You wanna know why Ben got suspended?

[Captain Lemming]

On another thread, among much I disagree with Oviedo made the following statement that is dead on accurate:

While Goodel was the hatchet man don't underestimate the influence of the Rooney's in Ben's punishment. They gave the commish the greenlight to make an example out of Ben. Do you think Jerry Jones would have been so agreeable to throwing away 25% of their season to the commish to make a statement? Dan Snyder? Al Davis?

To the extent that any disparity exists I believe this is the basis.

Goodell met with Rooney, it is common knowledge Rooney WANTED to punish Ben, and it was stated at the time repeatedly that the union would have a strong case if Rooney suspended Ben.

Goodell absolutely wanted to make an example of Ben. Say what you want about whether or not "changes" were levied Goodell isnt about "justice" he cares about "notoriety". That affects how the league is "perceived". That can affect the bottom line, that can affect popularity. That was the entire point of his statement about Ben.

With Rooneys backing, even encouragement, and Ben frankly acting like he knew he deserved whatever he got, clearly uninterested in fighting it, the setting WAS IDEAL to make an example out of Ben.

Frankly it is EASY to understand why Goodell stuck it to Ben. Its not about "black" not about "white". It is about "green".

And everyone who potentially might have fought it, was not going to fight it. Rooney almost certainly ENCOURAGED it.

It was the PERFECT SETTING for Goodell too make an example out of one of the leagues BIGGEST stars.

Like Rooney, that I believe it is just what Ben needed to grow up.

Bens "fearlessness" on the field is what makes him great. It is that same tendancy that makes him take stupid risks. I believe he is better off in the long run.

Steeler fans if you want somebody to blame, blame the owner of your team.

I say thank you Mr Rooney.

I really believe Ben will learn to stop putting himself in risky situations, be a better player and person and bring us MORE rings. I say any other view is short sighted.

[RuthlessBurgher]

If he truly learns his lesson from all of this, losing him for a month isn't a massive price to pay in the long run. Frankly, it's better than doing nothing, and losing him for good if another incident were to occur. This should be the slap in the face he needs to ensure that these types of situations cannot occur again.

[Ozey74]

I think this suspension is what he needs. If he doesn't learn from this, he never will. I hope we can go 2-2 without him & he can return after the bye week.

I am not too concerned about him losing 1st team reps in training camp. He didn't have many first team reps in training camp his rookie year and that seemed to work out for him OK that season.

:tt2

[hawaiiansteel]

I thought it was because Ben is white?

[NJ-STEELER]

while i agree with the original staement


i think the message would have been sent with just a 2 game suspension or a 4 game one brought down to 2 after 'good behavior'

if the league was privy to all the infowe've learned about afterwards and not just the media lynching that was done after the DA spoke, i see no reason why they ddidn't give him less of a suspension

espceically in the wake of others players getting in trouble and nothing being done by the commish

[flippy]

So it was the "green" aliens and not the "black" african americans?

[plainnasty]

Frankly it is EASY to understand why Goodell stuck it to Ben. Its not about "black" not about "white". It is about "green".

And everyone who potentially might have fought it, was not going to fight it. Rooney almost certainly ENCOURAGED it.
I wouldn't be so quick to write off the influence and pressure from the black community.


If Roethlisberger were black, he'd be crucified

http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2010 ... 192942.txt (http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2010/03/11/opinion/doc4b986ba05d221449192942.txt)

Ben Roethlisberger should be thanking the heavens that he is white. If he was Ben the black guy accused of sexual assault in Georgia, he might not even make it to trial.

http://www.edgeofsports.com/2010-04-20-519/index.html

People ask me all the time, “is there a race element to this?”

If Donovan McNabb had been accused twice of sexual assault, would the reporting be the same?

Would there have been an Outside the Lines special?

Would it have taken four hours for it to be reported in the mainstream media?

http://blacksportsonline.com/home/index ... lisberger/ (http://blacksportsonline.com/home/index.php/2010/03/the-media-hypocrisy-in-the-case-of-ben-roethlisberger/)

Ben Roethlisberger and Tiger Woods: Does the media cover white athletes more favorably?

http://www.examiner.com/x-17321-African ... -favorably (http://www.examiner.com/x-17321-AfricanAmerican-Sports-Examiner~y2010m4d19-Ben-Roethlisberger-and-Tiger-Woods-Does-the-media-cover-white-athletes-more-favorably)



As for Rooney encouraging the suspension, maybe, but not 6 games.

[Crash]

Wait? You mean I was right when I said black media made this about race?

How can that be? I supposedly haven't revolved since the Trib board.

[feltdizz]

Wait? You mean I was right when I said black media made this about race?

How can that be? I supposedly haven't revolved since the Trib board.
Captain Lemming is one man with one opinion. Oh, and Rooney isn't black.

