Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

[Flasteel]

Report: Suspension of Ben Roethlisberger coming by Tuesday
Posted by Mike Florio on April 18, 2010 10:44 PM ET
On Thursday, Steelers president Art Rooney said that the team would be working with the league regarding the imposition of discipline on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and that no suspension would be imminent. "I don't expect we will be announcing any final decisions until the week after the draft, at the earliest," Rooney said.

On the surface, it's a smart move. With the schedule being released on Tuesday night and the draft launching Thursday, the announcement of a Roethlisberger suspension would serve only to distract from a week of great NFL news and events.

Then again, maybe the league in its infinite P.R. wisdom (and we're not being sarcastic, for a change) has decided to slip the suspension through the five hole during a week in which we're otherwise waiting for the schedule on Tuesday and focusing on the draft, which starts Thursday. If the league announces the suspension in the middle of Tuesday afternoon, the dominant Wednesday morning news in every market but Pittsburgh will be local team's (teams') schedule. Then the draft will take over and by the following Monday we'll still be breaking down the picks and getting ready for minicamps.

If the league holds the suspension until the week after the draft, it'll take on a life of its own.

And so maybe it makes sense that, as Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reports, the NFL will announce a suspension of Roethlisberger on Monday or Tuesday. Of this week.

Per Cole, Roethlisberger is unlikely to fight the suspension.

That said, we don't rule out an appeal if Roethlisberger gets slapped with more than four games. In that case, an appeal could persuade Commissioner Roger Goodell to reduce the penalty, creating maximum impact in connection with the initial announcement and then generating a sense that the Personal Conduct Policy currently works as written, even though Goodell issues the penalty and presides over the appeal of his own decision.

We're thinking the end result will be four games. We won't be surprised if it's eight.

Either way, it looks like we'll have the answer soon.


4 games seems excessive to me. I think it should be a combination of a hefty fine plus a two-game suspension. There are larger issues here than winning football games, but we're talking about seriously jeopardizing our ability to reach the post-season if our starting quarterback is out for four or more games.

Yes, there is a selfishness to my reasoning but I also wonder why the team and fan-base must be punished as well. Roethlisberger is not guilty of a crime but he should be made to pay for brining shame to the team and to the league. If the objective of any consequences is to provide a deterrent for Roethlisberger or others to violate such conduct, I think forfeiture of large chunks of their salary would work pretty well.

[birtikidis]

Re: Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

Peter King is saying between 4-8 games per his twitter

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Re: Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

Report: Suspension of Ben Roethlisberger coming by Tuesday
Posted by Mike Florio on April 18, 2010 10:44 PM ET
On Thursday, Steelers president Art Rooney said that the team would be working with the league regarding the imposition of discipline on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and that no suspension would be imminent. "I don't expect we will be announcing any final decisions until the week after the draft, at the earliest," Rooney said.

On the surface, it's a smart move. With the schedule being released on Tuesday night and the draft launching Thursday, the announcement of a Roethlisberger suspension would serve only to distract from a week of great NFL news and events.

Then again, maybe the league in its infinite P.R. wisdom (and we're not being sarcastic, for a change) has decided to slip the suspension through the five hole during a week in which we're otherwise waiting for the schedule on Tuesday and focusing on the draft, which starts Thursday. If the league announces the suspension in the middle of Tuesday afternoon, the dominant Wednesday morning news in every market but Pittsburgh will be local team's (teams') schedule. Then the draft will take over and by the following Monday we'll still be breaking down the picks and getting ready for minicamps.

If the league holds the suspension until the week after the draft, it'll take on a life of its own.

And so maybe it makes sense that, as Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reports, the NFL will announce a suspension of Roethlisberger on Monday or Tuesday. Of this week.

Per Cole, Roethlisberger is unlikely to fight the suspension.

That said, we don't rule out an appeal if Roethlisberger gets slapped with more than four games. In that case, an appeal could persuade Commissioner Roger Goodell to reduce the penalty, creating maximum impact in connection with the initial announcement and then generating a sense that the Personal Conduct Policy currently works as written, even though Goodell issues the penalty and presides over the appeal of his own decision.

We're thinking the end result will be four games. We won't be surprised if it's eight.

Either way, it looks like we'll have the answer soon.


4 games seems excessive to me. I think it should be a combination of a hefty fine plus a two-game suspension. There are larger issues here than winning football games, but we're talking about seriously jeopardizing our ability to reach the post-season if our starting quarterback is out for four or more games.

