Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

[Djfan]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

So, Mr Goodell, what exactly do these opinions from other players around the league have to do with your investigation about Georgia? Sounds like you went on a fishing trip to see what you could catch and use against Ben, even thought it would have nothing to do with Georgia.

AND,

Is this the standard you used for the Cheatriots when they were caught red-handed?

You're horrible for this game Rogie. Get lost.

[DukieBoy]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

So, Mr Goodell, what exactly do these opinions from other players around the league have to do with your investigation about Georgia? Sounds like you went on a fishing trip to see what you could catch and use against Ben, even thought it would have nothing to do with Georgia.

AND,

Is this the standard you used for the Cheatriots when they were caught red-handed?

You're horrible for this game Rogie. Get lost.

Right on, DJ.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Goodell unfairly rats out Steelers over Big Ben

By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports

DALLAS – For months now Ben Roethlisberger(notes) and the Pittsburgh Steelers have been working to put the past in the past. They’ve attempted to flip the script on that drunken night in Milledgeville, Ga. and make something good come out of what, at the very best, was a series of poor and classless decisions by their star quarterback.

Roethlisberger has been more open with fans. He’s been more polite with the media. He’s gotten engaged to be married and, it’s been said, has become more of a homebody. His teammates, coaches and the organization as a whole have welcomed him back into the fold. It’s one reason the Steelers are playing Green Bay in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

“He came back, he’s a changed man and he’s playing good football,” receiver Hines Ward(notes) said, summing it up after the AFC championship game.

Super Bowl media day is Tuesday and amid that feeding frenzy Roethlisberger was sure to face some pressure about the mistakes of last summer and beyond.

And that was before Roger Goodell foolishly went and breathed new life into the old story.

For reasons Goodell needs to explain, the NFL commissioner commented to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King about investigating Roethlisberger last offseason, a process that resulted in a six-game suspension (reduced to four).

King released an excerpt of Goodell’s comments (more to appear in this week’s magazine) that painted Roethlisberger as an ostracized member of the Steelers and, more importantly, threw nearly two dozen of his teammates under the bus.

“I bet two dozen [Steeler] players … Not one, not a single player, went to his defense. It wasn’t personal in a sense, but all kinds of stories like, ‘He won’t sign my jersey.’ ”

This isn’t a defense (or a condemnation) of Roethlisberger’s actions. The comment isn’t, in and of itself, a bombshell. It was completely unnecessary though, especially coming from the commissioner. And it was patently unfair for the other Steeler players who cooperated in the investigation into their quarterback.

At Monday’s media session, there was confusion and rebuttals to Goodell’s comments, with Roethlisberger saying he knows – “for a fact” – some teammates did support him. Some of the Steelers agreed. Of course, at this point, what else could they say?

“I’ve always had Ben’s back,” defensive end Brett Keisel(notes) said. “Ben and I have a very good relationship. I think everyone was behind Ben all along.”

So now someone isn’t telling the truth.

This is why the subject never should’ve been broached. Nothing good could come of it. Simply put, why would the commissioner of the NFL reveal any inside details of what was supposed to be a closed-door investigation?

Why have Roethlisberger now understand that a bunch of his teammates – and he can assuredly figure out who did and didn’t speak to Goodell – were crushing him, potentially behind his back? And why betray those guys, who certainly didn’t think their honest cooperation would one day become a Super Bowl week mini-controversy?

Most of all, why bring up something that’s negative for the Steelers, Roethlisberger or the NFL?

Goodell’s comments carry no positive information or spin. They do nothing for anyone. At best, it’s an annoying line of questioning that the Steelers are capable of compartmentalizing and ignoring. At worst, it’s an unneeded distraction that only regains steam when the rest of the story is printed in SI later in the week.

The NFL symbol is a shield and the commissioner is the person who’s supposed to carry it.

It’s the basis, Goodell says, for the suspensions he’s handed out to Roethlisberger and others. The quarterback was never charged with a crime in Georgia. The police’s detailed report of his boorish behavior was enough to cost him a month of the season anyway, a pretty severe penalty.

Goodell appears to thrive in the role of judge, jury and executioner. He comes across as very comfortable as the purveyor of justice. His predecessors in the commissioner’s office were never so iron-fisted when it came to player conduct. The public has backed his authority, in part because it has little sympathy for things like millionaire quarterbacks and drunken 20-year-old coeds in bodyguard-protected bathrooms of dive bars.

But with the authority that Goodell has seized comes a responsibility to put his employees in the most positive light possible. Everyone else can debate the merits of Ben Roethlisberger this week. Goodell should be pushing the spotlight onto something else. He can’t be preening around and talking it over with reporters.

That’s not how the disciplinary system has been sold to the players.

