Ben Roethelisberger

[et92898]

Roethlisberger expected to be conditionally suspended 4-6 games

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to announce Wednesday that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be suspended for violating the league's personal-conduct policy. NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora is reporting that the ban is likely to be for 4-6 games, with a sliding scale based on circumstances, including some component of counseling.

That would mean Roethlisberger would not be eligible to play in games against the Atlanta Falcons (home), Tennessee Titans (road), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (road) and Baltimore Ravens (home) to open the season. The Steelers have a bye in Week 5. If the suspension lasts the full six games, Roethlisberger also would miss a Week 6 home game vs. Cleveland and Week 7 at Miami. He would be eligible to practice with the team and participate in preseason games.

Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old female college student in a Milledgeville, Ga., nightclub last month, but he will not face criminal charges. Roethlisberger also is being sued in Nevada, where a woman has accused him of sexually assaulting her in his Lake Tahoe hotel room in 2008, although no charges were filed and the quarterback, who denies the allegation, is asking for counter-damages.

Goodell told a radio audience Monday that Roethlisberger violated the league's personal-conduct policy with his "pattern of behavior" and "bad judgments."

"The issue here is with respect to a pattern of behavior and bad judgments," Goodell said on Dan Patrick's radio show. "You do not have to be convicted or even charged with a crime to be able to demonstrate that you've violated a personal-conduct policy, and reflect poorly not only on themselves, but all of their teammates, every NFL player in the league, and everyone associated with the NFL. That is what my concern is, and I have expressed that directly to Ben."

The Steelers are taking their recent rash of off-the-field problems seriously. Several players said Monday that the team has adopted a zero-tolerance policy in which unacceptable player conduct will be dealt with harshly and swiftly. The previous week, the Steelers traded former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets for a fifth-round pick following a series of issues.

Trading Roethlisberger isn't out of the question for the Steelers. A source with knowledge of the situation told La Canfora last week that the team has internally discussed the possibility of dealing the two-time Super Bowl winner.

If other teams called about Roethlisberger, the Steelers would intently listen, a source told La Canfora. However, the source noted that this isn't "a Santonio Holmes situation" and the Steelers would want "fair value" for the quarterback.

Should Roethlisberger have another off-the-field misstep, his Steelers career likely would be over, La Canfora reported, citing team and league sources.

The Steelers prepared for Roethlisberger's suspension Tuesday by acquiring quarterback Byron Leftwich from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick (225th overall). Leftwich was Roethlisberger's backup during the Steelers' 2008 Super Bowl champship season and could be a fill-in starter.

The Steelers also have longtime backup Charlie Batch and third-year pro Dennis Dixon under contract at quarterback. Batch has been injured each of the past two seasons. Dixon has started only one NFL game, but he likely would compete with Leftwich in training camp to be the early season starter.

source: www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d817aaafc&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

[et92898]

He got what he deserved. If the Steelers trade him i hope it's not to buffalo

[et92898]

Update #2:

Steelers step up efforts to trade Roethlisberger; Rams not interested

The Pittsburgh Steelers have stepped up their efforts to trade two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was suspended Wednesday for six games.

The Steelers had a brief conversation over the weekend with the St. Louis Rams, according to a league source, but the Rams were not interested in taking on Roethlisberger. The Steelers wanted to deal Roethlisberger to St. Louis as part of a package to move up to first overall in the draft and select Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford.

The Steelers remain open to dealing Roethlisberger but want decent value in return. With the suspension now six games, and given the limited interest in him, team sources now view a deal as extremely remote if not impossible, and never viewed it as likely from the onset, but something they were very much open to.

If the Steelers were somehow able to unload Roethlisberger, his new team would have to take on his suspension.

The Steelers prepared for Roethlisberger's suspension Tuesday by acquiring quarterback Byron Leftwich from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick (225th overall). Leftwich was Roethlisberger's backup during the Steelers' 2008 Super Bowl champship season and could be a fill-in starter.

The Steelers also have longtime backup Charlie Batch and third-year pro Dennis Dixon under contract at quarterback. Batch has been injured each of the past two seasons. Dixon has started only one NFL game, but he likely would compete with Leftwich in training camp to be the early season starter.

source: www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d817ab5f4&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

[et92898]

update #3:
Goodell suspends Roethlisberger for six games, orders evaluation

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Wednesday that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be suspended six games without pay for violating the league's personal-conduct policy and must undergo a "comprehensive behavioral evaluation by medical professionals."

The suspension could be reduced to four games for good behavior after the behavioral evaluation is completed. Roethlisberger can't attend any Steelers offseason activity until he completes the evaluation.

Last week, prosecutors decided not to charge Roethlisberger after a 20-year-old female college student accused the quarterback of sexually assaulting her in a Milledgeville, Ga., nightclub in March. However, Goodell said Monday that Roethlisberger still had violated the league's personal-conduct policy, and the commissioner reiterated that position Wednesday in a letter to the quarterback.

"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 wrote. "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."

Goodell said he will review Roethlisberger's progress before the start of the regular season and decided whether or not to reduce the suspension to four games.

"I believe it is essential that you take full advantage of the resources available to you," Goodell wrote in the letter. "My ultimate disposition in this matter will be influenced by the extent to which you do so, what you learn as a result, and a demonstrated commitment to making positive change in your life."

