Goodell Plans to Meet With Steelers QB, Ben RuthlessRaper

[Hostile]

ORLANDO, Fla. -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says he plans to meet with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger about the star's off-field problems.

Goodell already has spoken with team owners about Roethlisberger, who is being investigated on allegations he assaulted a 20-year-old college student in a Georgia nightclub on March 5. Roethlisberger's attorney says the quarterback committed no crime. Roethlisberger has yet to be interviewed by police in Milledgeville, Ga., and charges have not been filed.

"We take this issue very seriously," Goodell said Monday at the NFL meetings. "I am concerned that Ben continues to put himself in this position.

"I spoke with the Steelers and [team president] Art Rooney about it and, at some point, I will be meeting with Ben at the appropriate time."

His latest alleged incident came during a 28th birthday party for Roethlisberger, who has a home about 30 miles from Milledgeville.
The two-time Super Bowl champ's lawyer, Ed Garland, said he has hired his own investigative team.

David Cornwell, Roethlisberger's lead attorney, said in a statement that he contacted the NFL when the most recent allegations were made against the quarterback.

"We agreed that I would keep the NFL apprised of all developments as they warrant," Cornwell said. "I believe the Commissioner will allow us to focus on matters in Georgia, but we look forward to meeting with him and addressing any concerns he may have."

Rooney has said the Steelers are "in a situation we're going to let this investigation play out and then go from there."

Roethlisberger also is being sued by a woman who claims he raped her in 2008 at a Lake Tahoe hotel. He denies those allegations and has asked for counter-damages.

Roethlisberger skipped voluntary workouts with the team last week.

 

[zrinkill]

Just to say "Do not worry Ben ..... I love you"

Nothing will happen to Ben even if he gets accused 4 more times.

 

[Hoofbite]

Just to say "Do not worry Ben ..... I love you"

Nothing will happen to Ben even if he gets accused 4 more times.

You think accusations deserve reprimand?

 

[Hostile]

I think he will be charged with rape this time. I keep wondering what is taking so long though. Whether he will get convicted or not, I don't know. But I think he will be charged.

 

[zrinkill]

You think accusations deserve reprimand?

Nope ...... but he has reprimanded others when they were only accused if they had a prior history.

Ben has a history of embarrassing the league. But I guarantee nothing will happen to him because of his status.

 

[CowboyMike]

I think he will be charged with rape this time. I keep wondering what is taking so long though. Whether he will get convicted or not, I don't know. But I think he will be charged.

I'm really thinking some kind of backroom deal is going or something.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Nope ...... but he has reprimanded others when they were only accused if they had a prior history.

Ben has a history of embarrassing the league. But I guarantee nothing will happen to him because of his status.

I'm willing to bet that something does happen to him. Status or no, if he keeps embarassing the league, they'll have no choice but to fine or suspend him.

Odds are big fine versus a suspension. But if he gets suspended, it wouldn't be much without charges or conviction. JMO.

 

[Yeagermeister]

If nothing happened to Harrison after beating up his pregnant girlfriend nothing will happen to Ben.

 

[WoodysGirl]

If nothing happened to Harrison after beating up his pregnant girlfriend nothing will happen to Ben.

One reason why no action was taken is that Harrison doesn't exactly have a history of off the field problems, the girlfriend dropped the charges, and he took anger management counseling.

Edit: And just to add, he didn't beat her up in the truest sense of the word. She ran into the bathroom, he broke the door down, grabbed her cell phone and allegedly slapped her.

There's been no report of anything physical prior to the bathroom incident. No, I don't condone him slapping her, but I just want to make sure that there's clarity in what was reported. He didn't exactly beat her down.

The keyword in most of the big fines and suspensions is player history. This sentence alone should tell you that he's on their radar.

"I am concerned that Ben continues to put himself in this position.

 

[CowboyMike]

If nothing happened to Harrison after beating up his pregnant girlfriend nothing will happen to Ben.

Roid rage.

 

[zrinkill]

If nothing happened to Harrison after beating up his pregnant girlfriend nothing will happen to Ben.

Bingo.

 

[Hostile]

This girl showed up at the Police Station with a group of friends as support. She was reportedly hysterical. She has since dropped out of college. Students who know her best describe her as someone who does not want attention.

These are the actions of someone who has been sexually assaulted folks. I have no idea why the Police are taking so long to press charges other than they are hesitant about a high profile case. It will be. He may not be convicted because he will undoubtedly have high powered attorneys. But I think the circumstantial evidence looks very bad for him. If the physical evidence looks as bad, he's in trouble.

Edit...

We used to have a guy posting here who knew the girl who accused Kobe Bryant of rape. He said the day after she was at a party. He also said she was bragging to people about how large Kobe was. Look at the dichotomy here. This girl is experiencing the trauma of this to the point that she dropped out of school despite her friends there as support.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Anyone think that the Steelers might look at covering their bases and draft a QB somewhere after the second round this year?

 

[Hostile]

Anyone think that the Steelers might look at covering their bases and draft a QB somewhere after the second round this year?

I think they want Byron Leftwich back in the worst way. If Tampa drops him look for them to sprint to sign him.

 

[RESIN8]

Anyone think that the Steelers might look at covering their bases and draft a QB somewhere after the second round this year?

Not saying he is the answer, but Dennis Dixon didn't look to bad against the Ravens last year.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Roethlisberger called Tomlin within hours of allegations

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on March 23, 2010 10:21 AM ET

Mike Tomlin has spoken to Ben Roethlisberger on a daily basis since the quarterback was accused of sexual assault, including just hours after the incident.