Yes, there is a selfishness to my reasoning but I also wonder why the team and fan-base must be punished as well. Roethlisberger is not guilty of a crime but he should be made to pay for brining shame to the team and to the league. If the objective of any consequences is to provide a deterrent for Roethlisberger or others to violate such conduct, I think forfeiture of large chunks of their salary would work pretty well.

Good points, FLASTEEL. I wonder though if salary can be docked, per the collective bargaining agreement? And, he's so friggin' rich, I think it would be harder to hurt him by witholding salary than it would be by making him stand like Dump Truck in grey sweats as he watches his team struggle without him.

As far as punishing Steeler Nation by keeping him out for more than 2 games ... reading what's been published about how people in the 'burgh feel (links found in various threads around here), I wonder if a fair amount of citizens would rather give up a season and feel "clean", than win without a fair settling of the score, as they see it.

I actually think the bigger question is - how likely is it that we're going to go through this whole thing again? Because if he does wind up on the police blotter, or even the allegation page again, I think he's going to be gone for a long time, if not longer. And most of us would, in retrospect, wish he had been traded.

It's not clear cut to me whether he should be kept, from that point of view - whatever the Rooney's think is best I will support 100% - they've got a lot more info and insight into this than any of us do (except maybe Ruth, I believe he is actually some sort of NFL big wig who just enjoys posting here, and has a "cover" identity as a college professor ... ).

[Steel Life]

Re: Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

All I'll say is that if it's more than 4, then it's unreasonable. If it's 8...it'd be outrageous & I'd expect the union to really throw a MAJOR fit.

[brothervad]

Re: Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

A couple things...

According to Peter King from CNNSI...one of the reasons the league wants to have the deicision surrounding Ben's suspension and not the Rooney's (not the primary or only one mind you just one of the reasons) is that they can give a suspension of greater than 4 games based on the negotiated Player Conduct Policy.

It appears from King's article that Ben is running scared right now.

The other thing he mentions and the one that all of us wish for but realize it won't happen...
This thing is not going to go away...not now, not during the draft, not on primetime sweeps week (Law and Order SVU anyone?)...

There will be signs and boos everywhere he goes including his home stadium.

No I am afraid this is not going to go away and imagine the circus the media will have when Ben comes back from his suspension.

Brothervad

Article follows:

Steelers ready to move forward with Big Ben; mock draft madness Story Highlights
Ben Roethlisberger's punishment needs to include mandatory counseling
Tackle Bryan Bulaga's stock is all over the board as the NFL draft nears
Much more on mock drafts, arm length, Ryan Leaf and 10 Things I Think I Think

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Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of sexually assaulting two women, in separate incidents, in the past nine months. No criminal charges were filed in either case.
John Biever/SI


Thoughts on The New Draft, the inexact science of mock drafting, why I miss Paul Zimmerman so much at this time of year, the tackle who's all over draft boards ... but first, the only story of the week:

The Ben Roethlisberger saga, and what the Rooney family plans to do about it.

I spoke to Art Rooney II, the Steelers president and franchise caretaker since owner Dan Rooney is at work as Ambassador to Ireland, and wanted to get one thing straight: "My read of what you said in your news conference, and to the New York Times, is that you're moving forward with Ben as a Steeler.''

"That's a fair reading, yup,'' Rooney said.

So unless Roethlisberger screws up again -- unlikely because of how scared he is right now, I'm told -- he'll be the quarterback of the Steelers this year. That is after he's suspended by commissioner Roger Goodell for some period, which I now think has to be at least four games at the start of the season, for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

I feel confident this is going to be league discipline, not Steeler-imposed discipline, even though Rooney made it clear he'd rather the team punish Roethlisberger. The league handles hot-button discipline issues like this from 280 Park Avenue consistently, and I just don't think Goodell wants to cede authority to the team on such a hot-button issue. This also allows the league to rap Roethlisberger longer; the max sanction a team can mete out is four games. The league has no such limit.

On Sunday night, Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reported Goodell is expected to suspend Roethlisberger either Monday or Tuesday. I'd been told last week that the league would still be gathering information on the incident for several more days, but then the 572-page police investigation was released, a damning lot of evidence against Roethlisberger. Whether he's suspended this week or after the draft, there's little doubt Goodell will act swiftly on a Roethlisberger sanction once he feels he has all the pertinent information.