[Flasteel]

I think white, quarterback, and high-profile all played some role in the outcome. I also agree with Ruthless and think that this might be the shot across his bow which which helps him in the long run.

I certainly don't like the suspension and disagree with the length, but hopefully it serves it's purpose and we can get through the first four games just fine.

[Crash]

I disagree. If anything this would make Ben realize that Goodell doesn't care about Ben's well-being at all.

He suspends Ben, convicts him in his own kangaroo court. Instead of supporting him, backing him, he allowed a premiere player to be raked over the coals by the media. Made him an out cast.

But he'll also make sure to exploit Ben's return by placing the Steelers on Prime Time TV five times in 10 weeks when he returns.

It's not about helping Ben. It's about what he can get out of him.

If the media would have preached due process? Ben isn't suspended.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Seems to me that when this team has high expectations (coming off Super Bowls when the world is their oyster), they disappoint. And when expectations are low, they surprise everyone and are true championship contenders (and championship winners for that matter). After this suspension, Ben won't come out feeling entitled as if he has the world on a string...he'll come out with a chip on his shoulder with something to prove.

People are predicting that the Ravens and Bengals will fight for supremacy in this division, while the poor old Steelers without their QB for at least a month are a 3rd place afterthought. It's times like these when the team tends to perform its best...to disprove everyone who thinks that we don't own this division anymore and aren't a legit threat to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. I expect the guys to come out with a "screw that" attitude and will show people what the Pittsburgh Steelers are all about.

:tt2 :Steel :tt1

[Captain Lemming]

Wait? You mean I was right when I said black media made this about race?

How can that be? I supposedly haven't revolved since the Trib board.
Captain Lemming is one man with one opinion. Oh, and Rooney isn't black.

Dizz, please READ what "I" wrote before commenting. :roll:
Crash was not at all agreeing with what "I" said.

The thread was started to disprove Crash's silly assertion.

[Captain Lemming]

Seems to me that when this team has high expectations (coming off Super Bowls when the world is their oyster), they disappoint. And when expectations are low, they surprise everyone and are true championship contenders (and championship winners for that matter). After this suspension, Ben won't come out feeling entitled as if he has the world on a string...he'll come out with a chip on his shoulder with something to prove.

People are predicting that the Ravens and Bengals will fight for supremacy in this division, while the poor old Steelers without their QB for at least a month are a 3rd place afterthought. It's times like these when the team tends to perform its best...to disprove everyone who thinks that we don't own this division anymore and aren't a legit threat to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. I expect the guys to come out with a "screw that" attitude and will show people what the Pittsburgh Steelers are all about.

:tt2 :Steel :tt1

:Agree

[Crash]

The thread was started to disprove Crash's silly assertion.

You mean fact.

Like I said, look all over the web for Goodell to "treat Ben like Pac Man and Vick".

You guys know what that implies.

Don't be ignorant.

[Captain Lemming]

Wait? You mean I was right when I said black media made this about race?

How can that be? I supposedly haven't revolved since the Trib board.

Actually, Crash, YOU made it about race in THIS forum.

Any time something like this happens extremist views on BOTH SIDES start screaming race. I heard a guy on the podcast 3 guys and a mic (same network as Steel Curtain Radio) stupidly and prematurely imply that Ben was going to "get off easy" because of race. The guy was black and he was WRONG. Had he said it HERE I would rip him just like I did you Crash.

I ripped HehateMe here for bias when he brought up race in his anti Ben comments.

He accused "me" of defending Ben because of my "white" bias when I am in fact black.

I dont take sides based on race. You do. You did since the trib board.

You and the individual "black media" (not all black media is the same) members, those you criticize who want Ben's head, are no different, both equally biased, both wrong. You are just on different sides blaming the race boogieman way too quickly.

[siss]

If the Rooney's had suspended Ben, he very easily could have appealed it to the NFLPA. Instead they gave it to a higher up and let them deal with it. And as I have said, if it causes him to re-examine his life then so what. He had to have more then a slap on the wrist, it had to hurt him and it sounds like that is exactly what has happened. I believe his agent has said that Ben wants to make this a positive turning point in his life.
If you have a child who gets in trouble they will have two consequences. 1. is the natural consequence (i.e for Ben the embarrassment and the fans reaction) 2. is the one you hand out (for Ben its the suspension). And no matter what happens you have to make them learn their lesson no matter how hard it is to watch, other wise it has no meaning or baring on their decision making in the future. Ben HAS to make a decision. Is he going to clean up his life or is he going to continue? There is a lot at stack if he doesn't, but at least by having the suspension so harsh, NO ONE can say they didn't try to reach him.
It does not matter to me what the commish does with other players. I care about my franchise QB and his ability to be on the field. And if it has to hurt us for the first few games of one season then so be it. I want Ben to be on the field in black and gold a whole lot longer then one season.
The thing about Ben is that I have heard some really great stories and some really awful stories. I think that some are exaggerated greatly. If you listen to some he has slept with half of the ladies of Pittsburgh. But he also seems to have a heart of gold when it comes to children. And I don't know him or pretend to know him, but he seems to be a decent guy.
Now for Ben's part he has been contrite. I mean he admitted that he got caught up in what was happening to him. I don't think any one of us can pretend to understand what that is like. Or know that the same thing wouldn't happen to us if we were in that same situation. Only time will really tell. And if it doesn't then Ben won't be a steeler anymore. But I think we are all rooting for him to get his life straight so it doesn't effect his ability to play anymore.
And for the record I do not believe that Ben is guilty of anything but bad decisions.

