Big Ben out 4-6

[mngolf19]

www.rotoworld.com

The Steelers have begun contacting teams to trade Ben Roethlisberger for a top-10 pick, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

This confirms yesterday's report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and takes it a step further. Schefter says the Steelers are the ones being proactive, and there is at least one team considering a deal. It's starting to look like a real possibility that Roethlisberger will be serving his 4-6 game suspension somewhere other than Pittsburgh.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

this just screams cleveland browns

they have #7 and are desperate to get rid of it, plus they don't have a qb

maybe a swap of 1st round picks and the rappist

Rooney's won't trade within division.

[Patler]

I think Goodell is starting down a slippery slope. If Big Ben's case is an isolated interest based on his pattern of behavior and other information Goodll may have learned from meeting with him, then I am all for the suspension. I would hate to see this become the norm though where players are suspended purely based on allegations.

This was a lot more than just an allegation. The report released following the investigation was quite clear about some things that, even if not criminally punishable, were certainly not the type of conduct a business would want high profile employees to engage in.

[red]

www.rotoworld.com

The Steelers have begun contacting teams to trade Ben Roethlisberger for a top-10 pick, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

This confirms yesterday's report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and takes it a step further. Schefter says the Steelers are the ones being proactive, and there is at least one team considering a deal. It's starting to look like a real possibility that Roethlisberger will be serving his 4-6 game suspension somewhere other than Pittsburgh.

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

this just screams cleveland browns

they have #7 and are desperate to get rid of it, plus they don't have a qb

maybe a swap of 1st round picks and the rappist

Rooney's won't trade within division.

hey, if you could give cancer to one of your enemies, would you?

[Patler]

That was exactly my point Bossman.

If the allegations are enough, when I'm in Houston next week, I'm going to drive up to Dallas, punch myself in the face a few times, and head on down to the police station and claim, um, Miles Austin did it.

Guess I better check and make sure he's in town first.

Let's use your example:

On the one hand Miles Austin says, "I never met Mr. Guiness, I have no idea who he is, and I certainly didn't hit him."

contrasted with

"Yes, I met Mr. Guiness that night, he was drunk, I suggested we have a boxing match. He said he didn't think it was a good idea, but didn't protest too much. I insisted, and proceeded to kicked the crap out of him while my bodyguards prevented his friends from intervening."


I doubt an early suspension would occur in the first situation. It very well might in the second.

[Patler]

"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'," 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."

[Tony Oday]

"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'," 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."

Now an NFL player can be suspended for being drunk at a bar...

[Tarlam!]

Not sure about the rest of the content of the letter, but if it doesn't mention the sexual misconduct, it's lame.

[Tarlam!]

Now an NFL player can be suspended for being drunk at a bar...

I don't get you, Tony. In one post you say you want your boy to watch and support NFL Teams/Players that have morals and are role models and then you post this. I don't really know where you stand on this.

[Guiness]

That was exactly my point Bossman.

If the allegations are enough, when I'm in Houston next week, I'm going to drive up to Dallas, punch myself in the face a few times, and head on down to the police station and claim, um, Miles Austin did it.

Guess I better check and make sure he's in town first.

Let's use your example:

On the one hand Miles Austin says, "I never met Mr. Guiness, I have no idea who he is, and I certainly didn't hit him."

contrasted with

"Yes, I met Mr. Guiness that night, he was drunk, I suggested we have a boxing match. He said he didn't think it was a good idea, but didn't protest too much. I insisted, and proceeded to kicked the crap out of him while my bodyguards prevented his friends from intervening."


I doubt an early suspension would occur in the first situation. It very well might in the second.

Of course that's how you want it to work. I know I was being argumentative, but I think I was ridding the train of thought through to its (what I think is obvious) conclusion. This is a lot of power to give Goodell, and one of the mantras I live by is 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely'. IMO the league being able to suspend based on allegations is damn close to absolute power.

Much as TO was able to sue Dallas for taking away his game checks (did he win that?) BR would have a case if he decided to file a grievance against the league for denying him his income.