Roethlisberger called Tomlin before the sun rose the morning after the allegations surfaced and has met with his coach since. Tomlin spoke to the media at the AFC coaches breakfast this morning, and stood by his comments to the NFL Network Saturday.

Tomlin said he was concerned for the franchise because "our standards of conduct I think are above and beyond that of our peers. We embrace that."

The Steelers won't go after another quarterback -- yet.

"You know, I think we're in a position right now that we can kind of wait and see," Tomlin said, as transcribed by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Of course if we have to we will, but I don't think it's gotten to that point yet where we need to kind of make those hard and fast decisions."

ESPN's Chris Mortensen wrote Tuesday the team is prepared to go with Dennis Dixon if necessary, and Byron Leftwich could be an option in the future.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

This girl showed up at the Police Station with a group of friends as support. She was reportedly hysterical. She has since dropped out of college. Students who know her best describe her as someone who does not want attention.

These are the actions of someone who has been sexually assaulted folks. I have no idea why the Police are taking so long to press charges other than they are hesitant about a high profile case. It will be. He may not be convicted because he will undoubtedly have high powered attorneys. But I think the circumstantial evidence looks very bad for him. If the physical evidence looks as bad, he's in trouble.

Edit...

We used to have a guy posting here who knew the girl who accused Kobe Bryant of rape. He said the day after she was at a party. He also said she was bragging to people about how large Kobe was. Look at the dichotomy here. This girl is experiencing the trauma of this to the point that she dropped out of school despite her friends there as support.

If all the apparent signs point to rape, then why has he not been charged or at least interviewed? High profile or not, rape is rape.

 

[Verdict]

Commenting on this thread is like opening up a can of worms as there are several issues which come to bear on this matter.

First off, if Roethlisberger raped this girl, then he should be prosecuted just as any non-celebrity would be, and punished appropriately, by the criminal justice system, and (after conviction) also appropriately punished by the league as well.

Second, (and on the other hand) while the old saying "where there is smoke there is usually fire" usually has some merit, I am adamantly opposed to punishing an athlete in any form or fashion without some form of due process to allow both sides of the issue to be presented prior to any form of punishment being imposed by the league. The criminal justice system should usually be allowed to run its course FIRST prior to punishment being imposed by the league. To do otherwise interferes with the criminal justice system and impairs a defendant's right against self incrimination.

In the event of conviction, then there is conclusive prooof it happened, and appropriate punishment by the league can be imposed. In the event of a non conviction, (deferred sentence, deferred prosecution, etc, ) then the league should still be able to hear evidence on the matter and decide if punishment is appropriate since there is a different legal standard for a conviction in criminal court and a civil proceeding.

Third, I do not believe that the league is uniform in how it approaches these incidents and I think it definitely matters who you are and what team you play for. That is one reason why I am against a single person acting as judge, jury and excutioner (Goodell).

Fourth, I really have a problem with Goodell saying things like "he is repeatedly putting himself in situations like this" (paraphrasing). That is total bull****. If he is repeatedly "sexually assualting women" then he is committing a crime and should be punished for it. To have been "accused" of sexually assulting women is a bird of a different feather entirely. He could be guilty, or merely falsely accused. The ACCUSATION ITSELF should be of NO CONSEQUENCE nor OF ANY CONCERN TO THE LEAGUE, PERIOD. THE UNDERLYING FACTS though (if he is guilty) is an appropriate issue to be concerned about by the league.

 

[burmafrd]

what you seem to have missed is that he likes to go to frat parties and the like where there are lots of women of what one could say "questionable morals". That is what Goodell meant by "putting himself in those kinds of situations". So get off your high horse.

 

[Skinsmaniac]

Commenting on this thread is like opening up a can of worms as there are several issues which come to bear on this matter.

First off, if Roethlisberger raped this girl, then he should be prosecuted just as any non-celebrity would be, and punished appropriately, by the criminal justice system, and (after conviction) also appropriately punished by the league as well.

Second, (and on the other hand) while the old saying "where there is smoke there is usually fire" usually has some merit, I am adamantly opposed to punishing an athlete in any form or fashion without some form of due process to allow both sides of the issue to be presented prior to any form of punishment being imposed by the league. The criminal justice system should usually be allowed to run its course FIRST prior to punishment being imposed by the league. To do otherwise interferes with the criminal justice system and impairs a defendant's right against self incrimination.

In the event of conviction, then there is conclusive prooof it happened, and appropriate punishment by the league can be imposed. In the event of a non conviction, (deferred sentence, deferred prosecution, etc, ) then the league should still be able to hear evidence on the matter and decide if punishment is appropriate since there is a different legal standard for a conviction in criminal court and a civil proceeding.

Third, I do not believe that the league is uniform in how it approaches these incidents and I think it definitely matters who you are and what team you play for. That is one reason why I am against a single person acting as judge, jury and excutioner (Goodell).

Fourth, I really have a problem with Goodell saying things like "he is repeatedly putting himself in situations like this" (paraphrasing). That is total bull****. If he is repeatedly "sexually assualting women" then he is committing a crime and should be punished for it. To have been "accused" of sexually assulting women is a bird of a different feather entirely. He could be guilty, or merely falsely accused. The ACCUSATION ITSELF should be of NO CONSEQUENCE nor OF ANY CONCERN TO THE LEAGUE, PERIOD. THE UNDERLYING FACTS though (if he is guilty) is an appropriate issue to be concerned about by the league.

I agree with everything except the last paragraph. As an entertainment business, the NFL needs to be vigilant about its public image. For almost any other job, I would agree with you, but I think it's understandable for Goodell to be concerned that Roethisberger is giving the league bad press.