Roethlisberger's in More Trouble Than You Think

[AmishCowboy]

Unfortunately.

The Steelers always get all the breaks from the refs, lady luck and the NFL's crooked commissioner....

 

[daschoo]

Just out of curiosity, who has been suspended based on a legal case and not based on an NFL policy like failing a drug test?

I know Michael Vick and Adam Jones were, but both of them had personal conversations with Goodell. In Vick's case, he lied to Goodell, saying he wasn't involved in dog fighting and indeed he was. In Pacman's case, he was to stay out of even the hint of trouble based on his past deeds.

It appears that if a situation involves a pending legal case and is merely just a "charge," a player isn't suspended until the disposition of the case. Or maybe I'm wrong.

Does anyone know of a situation where Goodell suspended a player with a pending legal case?

As for Big Ben's situation, I supported him the first time. This time, I think he's in trouble. And I think he could be in danger of suspension because he had intially said he didn't have sex with this woman, and he has since backtracked from that statement.

And how is it that many other players avoid these situations, and Big Ben now has two women claiming he forced them to have sex. Where there's smoke ...

or the girl could be relying on that assumption to get a pay day. things like this are more serious than football rivalries in my book. innocent until proven guilty (both sides)

 

[Ren]

Eventually either big Ben or the Steelers will throw enough money at this problem to make it go away and we won't hear anything more about it.

twice in 3 years can't be a coincidence....

 

[hutch1254]

He's a Steeler. He'll be playing.

Yeah, BUT, they're the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are not afraid to cut someone without blinking and eye. If this escalates into something they would cut Ben and rely on their time tested proven scouting and management to replace the position. They have a history of doing it, especially at LB. That's what they do.

Rooney is not one to be embarrassed by one of his players. Also, if they cut someone as high profile as Ben, as an organization they could only look even better. Leading the way of "no tolerance" in the league.

End of the day their are some interesting long term positives that may out weigh the short term negatives if the Steelers decided to let him go.

 

[DallasCowboysRule!]

Yeah, BUT, they're the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are not afraid to cut someone without blinking and eye. If this escalates into something they would cut Ben and rely on their time tested proven scouting and management to replace the position. They have a history of doing it, especially at LB. That's what they do.

Rooney is not one to be embarrassed by one of his players. Also, if they cut someone as high profile as Ben, as an organization they could only look even better. Leading the way of "no tolerance" in the league.

End of the day their are some interesting long term positives that may out weigh the short term negatives if the Steelers decided to let him go.

Quarterback does not equal line backer. The Steelers would not consider cutting Big Ben if there was any way they could keep him on the field. The guy isn't even 30 yet and he's already established himself as a proven franchise quarterback with two rings. You don't cut a guy like that.

As for this case, if Ben is guilty and he sexually assaulted that girl he should go to prison. I would say the same thing if this were a Cowboy. Celebrity status should not get in the way of the law. What does it say about our judicial system if a rich man can buy his way out of sexual assault charges?

 

[hutch1254]

Understood, QB is not LB. But I just wouldn't put it past them to do it.

I am relishing in the misery some Steeler fan coworkers are wallowing in right now though. A lot of "we'll be ok with Dennis Dixon and a power running game" talk going on.

 

[DFWJC]

As for this case, if Ben is guilty and he sexually assaulted that girl he should go to prison. I would say the same thing if this were a Cowboy. Celebrity status should not get in the way of the law. What does it say about our judicial system if a rich man can buy his way out of sexual assault charges?

I agree.

I do tend to strongly consider a person innocent until proven guilty in these high-profile situations. I find it very hard (but not impossible) to fathom that Big Ben ( or most other people that have som much to lose and do not appranretly come from an abusive childhood) would rape someone. I did not think Kobe did it either. Not to say either of them did not do it, but I tend to think that someone is cashing in on them instead.

I also have an issue with the law allowing the accussed name to readily availnble while tryig to protect the accuser. It seems like a double standard if we are, by law, supposed to assume innocence.

 

[Jon88]

From an ESPN article:

"The first accuser said she would settle the civil suit against Roethlisberger if he admits to raping her, apologizes and gives $100,000 to the Committee to Aid Abused Women, which is a non-profit agency in Reno that helps victims of domestic violence."

That was released a little while back, but I just now read it. It really changes what I think about his first accuser.

 

[DFWJC]

From an ESPN article:

"The first accuser said she would settle the civil suit against Roethlisberger if he admits to raping her, apologizes and gives $100,000 to the Committee to Aid Abused Women, which is a non-profit agency in Reno that helps victims of domestic violence."

That was released a little while back, but I just now read it. It really changes what I think about his first accuser.

Back up and think about it again.

He would never admit to raping her, so what she (her attorneys) said was not at all altruistic. It just sounds good but has no substance. Good move on their part though.

 

[BeWare94]

What does it say about our judicial system if a rich man can buy his way out of sexual assault charges?

If that wasn't sarcasm you are really, really naive.

 

[Muhast]

Pretty sure Plaxico was suspended after he was officially charged with the criminal offense. I could be wrong on that though.

As for the article, I'd be SHOCKED if this went to any sort of trial, civil or criminal. Absolutely shocked.

Prepare to be shocked. This one isn't going to just go away.

Say what you want about the Steelers always getting away with things. This one will stick around for a while.

 

[masomenos]

Clay Travis is a tool, this is one of those things I just know.

 

[tyke1doe]

Pretty sure Plaxico was suspended after he was officially charged with the criminal offense. I could be wrong on that though.

I did a little bit of research. Goodell has suspended a player for charges only. However, it seems in all three cases that I considered (Pacman Jones, Chris Henry and Plaxico Burress) the team first suspended the players before Goodell took action. I wonder if this is the one factor he considers before punishing a player who is involved in a pending legal action. I don't know either.

 

[tyke1doe]

Prepare to be shocked. This one isn't going to just go away.

Say what you want about the Steelers always getting away with things. This one will stick around for a while.

I wonder if women's rights groups will treat Ben the same way as animal right's groups treated Michael Vick?

 

[DFWJC]

I did a little bit of research. Goodell has suspended a player for charges only. However, it seems in all three cases that I considered (Pacman Jones, Chris Henry and Plaxico Burress) the team first suspended the players before Goodell took action. I wonder if this is the one factor he considers before punishing a player who is involved in a pending legal action. I don't know either.

Pacman and Henry had a long list of previous actions, so any whiff and they were gone. And Plex was not denying that he had a gun and shot himself in a NYC club....so no doubt of guilt, just how much the penalty would be.

Those are all very different compared to someone that has not been found guilty of any legal wrong-doings and who is maintaining his innocence.

 

[arglebargle]

I wonder if women's rights groups will treat Ben the same way as animal right's groups treated Michael Vick?

If there is as much evidence against Ben as there was against Vick, sure.

I wonder if Big Ben's supporters would take his money fueled contrition as easilly as Vick's supporters did?

 

[Audiman]

What does it say about our judicial system if a rich man can buy his way out of sexual assault charges?

not sure if you knew this or not, but our judicial system has been completely screwed for a while now...