NFL Press Release Regarding Roethlisberger
by Bruce Raffel on Apr 21, 2010 1:33 PM EDT
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PrintFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/21/10
BEN ROETHLISBERGER TO RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION;
SUSPENDED FOR SIX GAMES FOR VIOLATING NFL PERSONAL CONDUCT POLICY
Suspension Could be Extended or Reduced Based on Roethlisberger’s Progress
COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL notified Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER today that he 1) must undergo a comprehensive behavioral evaluation by medical professionals and 2) will be suspended without pay for the first six games of the regular season for conduct detrimental to the NFL in violation of the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.
After consultation with Commissioner Goodell, Steelers President ART ROONEY and the commissioner informed Roethlisberger by telephone today of the two-step approach that is designed to hold Roethlisberger accountable for his conduct and provide him an opportunity to change his behavior and establish himself as a responsible individual.
In a letter to Roethlisberger, Commissioner Goodell said that Roethlisberger must adhere to any counseling or treatment that is recommended by the professional evaluators to help him make better decisions and avoid situations that can cause legal or other problems. A professional behavioral evaluation is mandatory for anyone that has violated the NFL Personal Conduct Policy. Roethlisberger may not attend any team off-season activity after today until he has completed the evaluation and the evaluating professionals confirm with the commissioner that Roethlisberger may resume football activities. If so cleared, Roethlisberger will be able to participate in training camp and preseason games this summer.
The commissioner said he would review Roethlisberger’s progress under the plan prior to the start of the regular season and consider whether to reduce the suspension to four games. Failure to cooperate and follow the plan could result in a longer suspension, the commissioner added.
"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 Goodell stated in his letter to Roethlisberger. "As the District Attorney concluded, the extensive investigatory record shows that you contributed to the irresponsible consumption of alcohol by purchasing (or facilitating the purchase of) alcoholic beverages for underage college students, at least some of whom were likely already intoxicated. There is no question that the excessive consumption of alcohol that evening put the students and yourself at risk. The Personal Conduct Policy also states that discipline is appropriate for conduct that ‘undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs, or NFL players.’ By any measure, your conduct satisfies that standard."
Commissioner Goodell said his review of the matter included the extensive volume of material released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Milledgeville Police Department; public comments by and a private conversation with Georgia District Attorney Fred Bright; comments and recommendations of Roethlisberger’s representatives; a personal interview with Roethlisberger on April 13; dialogue with current players, former players, the NFL Players Association, and others; and information learned by the NFL office in the course of examining the Milledgeville matter.
Other excerpts from Commissioner Goodell’s letter:
"I recognize that the allegations in Georgia were disputed and that they did not result in criminal charges being filed against you. My decision today is not based on a finding that you violated Georgia law, or on a conclusion that differs from that of the local prosecutor. That said, you are held to a higher standard as an NFL player, and there is nothing about your conduct in Milledgeville that can remotely be described as admirable, responsible, or consistent with either the values of the league or the expectations of our fans."
"Your conduct raises sufficient concerns that I believe effective intervention now is the best step for your personal and professional welfare."
"I believe it is essential that you take full advantage of the resources available to you. My ultimate disposition in this matter will be influenced by the extent to which you do so, what you learn as a result, and a demonstrated commitment to making positive change in your life."
"In your six years in the NFL, you have first thrilled and now disappointed a great many people. I urge you to take full advantage of this opportunity to get your life and career back on track."
In addition to the discipline imposed on Roethlisberger, league policy requires that NFL teams remit to the league a portion of a suspended player’s salary starting with the second suspension in a year for violations of the personal conduct or drug policies. The second such suspension in a year results in the club being assessed 25 percent of the suspended player’s forfeited salary to a maximum of $200,000. Prior to the Steelers trading him to the New York Jets, wide receiver Santonio Holmes was suspended for four games for violating the substance abuse program.