If he’s going to ask for teammates to participate in investigations, he can’t go defying that trust by passing along what they said. Things are either anonymous or not, you can’t be a little bit pregnant on that.

No, Goodell didn’t name names. He didn’t need to. By saying everyone he spoke with killed Roethlisberger behind his back then every Steeler that Goodell spoke with is implicated. Goodell ratted them all out.

That isn’t fair to them.

Maybe Roethlisberger cares. Maybe he doesn’t. Maybe the Steelers care. Maybe they don’t. Maybe there are hurt feelings and suspicious glances. Maybe not.

We’re unlikely to know for sure because the Steelers are sure to get together in advance of media day and agree to do the one thing Roger Goodell should have been smart enough to do himself.

Not say a meaningful word about it.

[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=dw-goodellroethlisberger013111"]http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=d ... rger013111[/url]

[spyboots]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Peter King has added a correction, says he assumed God-dell meant Steelers players but supposedly meant NFL players (non-Steelers). No matter; it's something that should not have been said at all.

[Crash]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Again, why is Goodell asking for input from players who aren't Steelers?

He should be investigated and then fired.

[phillyesq]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Regardless, of whether he asked 24 NFL players or 24 Steeler players this article and its subsequent publication are irresponsible journalism and unacceptable behavior by the person leading a billion dollar industry. If someone tells you that 24 players on one team wouldn't come to another player's defense wouldn't that pique your interest to find out more? why? who? what happened to cause the rift? So, King, in his infinite wisdom parenthetically inserts the word "Steelers" after the word "players" on his own without checking, verifying or determining the truth about the situation. He should be fired, regardless of his credentials and tenure.

Dan Rooney should hold a press conference and excoriate Goodell for absolutely embarrassing the Steelers and the NFL by even discussing what should be a private matter between Goodell, the Steelers front office and Ben in public. He should be fired immediately for tarnishing the shield that he was hired to protect.

This has to be one of the most back-handed capricious attacks on one person for no reason by someone that is supposed to be impartial in history. This is absolutely mind boggling.

Pappy

Extremely well said.

[phillyesq]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Again, why is Goodell asking for input from players who aren't Steelers?

He should be investigated and then fired.

I can see this conversation now:

Q: So, Ray, killed anybody lately, er, I mean, obstructed justice? Ok, now that we have that out of the way, what do you think about Big Ben. Keep in mind, you play the Steelers in week 4.

A: Ben kills us, but of course, not like I'd kill them (chuckle)... he, um, didn't sign a jersey -- suspend away! He Rog old buddy, can you do anything about week 4???

[Flasteel]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

The crying, whining, and continued conspiracy babble coming from this board is pathetic.

Sack up people.

[Oviedo]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Usually where there is smoke, there is fire.

[Eich]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

It's all going to continue to backfire on Roger. Now he's going to piss off Ben AND the entire team. I don't think Roger is going to be happy with the outcome of a pissed off Steelers team in this Super Bowl.

[JAR]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

If GA is still a story at this time, then come on media, let's be fair and rehash the story below? How about it? I mean, really, there was just as much evidence in these accusations as there were from a bunch of drunken sorority sisters walking around with DTF stickers on, right?

Packers Involved In Sexual Assault Flap

several members of the Green Bay Packers were interviewed as part of the investigation of two alleged sexual assaults at a Lake Delton condo.

The incident apparently took place early Saturday morning, after The McGovern Charity Golf Tournament held in nearby Wisconsin Dells and hosted by Packers’ linebacker Clay Matthews.

Seven Packers were interviewed by police. Six are not considered suspects. Matt Flynn, Josh Sitton, Korey Hall, Brad Jones, Clay Matthews and Khalil Jones were interviewed and released.

[JAR]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Teammates rebuff Goodell's claims no one defended Ben
By Scott Brown, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Last updated: 6:18 am

Read more: Teammates rebuff Goodell's claims no one defended Ben - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review [url="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_720750.html#ixzz1CiTZcfVT"]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... z1CiTZcfVT[/url]

FORT WORTH, Texas — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's claim that Ben Roethlisberger's teammates didn't support him following a tumultuous offseason is news to them.

"That's baloney," inside linebacker James Farrior said yesterday after the Steelers arrived in North Texas for Super Bowl XLV. "All of the guys in the locker room love Ben. No matter what people say, how people think we feel about Ben, we love the guy."

The Steelers' franchise quarterback may be a lightning rod for the media this week, but Goodell sparked the first real controversy of Super Bowl XLV.

Goodell, who visited Steelers training camp Aug. 5, told Sports Illustrated's Peter King that he talked to more than 20 of Roethlisberger's teammates during the offseason.