So Roethlisberger stays a Steeler. And the league, not the team, is likely to handle the punishment. Those are the two headlines here, but there's so much more. First, I'm not sure the Steelers giving Roethlisberger another chance is going to mollify Steeler fans. I think the anger of the fans is not going to be soothed very soon, and rightfully so. If a quarter of the accusations from that night in Georgia are true, he deserves the wrath he'll feel. There could be picketing in bucolic Latrobe this summer, at training camp. He'll get booed in his own stadium. He'll have to have cotton in his ears in every road stadium. He'll be a huge distraction to his own team. The Steelers are counting on time healing the wounds of the Steeler public. I'm not sure they're right about that. We'll see.

I know Steeler fans well. I married a Pittsburgh girl. The tenor of the fans I've spoken with goes something like this: I'll always love the Steelers, but I'll never cheer for that bum Roethlisberger again.

"I understand what's out there,'' Rooney said. "It's a difficult situation. I know our fans feel strongly about it. I'm hearing from them in large measure. I've gotten e-mails, been on some message boards and on Facebook. I've read the anger, and I understand it. Ben is embarrassed by it.''

But I'm also left thinking Roethlisberger's image might have been less sullied had he been charged with a crime. We've heard a fairly one-sided portrayal of events of the evening. An underage college girl and some friends are plied with alcohol, and Roethlisberger disappears with a totally intoxicated one, and the totally intoxicated one, who hit her head at one point, told police she remembers saying no to Roethlisberger's advances twice.

I'm not sure how reliable those statements should be, but it's likely the Roethlisberger side will try to let the story die and not refute anything. I believe the night probably happened close to the way the victim and her friends say it did, and that Roethlisberger is a lout. But in this job, I'm always uncomfortable hearing one side of a story, and the damning statements of the victim and her friends will likely be all we hear on this one. Maybe ever.

As for Roethlisberger, he's lucky the Steelers have a different morality standard for their star quarterback than for their Super Bowl MVP receiver. They could have traded Roethlisberger to Oakland, and if you think I'm kidding, you don't know Al Davis. But as angry as they obviously are with him, they're going to back him, assuming he turns his life around.

We could argue all day about the relative fairness of dumping a guy, Santonio Holmes, who is one strike from being banned for a year and entering the last year of a contract the Steelers probably were not going to extend, and keeping the marquee quarterback with two Super Bowl rings and a problem with how he treats women. The fact is, the quarterback's far more important to the team than the receiver, and he's going to get a little more rope. But there's no doubt he's reached the end of it with the Rooney family.

"When I met with Ben, he said he's going to be changing his life,'' Rooney said. Then he paused for two or three seconds.

"Words are the easy part,'' he said. "We have to make sure Ben puts himself on a path to do better. It's a tall order, but it's something he has to do.''

He has no choice if he wants to stay a Steeler. And if he wants to stay a free man.

One last point: However it happened, and finger-pointing aside, at least two women have come forward in the last nine months and accused Roethlisberger of taking advantage of them -- in graphic, sordid detail. That's why Goodell's punishment can't just be four, six or eight games. It has to include some mandatory counseling. If Roethlisberger's serious about changing his life, there's some evidence there that he needs to change how he treats women, and that should include figuring out why he keeps ending up in this spot.



Read More: [url="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/peter_king/04/18/mmqb/index.html#ixzz0lWG4pjFE"]http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/w ... z0lWG4pjFE[/url]
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[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Re: Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

A couple things...

According to Peter King from CNNSI...one of the reasons the league wants to have the deicision surrounding Ben's suspension and not the Rooney's (not the primary or only one mind you just one of the reasons) is that they can give a suspension of greater than 4 games based on the negotiated Player Conduct Policy.

It appears from King's article that Ben is running scared right now.

The other thing he mentions and the one that all of us wish for but realize it won't happen...
This thing is not going to go away...not now, not during the draft, not on primetime sweeps week (Law and Order SVU anyone?)...

There will be signs and boos everywhere he goes including his home stadium.

No I am afraid this is not going to go away and imagine the circus the media will have when Ben comes back from his suspension.

Brothervad

Article follows:...

So unless Roethlisberger screws up again -- unlikely because of how scared he is right now, I'm told -- he'll be the quarterback of the Steelers this year. That is after he's suspended by commissioner Roger Goodell for some period, which I now think has to be at least four games at the start of the season, for violating the league's personal conduct policy. ...

