Big Ben out 4-6

[MadScientist]

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

Since Pittsburgh is trying to get rid of him, the suspension had to come down from the league.

[Tarlam!]

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

Since Pittsburgh is trying to get rid of him, the suspension had to come down from the league.

Rooney said he was prepared to doll out the punishment but felt obliged to dance with Goodell....

[RashanGary]

"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."

Not a great analogy. Now, if the person who was fighting was a UFC fighter with his, "down to fight" pin on and Ben came up with that argument, it would be tougher to charge him.

Outside of great fighters, how many people do you think want to have Big Ben swinging at their faces? I'll bet there is a higher percentage of 20 year old females who were seen flirting with Ben in his VIP section, wearing DTF pins that want to have sex with Ben compared to the percentage of feeble, regular people willing to have Big Ben swinging at their face with the attempt to break it.

[RashanGary]

Oh, and on top of that, Ben never said she said no. She said that in her second statement, after being in contact with a lawyer.

[Tony Oday]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/why-big-ben-really-deserved-the-suspension

my thoughts summed up...Big Ben you are a moron.

[Patler]

Oh, and on top of that, Ben never said she said no. She said that in her second statement, after being in contact with a lawyer.

I wasn't suggesting that Roethlisberger he did say that publicly about his situation.

We were talking about hypothetical situations. Guiness proposed that a false accusation by him could get a player (Miles Austin) in trouble based on the precedent of Roethlisberger's suspension. I suggested that it might or might not, and gave two different extremes. Neither extreme was intended to be Roethlisberger's exactly.

BUT...we have no idea what he may or may not have said to Goodell. Maybe he admitted that she said no, but that he didn't think she meant it because she wasn't forceful enough (as some in here have suggested). Maybe he said nothing at all. We don't know.

The suspension is likely based on information that is not public, including the conversation between Goodell and BR.

[LP]

I think Goodell has just had enough of Rothlisberger's idiocy and sleazebag behavior causing bad publicity for the NFL. There are penalties in life for being stupid, even if it isn't "criminal". He's also sending the message to the rest of the young, rich, stupid and or sleazebag players in the league, that while mistakes may be made, patterns of bad conduct will not be tolerated. Period. End of dicussion.

[MJZiggy]

Oh, and on top of that, Ben never said she said no. She said that in her second statement, after being in contact with a lawyer.

You really, really, REALLY need to review the facts of this case. She not only said no, she tried to LEAVE THE ROOM.

I think Goodell made the right call here. Rooney had input with Goodell on the matter and clearly said that if the League had not been severe enough, Rooney would have added to it.

The part of the punishment that you guys are missing is that BR has to undergo behavioral counseling and that the length of the suspension is in direct relation to how he performs in this counseling. It could be 4 or it could be indefinite. He will not be reinstated until Goodell is satisfied.

BR has said he will not appeal this decision, his owner is livid, he's lost his team, and he's lucky to still be on the team. Whether they had evidence to convict is not the issue. He is supposed to be someone for little kids to look up to. People have cited various players and their crimes, but this is the QB--the face of your team is a sexual predator. That simply can't and won't be tolerated.

If you missed it, the Steelers will have to pay a fine as well for having two players simultaneously on suspension for conduct unbecoming.

[Bretsky]

well deserved

Steelers should trade his ass to Oakland so he can suffer there for many years to come. If they can, they will IMO

[swede]

well deserved

Steelers should trade his ass to Oakland so he can suffer there for many years to come. If they can, they will IMO

+1

[pbmax]

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.

How about this? He was suspended in part for providing alcohol to underage patrons? The fact that he then tried to have sex with one in the bar just makes him look like a perv. Its hard to imagine I have more game than a Starting NFL QB.

As Florio has pointed out, basing a conduct policy only on arrests and convictions is problematic. In the case of an arrest, the local police have authority and power to detain or release someone who may (or may not) have been engaged in illegality. The police in the GA town let Ben leave after cursory questioning. They also failed to secure evidence from the crime scene and the bathroom was cleaned with bleach and Spic and Span. Such a policy gives the police the chance to help the local team/hero out.

Basing it on a conviction, to my way of thinking is confusing not guilty with innocent. OJ isn't innocent. But he was found not guilty.

An employer is not under any requirement to act under the rules of a criminal court. If Ben doesn't want drunk girls to be able to get him in trouble, then he can stop buying them drinks and stop trying to have his way with them. No one can get him in trouble like this unless he proactively involves himself.

[Tony Oday]

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.

How about this? He was suspended in part for providing alcohol to underage patrons? The fact that he then tried to have sex with one in the bar just makes him look like a perv. Its hard to imagine I have more game than a Starting NFL QB.

As Florio has pointed out, basing a conduct policy only on arrests and convictions is problematic. In the case of an arrest, the local police have authority and power to detain or release someone who may (or may not) have been engaged in illegality. The police in the GA town let Ben leave after cursory questioning. They also failed to secure evidence from the crime scene and the bathroom was cleaned with bleach and Spic and Span. Such a policy gives the police the chance to help the local team/hero out.

Basing it on a conviction, to my way of thinking is confusing not guilty with innocent. OJ isn't innocent. But he was found not guilty.

An employer is not under any requirement to act under the rules of a criminal court. If Ben doesn't want drunk girls to be able to get him in trouble, then he can stop buying them drinks and stop trying to have his way with them. No one can get him in trouble like this unless he proactively involves himself.

well he wasnt convicted of that either, buying underagers drinks, or he would be subject to a gross misdemenor regardless if they had a "fake"

I still think he is a D-bag but I do not think he should have been suspended.

[MJZiggy]

well deserved

Steelers should trade his ass to Oakland so he can suffer there for many years to come. If they can, they will IMO

+1

Stellar idea!

[MJZiggy]

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.

How about this? He was suspended in part for providing alcohol to underage patrons? The fact that he then tried to have sex with one in the bar just makes him look like a perv. Its hard to imagine I have more game than a Starting NFL QB.

As Florio has pointed out, basing a conduct policy only on arrests and convictions is problematic. In the case of an arrest, the local police have authority and power to detain or release someone who may (or may not) have been engaged in illegality. The police in the GA town let Ben leave after cursory questioning. They also failed to secure evidence from the crime scene and the bathroom was cleaned with bleach and Spic and Span. Such a policy gives the police the chance to help the local team/hero out.

Basing it on a conviction, to my way of thinking is confusing not guilty with innocent. OJ isn't innocent. But he was found not guilty.

An employer is not under any requirement to act under the rules of a criminal court. If Ben doesn't want drunk girls to be able to get him in trouble, then he can stop buying them drinks and stop trying to have his way with them. No one can get him in trouble like this unless he proactively involves himself.

well he wasnt convicted of that either, buying underagers drinks, or he would be subject to a gross misdemenor regardless if they had a "fake"

I still think he is a D-bag but I do not think he should have been suspended.

You don't accept a suspension that includes behavioral counseling without a peep of protest unless you know there's a good reason you're suspended. Just because they didn't gather the evidence they needed to prosecute the case, doesn't mean those involved don't know what went down. BR's not fighting it and Rooney would have stepped in had the league not done enough. They know what happened.

[Kiwon]

Well, at least Big Ben has lit up the football forums during the off-season and given bored fans something to do.

How many wake up calls does the guy need? He nearly killed himself a few years ago riding without a helmet and obviously the press through this incident is bringing past instances to light.

He may keep out of jail but he's tarnishing his rep and probably losing millions for himself when his contract is up.