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I think Ben deserved a suspension but.........
though 2 games would have not been enough IMO 6 games is too many. 4 would have been fair. He was not convicted, there is a lot of hearsay evidence and this will really hurt the Steelers unduly. Coming from a Bengals fan you may be surprised but fair is fair and I think this was too punitive to Ben, the team and it’s fans. Yes the evidence is there that he acted like an immature jerk but if that is the criteria a full fourth of the NFL players would be suspended – maybe more. Of course Baltimore has to be loving this.
"Coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous"
I agree that a 4 game suspension would have sufficed, but obviously Goodell is cracking down on this type of behavior. After all,
Ben isn’t some 3rd string QB that most fans have never heard of. He’s known internationally, and unfortunately for him, he had to be made an example of. But I will admit as a Ravens fan, I’m loving it.
"I kill myself in small amounts"
by StuckInUtah on Apr 21, 2010 2:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
My guess is
that it will end up being four games, but the league looks better for originally making it six.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Apr 21, 2010 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
on the radio
they were saying it was tough for Goodell, because if he under-suspended him, people would say it is cuz he is white.
by Rayisyourdaddy on Apr 22, 2010 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Serial rapist, two time SB winning QB, on a 6 game suspension for a top 10 pick......... any takers?
Al Davis: Holy Shit! I got me one of them picks. I was gonna use it on some guy with the same name from that Army of Darkess flick, but what the hell, bring on the rape, bring on the rape, bring on the rape…. because that’s what we’re going to be doing to Arizona, San Fran, and Seattle.
Rex Ryan(pulls up his pants): Now hold on for a second Grandpa. I don’t have me one of dem picks, but I got me a Golden Boy QB to trade instead. I know them Rooneys love these Golden Childs. Me, I’d make my kids be altar boys for a chance at that there Lombardi thing-a-ma-gig. I alreadly got Holmie, he used to rape my old team, and if I add this for real rapist…. oh my god, I’m gonna win me that SB. My golden child for the winning rapist….. what you say Rooney.
It'd be ridiculous for them to release Ben.
This whole thing will eventually blow over and I’m pretty confident that the Rooneys are aware of that.
If Oakland gives up their first for Ben
then how will they be able to draft Terp Bruce Campbell?
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Apr 21, 2010 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
yes yes yes yes yes yes
this is perfect. i hope they trade him. we are going to sweep the steelers this year. yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
"When you go in the lions den you don't tippy toe in, you carry a spear, you go in screaming like a banshee, you kick whatever doors in, and say, 'where's the son of a bitch. If you go in any other way your gonna lose." - Brian
I think six games is completely fair
Read the police report and the surrounding circumstances. Ben is seriously creepy.
"Just win baby. Yeah, I stole that."
--Jon Gruden
If this were Flacco I doubt very much you would have the same opinion.
Yes Ben’s actions are seriously creepy but a 4 game suspension is a serious punishment. I am not saying there is no justification for 6 games but to make the team and it’s fans suffer this is a hit too much. I could care less about Ben. I would have suspended him for 4 games and fined him an additional 4 games of salary. Fining him a half of a years salary would make him pay more and make the team and fans suffer less. Better yet, make him play 16 games and fine him a years salary. That would make the person responsible pay. That would be justice.
"Coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous"
flacco isnt a piece of trash
ben is
"When you go in the lions den you don't tippy toe in, you carry a spear, you go in screaming like a banshee, you kick whatever doors in, and say, 'where's the son of a bitch. If you go in any other way your gonna lose." - Brian
If it was Flacco...
I’d have a hard time seriouslly even rooting for the Ravens anymore if he wasn’t traded or released. Thank god we have a geek for a QB.
if having morals and being a stand up guy makes you a geek
then flacco is a geek
"When you go in the lions den you don't tippy toe in, you carry a spear, you go in screaming like a banshee, you kick whatever doors in, and say, 'where's the son of a bitch. If you go in any other way your gonna lose." - Brian
Flacco being a nerd in general makes him a geek, not his morals. I’m sure you’ve got the same sense when you’ve seen him in interviews.
