Big Ben out 4-6

[Gunakor]

"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...

That's not what it says.

"...for example, where the conduct 'imposes inherent danger to the safety and well being of another person"

"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."

Don't drink irresponsibly. Don't buy drinks for underage girls. Don't put the safety and well being of another person in inherent danger. You can avoid all of these things while still enjoying yourself at the bar.

[channtheman]

^ Exactly. Roethlisberger could also have just taken the girl back to his hotel room or house or wherever. Anywhere but in a public bathroom in a bar.

[Tony Oday]

SO what happenes to the Steelers this year?

[Gunakor]

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.

Being charged, tried, found guilty or not guilty... These are things for courts and judges and lawyers and juries. Goodell is none of the above. The rules set forth by Goodell for his league are not written by US legislators. Cmon now Tony, surely you've gotten yourself into a heap of trouble at least once in your life for something that isn't illegal, that you weren't charged, tried, and convicted in a US court for doing.

You have to separate US law from NFL policy, as they are not the same.

Laws are in place to protect society, but companies have their own set of rules. All companies, not just the NFL. You can be fired for something that isn't illegal in the first place, how can you argue against a player being merely suspended for repeated allegations of actual crimial activity? Especially when evidence of wrongdoing, illegal or not, is clearly apparent in at least one of those cases, I think Goodell is acting very responsibly in suspending Rothlisberger.

[Tony Oday]

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.

Being charged, tried, found guilty or not guilty... These are things for courts and judges and lawyers and juries. Goodell is none of the above. The rules set forth by Goodell for his league are not written by US legislators. Cmon now Tony, surely you've gotten yourself into a heap of trouble at least once in your life for something that isn't illegal, that you weren't charged, tried, and convicted in a US court for doing.

You have to separate US law from NFL policy, as they are not the same.

Laws are in place to protect society, but companies have their own set of rules. All companies, not just the NFL. You can be fired for something that isn't illegal in the first place, how can you argue against a player being merely suspended for repeated allegations of actual crimial activity? Especially when evidence of wrongdoing, illegal or not, is clearly apparent in at least one of those cases, I think Goodell is acting very responsibly in suspending Rothlisberger.

Well I have never been caught The closest thing would be smoking in High School.

But now that he is suspended regardless of what we think about the validity in the suspension...what will happen to the Steelers this year?

[Gunakor]

I don't think any other team is gonna give up a top 10 overall pick and agree to pay a $10+mm salary for a guy that's gonna be sitting on the bench for the first month and a half of the season. So assume Rothlisberger is going to be the starter for the final two thirds of 2010. Over the first 6 weeks they play 5 games, having an early bye. They'll win 2 of those, one against Tampa Bay and the other against Cleveland. Pittsburgh gets Rothlisberger back under center with a 2-3 record and more than a fighting chance at making the playoffs.

I think the Steelers are playoff bound even with the suspension.

[Tony Oday]

That could be. Their D and running game needs to step up for sure. He could erase this by keeping his nose clean and winning games.

[Tarlam!]

Al Davis should propose a clean swap of 1st round picks and embattled QBs.

If Russel gets into the right environment, he may fulfill his potential. R'berger in Oakland would be the optimal landing ground.

Moneywise, I don't know, but they both have huge paychecks.

The deals makes more sense than just cutting both players outright, because the teams might salvage something....

Personally, I wouldn't miss either if they went to the CFL or Arena football.

[Gunakor]

The Saints and Jets will give them fits with or without Rothlisberger. At Baltimore will likewise be a tough challenge for them even after getting their QB back. Beyond that I don't see tremendous difficulty with their schedule once Rothlisberger returns to the field. I'll predict they finish 10-6, earning a wild card, losing the division to the Ravens who will sweep the season series.

[Packerarcher]

Re: Big Ben out 4-6

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Roethlisberger-suspended-by-NFL-042110

I think this is absolute BS...get ready to do this to EVERY player that now goes to a bar and hooks up with ladies. If I am Big Ben I would challenge this.

(again I think he is a D bag)

Look how many people have slept around and NEVER been accused of this. Ben's already been accused of sexual assault twice. He's either sexually assaulting these girls or treating them like absolute crap and bordering right on the edge of assault. I tend to think the latter. There's an outisde chance he found two gold digging liars, but that seems so remote and slim that I won't even consider it.

The NFL, the Steelers organization. It's a privilege to be a part of them, NOT a right. This isn't the law. If he was convicted of a crime for his sleezy actions, I'd be sort of outraged too. If the NFL suspends him, they have the right to whatever conduct policy they choose and if they think being a sleeze ball, is enough to suspend a guy, then Ben can go find a different job where being a sleeze ball is OK. I would have liked to seen a year. That way he's out of football for a year, and hopefully his career and financial well being is ruined. As far as I'm concerned, he did it to himself.

Yeah there would never be a chance of two gold digging BITCHES out there,wake up. Woman or man there will always be people willing to wreck another persons life to get money without working for it.

[Pugger]

This suspension isn't just for one single incident. It is because of a pattern of behavior, using Goodells words. I find it disturbing that this Neanderthal is socializing with underage co-eds at his age. Nothing good was gonna come out of this situation. Mixing a famous athlete, underage women and alcohol will always come out bad.

[Joemailman]

If the suspension is enough to cause Roethlisberger to change his disgusting social behavior, the NFL and The Steelers will have done him a big favor. The worst thing for Ben would have been for the league and the team to defend and cover for him because of who he is. That's what people did for Mike Tyson until he ended up in jail for sexual assault. Ben was headed down that road.

[Bossman641]

Maybe somebody else will know the answer to this. Roethlisberger is being criticized for buying drinks for underage girls.... THEY WERE IN A BAR THOUGH.

At Champaign and other college towns I've been to you can get into the bars if 18 or 19. Does anyone know if that was the case at this bar or was it strictly 21 and over?

[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.

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.

As the prosecutor explained, they declined to proceed with that charge because they logically would have had to site the girl for underage drinking, and they did not want to add that to ordeal. But there was ample evidence from several sources, that he was buying the drinks.