Roethlisberger will not be eligible to play in games against the Atlanta Falcons (home), Tennessee Titans (road), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (road) and Baltimore Ravens (home) to open the season. The Steelers have a bye in Week 5. If the suspension lasts the full six games, Roethlisberger also would miss a Week 6 home game against the Cleveland Browns and a Week 7 road contest against the Miami Dolphins.

The Steelers prepared for Roethlisberger's suspension Tuesday by acquiring quarterback Byron Leftwich from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick (225th overall). Leftwich was Roethlisberger's backup during the Steelers' 2008 Super Bowl champship season and could be a fill-in starter.

The Steelers also have longtime backup Charlie Batch and third-year pro Dennis Dixon under contract at quarterback. Batch has been injured each of the past two seasons. Dixon has started only one NFL game, but he likely would compete with Leftwich in training camp to be the early season starter.

Roethlisberger also is being sued in Nevada, where a woman has accused him of sexually assaulting her in his Lake Tahoe hotel room in 2008. No charges were filed in that case, however, and Roethlisberger, who denies the allegation, is suing for counter-damages.

The Steelers are taking their recent rash of off-the-field problems seriously. Several players said Monday that the team has adopted a zero-tolerance policy in which unacceptable player conduct will be dealt with harshly and swiftly. The previous week, the Steelers traded former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets for a fifth-round pick following a series of issues.

Since Roethlisberger's suspension is the Steelers' second under the league's personal-conduct and drug policies, the team must pay 25 percent of the suspended player's forfeited salary to a maximum of $200,000. Holmes received a four-game suspension for violating the substance-abuse program before the Steelers traded him to the Jets.

source: www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d817aaafc&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

[Generator Rex]

i wonder if some ones gonna acutally trade for ben?

[et92898]

I was thinking bout that too, i hope no one does though cuz then the Bills would have no chance at Clausen

[et92898]

update #4:
Steelers discuss Roethlisberger deal with Raiders; Rams say no

The Pittsburgh Steelers have stepped up their efforts to trade two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but the Oakland Raiders might be the only real option.

The Steelers were rebuffed by the St. Louis Rams over the weekend, but a league source said Wednesday that they also have contacted the Raiders, who need a veteran quarterback and tried to land Donovan McNabb before the Philadelphia Eagles traded him to the Washington Redskins earlier this month.

The Raiders have a history of taking on troubled players such as Roethlisberger, who received a six-game suspension Wednesday for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy. Also, Roethlisberger's contract isn't hefty and would be easy to absorb in a trade.

The Steelers had a brief conversation with the Rams, according to a league source, but they weren't interested in acquiring Roethlisberger. The Steelers wanted to send Roethlisberger to the Rams as part of a package to move up to No. 1 overall in this week's draft and select Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford.

That could make the Raiders the only fit. The Steelers are open to packaging Roethlisberger and the No. 18 pick to move up in the draft. The Raiders own the No. 8 selection.

Steelers president Art Rooney II declined to comment about any possibility of trading Roethlisberger.

"As we've said before, we really can't answer questions about trades, especially this time of year," Rooney said during a conference call. "We go into every draft with the idea to do anythying we can to make our team a better football team. We just have to stick with that and not discuss trades in advance."

Despite Roethlisberger's issues, the Steelers want decent value in return for the quarterback. But given the six-game suspension and the limited interest in Roethlisberger, team sources view a deal as extremely remote, if not impossible.

The Buffalo Bills also pick in the top 10 and need a quarterback, but they don't appear interested in Roethlisberger at this time. Doug Whaley, a former executive in Pittsburgh, moved to Buffalo this offseason to work with general manager Buddy Nix, but the Steelers don't expect him to recommend Roethlisberger to his new team because he would harbor some of the same reservations that they do.

The Cleveland Browns have the No. 7 pick and lack a long-term solution at quarterback, but the Steelers wouldn't trade Roethlisberger to an AFC North rival, according to a team source. That also was the Steelers' position with wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who was dealt to the New York Jets earlier this month.

The Steelers prepared for Roethlisberger's suspension Tuesday by acquiring quarterback Byron Leftwich from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a seventh-round pick (225th overall). Leftwich was Roethlisberger's backup during the Steelers' 2008 Super Bowl champship season and could be a fill-in starter.

Leftwich reported to the Steelers on Wednesday, and the team extended his contract through 2011, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

The Steelers also have longtime backup Charlie Batch and third-year pro Dennis Dixon under contract at quarterback. Batch has been injured each of the past two seasons. Dixon has started only one NFL game, but he likely would compete with Leftwich in training camp to be the early season starter.

source: www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d817ab5f4&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

[Generator Rex]

poor jamarcus now he'll never play

[et92898]

nah i dont think they'll go through wit the trade, dont use the link there all f***ed up

[pginella]

jamarcus sucks

[Generator Rex]

jamarcus needs to fix his throw badly or switch to a diff position

[et92898]

not a different position he just suks PERIOD

[Generator Rex]

im tryna be nice n giv him a chance

[et92898]

if the Raiders startted him in his first season he probably would be better

[jk3000]

No way they trade him. I wish they would being a cinny fan but not gooing to happen