I liked reading that bit in green very much. It gives me a sliver of hope that maybe Ben will not keep doing this sh*t over and over again. Not much hope, but at least some.

[Chadman]

Re: Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

What if Goodell makes an example of Ben?


What if we are hoping for 2 weeks, expecting 4 weeks, fearing 8 weeks...but we are all off?

What if Ben gets the year?

Heres the thing- if Ben gets 8 weeks, you may as well give him the year- he'll be that far behind as it is. Besides, whoever plays QB in his absense will be hard done-by if Ben just walks back in after a lengthy suspension.

And the season will be over anyway if the Steelers can't win without Ben.

This could be a long year.

[SS Laser]

Re: Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

This could be a long year

Think how bad it will be for Ben! DUMBAZZZZ BEN!

On a side note, I plan and hope to make it to my first training camp. Want to see how that ends up this year first hand.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

Any more than a two game suspension & the league my as well say he is guilty.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

It's not clear cut to me whether he should be kept, from that point of view - whatever the Rooney's think is best I will support 100% - they've got a lot more info and insight into this than any of us do (except maybe Ruth, I believe he is actually some sort of NFL big wig who just enjoys posting here, and has a "cover" identity as a college professor ... ).

Me? An NFL big wig? Not anymore, my friend. I'm actually Paul Tagliabue. I just enjoy coming on here because you folks hate Goodell so much that it makes me feel better about myself.

[phillyesq]

Re: Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

I'm starting to wish that PFT would get suspended for 4 to 8 weeks.

I've generally tolerated Florio's d-baggery because his site is actually a decent source of news/rumors, but his "reporting" of the Ben situation has been nearly intolerable.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

If it is "ONLY" 4 games...Ben should take the day off and spend it on his knees thanking God. 8 games would not surprise me.

In all honesty, if Ben Rosthlisberger is going to remain a Steeler...He should consider this. After the suspension is handed down...Call a press conference. Make your apoligies again to the Steelers organization, your teammates, & the league. Go further...Apoligize to the Steeler fans and "All" people involved that you hurt with your actions. Now, you want to rebuild your character? You want to help the Steelers recover? You truely want to show the people you have remorse? You tell everyone you will not be participating in the remaining games of the 2010 season after you serve your suspension.

Ben needs to admit to having poor judgement. Ben needs to admit to having a problem with alcoholism (Which I think is the source). Tell everyone you are submitting to counceling for alcoholism. Tell everyone you are submitting to counceling for you aggressive behavior. The first step to maturity is admitting to your problems. The 2nd step is getting help. People will give that "2nd" chance in life for someone who "sacrifices" his career for a year to get back on track. The Steelers organization and Ben Roethlisberger will heal much faster this way. I have always said Ben is my favorite Steeler. However, when the name on the back becomes bigger than the color of the uniform or the shield on the front...I no longer root for the person as an individual. For me to give support back to Ben as an individual...I would stand behind him the second he makes these announcements. I would sacrifice a year of Steelers Football just to get back the Ben that the fans, my family, and myself loved. I think that is Ben's best chance to rebuilding his good name. Even more important, saving Ben's life. Say what you want about "no charges", "drunk college girls", "gold diggers", "he's a target"....There is evidence to a destructive path of behavior. This is beyond just having a franchise QB on the field. You arguments might have some merit if we could just see or hear about just 1 player out of the 1,695 remianing NFL players going through the same situation. Just my opinion.

[SS Laser]

Re: Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

Steelers | Roethlisberger will accept discipline if not too harsh
Comment (0)
Mon, 19 Apr 2010 07:41:01 -0400

Mark Maske, of The Washington Post, reports Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will accept disciplinary action by the NFL or the Pittsburgh Steelers without fighting the penalty if he and his advisers do not consider the discipline "too harsh," a source familiar with the situation said Monday, April 19.



Read more: [url="http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl#ixzz0lYvBaJIz"]http://www.kffl.com/hotw/nfl#ixzz0lYvBaJIz[/url]

[NW Steeler]

Re: Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

To think that Ben should be suspended for an entire season is completely ridiculous. Dante Stallworth was only suspended for a year and he KILLED another person with his car. WTF? Seriously people?

[proudpittsburgher]

Re: Per PFT: Roethlisberger Suspension Coming by Tuesday

If I had to wager a guess, I say it's one of two things . . . either Ben gets 6 games and nothing else, its over from that point on, or he gets four games, plus counseling and a monetary fine of some sorts. If I were a betting man, I say six games.