[Captain Lemming]

If the Rooney's had suspended Ben, he very easily could have appealed it to the NFLPA. Instead they gave it to a higher up and let them deal with it. And as I have said, if it causes him to re-examine his life then so what. He had to have more then a slap on the wrist, it had to hurt him and it sounds like that is exactly what has happened. I believe his agent has said that Ben wants to make this a positive turning point in his life.
If you have a child who gets in trouble they will have two consequences. 1. is the natural consequence (i.e for Ben the embarrassment and the fans reaction) 2. is the one you hand out (for Ben its the suspension). And no matter what happens you have to make them learn their lesson no matter how hard it is to watch, other wise it has no meaning or baring on their decision making in the future. Ben HAS to make a decision. Is he going to clean up his life or is he going to continue? There is a lot at stack if he doesn't, but at least by having the suspension so harsh, NO ONE can say they didn't try to reach him.
It does not matter to me what the commish does with other players. I care about my franchise QB and his ability to be on the field. And if it has to hurt us for the first few games of one season then so be it. I want Ben to be on the field in black and gold a whole lot longer then one season.
The thing about Ben is that I have heard some really great stories and some really awful stories. I think that some are exaggerated greatly. If you listen to some he has slept with half of the ladies of Pittsburgh. But he also seems to have a heart of gold when it comes to children. And I don't know him or pretend to know him, but he seems to be a decent guy.
Now for Ben's part he has been contrite. I mean he admitted that he got caught up in what was happening to him. I don't think any one of us can pretend to understand what that is like. Or know that the same thing wouldn't happen to us if we were in that same situation. Only time will really tell. And if it doesn't then Ben won't be a steeler anymore. But I think we are all rooting for him to get his life straight so it doesn't effect his ability to play anymore.
And for the record I do not believe that Ben is guilty of anything but bad decisions.

NICE.

[Captain Lemming]

If you listen to some he has slept with half of the ladies of Pittsburgh. But he also seems to have a heart of gold when it comes to children.

Not necessarily contradictory. If the first is true, he might have a "heart of gold when it comes to children" because HE DOESN'T KNOW WHICH ONES ARE HIS. :lol:
(Sorry, I just couldn't resist).

[siss]

If the Rooney's had suspended Ben, he very easily could have appealed it to the NFLPA. Instead they gave it to a higher up and let them deal with it. And as I have said, if it causes him to re-examine his life then so what. He had to have more then a slap on the wrist, it had to hurt him and it sounds like that is exactly what has happened. I believe his agent has said that Ben wants to make this a positive turning point in his life.
If you have a child who gets in trouble they will have two consequences. 1. is the natural consequence (i.e for Ben the embarrassment and the fans reaction) 2. is the one you hand out (for Ben its the suspension). And no matter what happens you have to make them learn their lesson no matter how hard it is to watch, other wise it has no meaning or baring on their decision making in the future. Ben HAS to make a decision. Is he going to clean up his life or is he going to continue? There is a lot at stack if he doesn't, but at least by having the suspension so harsh, NO ONE can say they didn't try to reach him.
It does not matter to me what the commish does with other players. I care about my franchise QB and his ability to be on the field. And if it has to hurt us for the first few games of one season then so be it. I want Ben to be on the field in black and gold a whole lot longer then one season.
The thing about Ben is that I have heard some really great stories and some really awful stories. I think that some are exaggerated greatly. If you listen to some he has slept with half of the ladies of Pittsburgh. But he also seems to have a heart of gold when it comes to children. And I don't know him or pretend to know him, but he seems to be a decent guy.
Now for Ben's part he has been contrite. I mean he admitted that he got caught up in what was happening to him. I don't think any one of us can pretend to understand what that is like. Or know that the same thing wouldn't happen to us if we were in that same situation. Only time will really tell. And if it doesn't then Ben won't be a steeler anymore. But I think we are all rooting for him to get his life straight so it doesn't effect his ability to play anymore.
And for the record I do not believe that Ben is guilty of anything but bad decisions.