"Not one, not a single player, went to his defense," Goodell said in a story on SI's website yesterday. "It wasn't personal in a sense, but all kinds of stories like, 'He won't sign my jersey.' "

Sports Illustrated issued a clarification late Monday night and said Goodell was referring to NFL players — and not Roethlisberger's Steelers teammates specifically — when the commissioner said nobody came to Roethlisberger's defense.

Goodell suspended Roethlisberger for six games in April after the quarterback was accused of sexual assault. Goodell reduced the suspension to four games while lauding the changes Roethlisberger had made off the field.

Goodell's remarks caught the Steelers by surprise.

"I'm just thankful that my teammates are who they are, and I'm really appreciative of it," Roethlisberger said.

Roethlisberger's teammates rushed to his defense during the first media availability here.

Wide receiver Hines Ward said he didn't recall talking to Goodell about Roethlisberger.

Farrior said when Goodell met with the Steelers during training camp, he pressed the commissioner about Roethlisberger's suspension.

"I really didn't want to talk about anything else but the suspension," said Farrior, whom coach Mike Tomlin recently called the unquestioned leader of the Steelers. "He tried to get off the subject and really didn't give us any answers that we were looking for."

The Steelers have been supportive of Roethlisberger's efforts to right the wrongs that could have brought down his career in Pittsburgh.

In April, director of football operations Kevin Colbert said that the team didn't condone Roethlisberger's behavior but believed he deserved the chance to redeem himself.

"I'm not surprised by his success on the field nor his behavior off the field since that time," Colbert said yesterday.

Colbert said that the Steelers never tried to trade Roethlisberger after he was accused of sexual assault twice in a nine-month span.

Colbert said trade talk leading up to the NFL draft is standard operating procedure as the Steelers gauge interest other teams have of moving up or down in the first round.

"We never shopped anybody during that period," Colbert said, disputing reports that had indicated otherwise.

Goodell's comments to SI put him at odds with the Steelers for the second time this season.

His crackdown on dangerous hits led to outside linebacker James Harrison getting fined four times in 2010. And Steelers players questioned whether the league was targeting them and the team's style of play while making player safety a priority.

They seemed just as miffed about why Goodell appeared to be targeting Roethlisberger at the start of a weeklong NFL celebration.

In addition to saying the Steelers players had not come to Roethlisberger's defense, Goodell said he had no personal connection to the two-time Super Bowl winner.

"I don't know what he means by 'come to his defense,' " Tomlin said. "Ben is a highly respected member of our football team not only because of what he's done this year but just his body of work and the person that he is.

"We all fall short of perfection, we all make mistakes. He's doing the best that he can in terms of moving forward with it, as are his teammates."

Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel, perhaps Roethlisberger's closest friend on the team, said, "I've always had Ben's back. I think everyone was behind him. Everyone just didn't really know how to respond to all the questions and all the scrutiny."

Read more: Teammates rebuff Goodell's claims no one defended Ben - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review [url="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_720750.html#ixzz1CiTN6ofM"]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... z1CiTN6ofM[/url]

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Regardless, of whether he asked 24 NFL players or 24 Steeler players this article and its subsequent publication are irresponsible journalism and unacceptable behavior by the person leading a billion dollar industry. If someone tells you that 24 players on one team wouldn't come to another player's defense wouldn't that pique your interest to find out more? why? who? what happened to cause the rift? So, King, in his infinite wisdom parenthetically inserts the word "Steelers" after the word "players" on his own without checking, verifying or determining the truth about the situation. He should be fired, regardless of his credentials and tenure.

Dan Rooney should hold a press conference and excoriate Goodell for absolutely embarrassing the Steelers and the NFL by even discussing what should be a private matter between Goodell, the Steelers front office and Ben in public. He should be fired immediately for tarnishing the shield that he was hired to protect.

This has to be one of the most back-handed capricious attacks on one person for no reason by someone that is supposed to be impartial in history. This is absolutely mind boggling.

Pappy

I don't buy it Pappy. Rog told the lie and then called King and told him to cover his a$$ IMO. Mr. Knee Jerk Commish was too stupid to realize that his lie would be exposed and started his usual backtracking act.

[feltdizz]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

The crying, whining, and continued conspiracy babble coming from this board is pathetic.

Sack up people.

and I had a feeling there would be a clarification... this is SB week and King needs hits, clicks and controversy does it.

[feltdizz]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

I have no idea if Goodell used those exact words and honestly, it doesn't sound like anyhing a grown man would say.

It sounds like Goodell to the letter. Not thinking before he speaks.

Or as I've told you for months, our own worst enemy is Goodell.

You can admit that now, it's OK.

You can admit that I was right.. it's OK.

King is just as guilty as Goodell if not more.... to hold onto this for 30 days and misquote it shows how desperate he is for clicks.