[Tony Oday]

Now an NFL player can be suspended for being drunk at a bar...

I don't get you, Tony. In one post you say you want your boy to watch and support NFL Teams/Players that have morals and are role models and then you post this. I don't really know where you stand on this.

Where I stand is this. On one hand I am a parent and want my little 4 year old to be able to look up to the guys on the Packers. I want Packer People on our team. I do not want guys like Randy Moss, McKinnie, Tank Williams, Irvin, list goes on and on.

On the other hand I do not want this to turn into a field day against these young players. So he got drunk and lucky at a bar and the girl wanted to prosecute. I do believe that he is entitled to go out and have a good time, get drunk, hit on girls and hell get lucky. There were no grounds to prosecute him and be sucessful but he still gets punished? That means Jared Allen is open to it because lets face it he sounds like an ass in that video even though I support what he did. I do NOT think an accusation should bring about punishment. This is a he said she said thing and now he loses money and face because of it. I personally think he is an ass and I have been around pro/college athletes when I bartended back in school and they think the world is theirs. I think he actually did do something innapropriate however there is no proof but a 20 year old drunk girl.

What it boils down to is she said she didn't want it and he says she did. He has been accused two times of this I know but neither one led to criminal charges.

[Bossman641]

I think Goodell is starting down a slippery slope. If Big Ben's case is an isolated interest based on his pattern of behavior and other information Goodll may have learned from meeting with him, then I am all for the suspension. I would hate to see this become the norm though where players are suspended purely based on allegations.

This was a lot more than just an allegation. The report released following the investigation was quite clear about some things that, even if not criminally punishable, were certainly not the type of conduct a business would want high profile employees to engage in.

I'm no expert on the player conduct policy, but is it vague enough to allow Goodell full decision-making authority?

Based on the Goodell letter you posted it appears that it does.

....or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs, or NFL players...

I would be curious to see what happens if the players' union appealed this and what the NFL's response would be. Would it be anything more specific than misconduct?

[Freak Out]

Really it should never have made it to Goodell.......Pittsburgh should have suspended him.

[Tarlam!]

Where I stand is this. On one hand I am a parent and want my little 4 year old to be able to look up to the guys on the Packers. I want Packer People on our team.
()
What it boils down to is she said she didn't want it and he says she did. He has been accused two times of this I know but neither one led to criminal charges.

You might recall that I supported your point of view intitially, but I take the point of view after reading the DA's report that this is far more than a he said she said. I think that's the main difference.

Maybe I'm too European/Australian on this.

[Patler]

Of course that's how you want it to work. I know I was being argumentative, but I think I was ridding the train of thought through to its (what I think is obvious) conclusion. This is a lot of power to give Goodell, and one of the mantras I live by is 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely'. IMO the league being able to suspend based on allegations is damn close to absolute power.

Much as TO was able to sue Dallas for taking away his game checks (did he win that?) BR would have a case if he decided to file a grievance against the league for denying him his income.

BR could file the grievance if he wished. I doubt he would win. The investigator's report was too damning.

For years and years I had to sign a Personal Conduct Policy as an employee at will. While the policies generally explicitly mentioned criminal activity, they also included activity detrimental to the good will of the employer. Didn't have to be illegal at all to violate the policy.

I don't think Goodell has any greater power than any employer of an employee at will, which is basically what a pro athlete is, CBA or no CBA.

[Tony Oday]

Where I stand is this. On one hand I am a parent and want my little 4 year old to be able to look up to the guys on the Packers. I want Packer People on our team.
()
What it boils down to is she said she didn't want it and he says she did. He has been accused two times of this I know but neither one led to criminal charges.

You might recall that I supported your point of view intitially, but I take the point of view after reading the DA's report that this is far more than a he said she said. I think that's the main difference.

Maybe I'm too European/Australian on this.

See no I actually think this guy should get his ass kicked. If I was there he would have atleast had a bodyguard with a sore hand from hitting me repeatedly

that being said he wasnt even prosecuted...not that he was found innocent, he wasnt even TRIED!!! so thats what I do not agree with.