He also went to the bar High Tops in Timonium with Mason one time. I and a lot of ppl I was with talked him, we all got the same impression, big nerd. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, just he’s a geek that’s a freak athlete.
JJ: I'm surprised at that comment
about it being too harsh a penalty on the Steelers fans! The guy is obviously guilty but just not prosectuable under the justice system. Rape is still a very bad thing and everyone knows he is lucky not to be going away for a while and watch the civil suit pop up in the news shortly.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Apr 21, 2010 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Bruce, I can understand where you are coming from as well
There is so much conjecture regarding what did or didn’t happen. You can only determine a few things with reasonable clarity. Ben is a pompous, arrogant jerk who thinks his status justifies his behavior. This girl appears not to be a sweet innocent. She pinched him and grabbed his ass and wore a DTF button as I understand it. She is also a bit responsible. Put two irresponsible people together and mix in alcohol and that is a recipe for trouble.
That being said, no does mean no. Ben went beyond what I consider human decency and it was particularly troubling to me that his bodyguards blocked the door of the restroom. I would say that there is reason to see him punished and he has been. Rape is a very serious charge. Is there some component of it here? Yes, maybe, but it is mollified a bit but the girls behavior. To call this rape in the truest form is to diminish the act in its truest brutal form. Ben didn’t grab an innocent girl from her car, knock her unconscious and brutalize her. It looks like the suspension could be brought back to the 4 games I felt was reasonable. Lets face it. Ben is stupid. Stupid is a permanent condition. Football rivalry aside, the most important thing is that both parties come thru this episode as unmarred and justice is served. It would be easy, as a Bengals fan to join in on the Ben bashing and to be sure I would like to give him the good butt whipping he deserves. But, a principle I have always tried to follow is to do what is right rather than what is easy. I do, however fail at times to live up to that and it always cost me.
I am not too sure this is over. If there is a civil trial the rules of evidence go from reasonable doubt to preponderance of the evidence and here I think Ben could lose.
I hate the fandom of the Steelers and yes, sometimes the Ravens as I am sure you do the Steelers and Bengal fans as well. But we must separate this from them as people. We are all passionate fans of our teams but put that aside and we are all the same. We should never forget that. As a veteran, and I am sure I speak for all of us, I fought for Steeler fans as well as Raven and Bengal fans.
"Coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous"
Just realize.....
That Goodell has seen all the police files on the case, spoke to the prosecutor in depth, and to Ben before making his decision. This is really a 4 game suspension with the option to lengthen it if Ben is not saying and doing the right things by the time the season starts…
by Rayisyourdaddy on Apr 22, 2010 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
My undersanding is that........
It is a 6 game suspension that Ben has the chance to make a 4 game one. A small distinction to be sure but the difference is that it is 6 games unless Ben proactively convinces the Commissioner to shorten it. Ben has to do more than be a good boy. The onus is on him to convince Goodell that he is sincere.
"Coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous"
JungleJohnJacobJingleHeimerSmith
His name is my name to.
Whenever we go out, all the people shout
JungleJohnJacobJingleHeimerSmith
Lalalalalalala
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
its john jacob jingleheimer schmidt
"When you go in the lions den you don't tippy toe in, you carry a spear, you go in screaming like a banshee, you kick whatever doors in, and say, 'where's the son of a bitch. If you go in any other way your gonna lose." - Brian
Same freaking thing. Keystone Light is already flowin.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Party on dudes!
You still have another 8 months or so before the Bengals wax your ass for the 3rd time in a row.
"Coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous"
honestly, i would feel the same way. No BS.
I would feel the need to cleanse myself of it, and I’d be thinking “wow this guy is still young, and there’s a draft coming up… TRADE”
which is funny because the steelers are thinking the exact same thing.
"Just win baby. Yeah, I stole that."
--Jon Gruden
I actually believe you jackma. I have no reason to doubt your honesty
I hope you understand that my concern is not about Ben. It is the team and it’s fans. I don’t give a chili bean fart about Ben.
"Coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous"
I don’t give a chili fart about anything associated with Pittsburgh. Their team, fans, organization is total crap to me.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
It looks like the Commissioner agrees.......
Glad you’re on board now.
Don't count the Steelers out just yet
Ben is a good but not great QB. On a team with a lesser Defense there would be no SB rings on Ben’s finger. He is replaceable. As is Carson. As is Flacco. Our Defenses made us as good as we were. There are probably a dozen QBs in the league who could have done what any of our 3 QBs did. The Steelers are still a dangerous opponent – again – as are the Bengals and the Ravens. Think what you want but as for me I am not going to bury the Steelers until they are dead and they are far from that. The may look beatable but I promise you that if you think they will be easy prey they will probably come out on top.
I think the team strengths rank Ravens, Bengals Steelers Browns but you can throw a blanket over all three of the top teams in our division. This is of course pre draft and as close as we are future acquisitions prior to opening day can make all the difference. Nobody has a headlock on this division especially any team that thinks they do. We have 3 teams who can contend and believe me nobody has “easy victory” stamped next to the Ravens,Bengals or Steelers on their schedules.
"Coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous"
by JUNGLEJOHN on Apr 21, 2010 2:27 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Dixon can play, you can get 9 wins with him playing ball control offense and Troy being healthy on that D.
They were 9-7 with Ben last year. Troy will help improve them for sure, but losing Ben for a season is 30 times worse than losing Troy for a season.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Not so much….. they lost to the Browns and Oakland with Ben. If they had Tro no chance they lose to those teams. Ben is the type of player that plays at the level of the other team he’s playing. Troy is just a freak all the time. That D had an open wound against Bruce Gradkowski, they couldn’t stop the bleeding. Gradkowski looked like Dan Marino. Troy is the most disruptive force on Defense in the NFL. He can play at the line or deep middle and hit you like Ray Lewis. A true freak.
That’s all in the match-ups. Oakland is a power running team, and Troy would have helped. Oakland also has a fairly good secondary, and since the Steelers are a pass-first team now, that hurt the Steelers.
I just don't know about that
Take away Ben and Santonio and expect the Steelers not to have a significant drop off? Even a good organization like them couldn’t help but have an understandable lapse in competition.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Apr 21, 2010 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I totally agree. He was saying that Troy was a bigger loss than Ben and used the Oakland game as an example. I was just saying that Troy would have been a huge factor in that game because of the match-up. Ben is a much bigger loss overall.
Ben also makes play after play at the end of the game. His stats aren’t amazing, but he is one of the better clutch Qb’s in the game. When you are a defensive minded team you usually play in close games, so you need a QB who can make plays when the pressure is on. I could see this having a big effect on the steelers.
I hate to stick my head into the lion's mouth ... OK maybe I don't hate it but
Troy is arguably one of the three best players on D in the NFL over the past many years. Ed Reed and Ray are the other two. As far a pure quarter backing skills are concerned I can think of several better QBs than Ben. I would rather have Troy on my team than Ben any day. Troy’s problem is that he can’t seem to stay on the field in the last couple of years. I will say that Ben is a good fit with the Steelers but he is more easily replaced than Troy. I can understand you thinking otherwise but 30 times worse is a pretty big exaggeration.
"Coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous"
Can't say I agree.
That offense without Ben and Holmes will be a nightmare. They really need that run game to come back this year.
and unless they load up in this draft on o-linemen
they will not have much of a run game. Think Willie Parker is happy he’s out of there?
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Apr 21, 2010 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Not too sad about this
It is hard for me too be too bummed by this news. If I were Al Davis I would be on the phone to the Rooney’s today and say “Take my top 10 pick, give me Ben!” I laugh when I hear he isn’t a great QB. The man finds ways to win. He happens to play for a team I don’t like but he knows how to lead an offense and with 2 minutes left he is among the top QBs in the league. He may be seriously creepy but he is seriously effective. Either way I am pleased he won’t be playing for several games!