NICE.
what does that mean?

[siss]

If you listen to some he has slept with half of the ladies of Pittsburgh. But he also seems to have a heart of gold when it comes to children.

Not necessarily contradictory. If the first is true, he might have a "heart of gold when it comes to children" because HE DOESN'T KNOW WHICH ONES ARE HIS. :lol:
(Sorry, I just couldn't resist).
The ones that are his have the nice tight spiral!

[Captain Lemming]

If the Rooney's had suspended Ben, he very easily could have appealed it to the NFLPA. Instead they gave it to a higher up and let them deal with it. And as I have said, if it causes him to re-examine his life then so what. He had to have more then a slap on the wrist, it had to hurt him and it sounds like that is exactly what has happened. I believe his agent has said that Ben wants to make this a positive turning point in his life.
If you have a child who gets in trouble they will have two consequences. 1. is the natural consequence (i.e for Ben the embarrassment and the fans reaction) 2. is the one you hand out (for Ben its the suspension). And no matter what happens you have to make them learn their lesson no matter how hard it is to watch, other wise it has no meaning or baring on their decision making in the future. Ben HAS to make a decision. Is he going to clean up his life or is he going to continue? There is a lot at stack if he doesn't, but at least by having the suspension so harsh, NO ONE can say they didn't try to reach him.
It does not matter to me what the commish does with other players. I care about my franchise QB and his ability to be on the field. And if it has to hurt us for the first few games of one season then so be it. I want Ben to be on the field in black and gold a whole lot longer then one season.
The thing about Ben is that I have heard some really great stories and some really awful stories. I think that some are exaggerated greatly. If you listen to some he has slept with half of the ladies of Pittsburgh. But he also seems to have a heart of gold when it comes to children. And I don't know him or pretend to know him, but he seems to be a decent guy.
Now for Ben's part he has been contrite. I mean he admitted that he got caught up in what was happening to him. I don't think any one of us can pretend to understand what that is like. Or know that the same thing wouldn't happen to us if we were in that same situation. Only time will really tell. And if it doesn't then Ben won't be a steeler anymore. But I think we are all rooting for him to get his life straight so it doesn't effect his ability to play anymore.
And for the record I do not believe that Ben is guilty of anything but bad decisions.


NICE.
what does that mean?

It means :Agree

[flippy]

If you listen to some he has slept with half of the ladies of Pittsburgh. But he also seems to have a heart of gold when it comes to children.

Not necessarily contradictory. If the first is true, he might have a "heart of gold when it comes to children" because HE DOESN'T KNOW WHICH ONES ARE HIS. :lol:
(Sorry, I just couldn't resist).

The white ones are his. The black ones are Santonio's.

[Captain Lemming]

If you listen to some he has slept with half of the ladies of Pittsburgh. But he also seems to have a heart of gold when it comes to children.

Not necessarily contradictory. If the first is true, he might have a "heart of gold when it comes to children" because HE DOESN'T KNOW WHICH ONES ARE HIS. :lol:
(Sorry, I just couldn't resist).

The white ones are his. The black ones are Santonio's.

:D

[hawaiiansteel]

Vince Young will meet with Roger Goodell soon, but suspension is unlikely

Posted by Mike Florio on June 27, 2010


http://ll-media.tmz.com/2008/05/16/0516_vince_young2-1.jpg


Amid strong indications that Vince Young's prayers could be answered via the avoidance of a suspension, Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com reports that Young soon will meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Specifically, Goodell said at the annual Rookie Symposium in L.A. that the meeting will occur "sometime in next few weeks."

Young faces misdemeanor assault charges arising from an incident earlier this month at a Dallas strip club. But the precedent for a first-offense misdemeanor assault currently stands at no suspension, given the experiences of linebacker Joey Porter and receiver Braylon Edwards, who reportedly won't be suspended in the wake of a 2009 assault allegation to which he pleaded no contest.

The league office fined Porter the amount of a game check, and our guess is that Edwards -- and Young -- will face the same sanction, unless Goodell decides to hold quarterbacks to a higher standard.

Though he said, per Marvez, that a suspension of Young is unlikely, Goodell explained that each case stands on its own.

"I think you have to look at these cases individually and understand them in a way of what are the issues going on with any individual," Goodell said. "The intent of the [Personal Conduct Policy] is to intervene so you help some individuals make a better decision and avoid these troubles. So when I sit down and look at all the facts around Vince or any other player, you want to make sure they understand that and what the policy was designed to do and more importantly understand the responsibility [of being an NFL player]."

In Young's case, it won't take long to look at the facts, because the facts appear in one of the highest-quality surveillance videos we've ever seen.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... dell-soon/ (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/06/27/vince-young-will-meet-with-roger-goodell-soon/)