sports Daily and it's saying that Quaterback Joe Montana is coming out of retirement and is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This means that Big Ben is probably going to be released
Rumors say that Dale Lolly is the New Steelers QB LOL
Yeah, I've been really politically correct on this.
The politically correct thing on this is to back a girls allegation no matter what.
I have not done that.
I've just pointed out that A. The DA chose not to pursue charges. And, B. Despite not pursuing charges, the DA has instead tried this very publicly.
To me, that's not right. If he didn't feel he had a strong enough case, whatever his reasons, he should not, therefore, be pontificating. That's not his job. His job is to put lawbreakers behind bars.
He did not feel he had enough evidence to gain a conviction against Roethlisberger - despite everything you've heard.
I can only surmise that he's attempting to try this case in public to further his own political career.
As I've said repeatedly, I think, at the least, Roethlisberger is guilty of poor behavior and bad judgment. At worst, he's a sexual predator.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. He's a guy who, when given the opportunity, isn't afraid to take advantage of a drunken woman. Given his stature, he probably gets a lot of those opportunities.
Most people grow out of that stage in their life. Be realistic, you've all done it yourself or known somebody who has.
The bottom line is that I am a reporter. As such, I have to keep an open mind when covering something. I can only work with the facts. And the facts say that Roethlisberger was not charged with anything.
You may like it or not like it - based on your own biases - but it's what I have to do.
Our own biases? What a load of crap. Even one of Ben's "merry enablers" admitted the woman was led back there by a bodyguard who then stayed in the hallway. Throw in thegi fact the rl accused him of assault.
But you choose to ignore that because so many rich QBs have been accused of rape for their money.
Hell, I believed the first allegation. Read that report sometime.
The troopers attorney said unequivocally that the girl was never led back there. So it boils down to who you believe. The sorority sisters or Ben's entourage.
He said, she said.
One of the men in the entourage said a bodyguard led her back there, and I'm pretty sure he was uneqivocal there fanboy. Read the report.
Isn't a blog the place for opinion anyway?
They should've traded him right away to get some value. Now, he's a smelly carcass and the next few years will be a sinkhole. The Rooney patience in this case hurt them.
They should've traded him right away to get some value. Now, he's a smelly carcass and the next few years will be a sinkhole. The Rooney patience in this case hurt them.
and this is what it's going to be like the whole season. #7 supporters clashing with #7 haters. some people getting caught in between because they just don't know which way to go. instead of talking about the team and debating what the team should or shouldn't do.
and now, tell me, this type of line isn't being drawn in the locker room? of course it is. anyone who has played competitive sports knows what will happen in the locker room.
some guys will despise him, some will think he's just a flat out idiot, others will support him, and some won't care either way. they'll do and say what the coaches say and when they get on the field they'll try not to think about it.
but, those that despise him won't treat him the same. he'll lose some of his effectiveness as a leader. they won't celebrate with him as much. at the end of the day, you play harder for a guy you trust and respect than for someone you don't. that's just human nature.
Rumors have it that Lolly is scared stiff of losing this press pass!
Not to worry Dale, Ben will get you into some of the places he goes.
Dale Lolly said, "At worst, he's a sexual predator." How now crap Dale,
it's sort of hard to get worse than that isn't it? Child molesting is slightly worse but Ben hasn't done that yet - or, has he? I would NOT take any bets on that!
Being a journalist does not automatically bestow anyone with some magical level of objectivity where their own biases disappear, and they become some sort of truth-fact robot.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle but what you emphasize or de-emphasize in looking at the many disputed accounts from that night have as much to do with your own biases, etc. as us "anti"-Ben people's opinions do.
I will agree with what you say about the DA. However if you read the entire investigation you will see that the first cop screwed up the case from the beginning.
Him saying he didn't believe the girl would have been Garland's entire defense in a court of law.
If you read through all of it without black and gold glasses. You will see that regardless of what the off duty cop's attorney is spouting, his own client said Ben told him to show the girl where the bathroom was and he left her in the back sitting on a stool.
Then you had the bar manager saying he saw Ben standing in front of a female sitting on a stool in the back.
Then you have one of Ben's friends saying Ben told him they were messing around.
Then if you do a little research on rape cases without DNA you will see this is not as uncommon as most people think.
Dale, not to pile on you, but I know of other local reporters who have admitted they have been told other stories about the pattern Ben has of treating women that doesn't make it hard to believe he could carry farther.
People keep arguing on he's not been charged, no player has ever been suspended who hasn't been charged. However, there is no case to compare this to. The NFL has a lot of female followers who look at rape as the worst crime that can be committed. Ben is the only player to ever have been accused of rape twice.
It's amazing how some of you take your anger and personal feelings towards an athlete out on a reporter who is just doing is job. I'm sorry to report, it doesn't look like your going to get a mouthpiece for your lynch mob here. Go talk to Ron Cook, he'll be happy to be your spokesmen.
I'm losing a lot of sleep over the comments of some anonymous poster who's perfectly content to call me names and question my integrity from behind an anonymous post.
I'll tell you what, you send me an e-mail with your real name on it and we'll discuss this further.
Until then, I'm done with you. I would also suggest to the other posters on this board not to respond to the anonymous dimwit.
I do find it funny, though, that every something happens, I'm either worried about having my credentials pulled or should be worried about having my credentials pulled. Shows a complete lack of understanding of the NFL. This isn't some college football program. This is the NFL. The league won't allow a team to pull somebody's credentials and the Steelers would never do so, anyway.
Dale...thank you for all your comments on this topic, they are appreciated.....
Hope all is well...
Wow, that is way too many words to read. I think Dale has been more fair on the topic than most people out there.
I will say that there's a difference between knowing for sure that someone is guilty and being able to prove it in court. Anyone who's seen a couple of Law & Orders knows that. It's possible that the DA isn't just trying to advance his career, but rather truly knows/believes Roethlisberger is guilty of some kind of sexual offense, but also knows it'll never survive trial. If that's the case, I know I'd pontificate if I were him. Of course, maybe you're right. I have no idea.
As a law enforcement officer I can tell you that the threshold to a verdict of "guilty" in a sexually related case is higher than most people realize. Particularly when the victim and witnesses provide conflicting statements. The District Attorney in this case knew the eyes of the world were upon him. I'm sure his decision was well thought out and that he consulted with his inner circle before rendering a decision not to prosecute.
In the end, the only thing he figured he could convict Ben on was for being a ....well, for being a..."Fathead".
SK
From someone with several family members in law enforcement that Blash officer did everything they are taught not to do. Just about every police force has someone who handles sexual assault cases. An officer is to take the complaint but not belittle the accuser or interrogate her. Someone who knows how to question an alleged victim is supposed to do the questioning.
Rape cases are extremely hard to prosecute when procedures are followed correctly.
Cops like this one give the good cops a bad name.
My question to all is what if the name was not Ben, say it way Ray Lewis, or Chad Ocho, or Bill Belichick, any other rivials name. Would we still say just suspend if this happened more than once to this person? Second Question: I have heard how it was said, How does this affect the team? Well with a bad imagine, Ben shirt or items will not sell as much.
For those saying he shouldn't be suspended at all and there is no precedent for this, uh, yes there is!!TO was suspended for a year for basically speaking his mind. BB is a thug and will become an albatross around the neck of this organization!!
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