GA Law
I think everyone is missing something here. It is a crime in Georgia to distribute alchohal to a miner. This creep is walking untouched. I don’t care how many games he will miss, the dude is rich. I’m upset that this guy is not being charged with anything.
SN:As a Raven I think it is great he won’t be playing in our first match up. Yeah there D will be pumped, but so will ours. Our offense upgraded in the offseason and they lost there two biggest weapons. Gotta like the looks of that. But hey its only April.
by Georgia Raven on Apr 21, 2010 5:38 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Georgia, yes you are correct.
However, I listened to Ben’s lawyer on the MIke and MIke show this morning and per him Ben denies supplying any alcohol to the girl and there is no evidence to prove that he did. Did he do it? Yea, probably, but in court it is not what you believe happened – it is what you can prove happened. A prosecutor is judged by his conviction rate and he is not going to bring charges, especially in such a high profile case, if he does not have concrete evidence. Does this mean that at times the guilty get off? Yes, but it also protects the innocent.
I think you give Ben way too much credit. The Ravens and Bengals can play the Steelers straight up and still win. I would rather play them with Ben as the victory is all the more sweet. Maybe you don’t think the Ravens are good enough to beat them. Hell I am a Bengals fan and I seem to have more confidence in your team than you do. Bring on Ben. Bring on Troy. Lets play football and may the best team win. Them being worse does not make you any better.
That being said I also think Ben is a major creep.
"Coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous"
miner's can't drink in GA?
What the heck?
:P
by Rayisyourdaddy on Apr 22, 2010 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
The six games suspension is acceptable
Roger Goodell was in the unenviable position of having to discipline a player and had no previous precedent by which to go by. While I’m no fan of the Commisioner, I do applaud the decision to sit Roethlisberger. The decision is the best decision for the health of Roethlisberger and ultimately the Steelers as an organization. Roethlisberger needs some serious help and he can’t get that help at the friendly confines of the Steelers facility. I believe the suspension should be a hard six games and nothing less. Roethlisberger has many issues to confront including his problem with alcohol.
I am disappointed that the decision has taken so long to come and that Roethlisberger was allowed to be around teammates and the Steelers facility. Other players have not been afforded such luxuries with the possibilty of a suspension hanging over their heads. At the end of the day though, the Commissioner appears to have gotten it right with Roethlisberger. The protection of the shield warrants the six games suspension in my opinion.
And I have to wonder
if his decision had something to do with the final NFL schedule, much less the coincidence of when the Steelers play on prime time TV and when Ben’s suspension is?
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Apr 21, 2010 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I had the very same thought
It is conjecture on my part but i wouldn’t rule out consideration given to the Steelers. I would have like to been a fly on the wall during the those sessions when the schedule was set.
I get the vibe...
that Big Ben has been pulling shit like this for a while. No one on the team or the ownership have come to defend him. I wouldn’t be surprise if the organization hasn’t been covering incidents like this in the past. Add in the big issue, why were cops acting as his personal body guard on their off time and why weren’t they allowed to interact with the woman. Obviously there was a huge conflict of interest there.
It’s a shame cause he has a lot of talent but it seems like he is his own worst enemy. You never want to see someone get destroyed by their personal demons.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Apr 22, 2010 12:15 PM EDT reply actions
There is no way...
To legitimately defend a player for something like this. What are they going to say? “We support Ben, and if he wants to stick his dick in some extremely drunk girl, it is okay with us?” There is no question he had sex with a drunk girl; the reason he wasn’t charged was there was no proof it was not consensual. Same with the Lake Tahoe incident. That is the same reason Atl did not say those types of statements either. It is not like they are going to call a press conference to say “We condone the cruel treatment of animal’s if it is for the enjoyment of Mike Vick and his friends.”
It is very different than the Ray Lewis case, where the whole question was whether he had even done anything more than “wrong place, wrong time,” so the organization felt the ability to stand behind him publicly and support him, because there was the possibility he had done nothing wrong, legally AND morally!
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