Ben Roethlisberger Suspended by NFL

Submitted by Stinger503 on Thu, 2010-04-22 02:53

Story here. Excerpt:

'The Steelers quarterback will be suspended for 4-6 games due to a violation of the league's personal conduct policy, league sources told FOXSports.com.

The punishment will essentially be a conditional suspension, based both on any new information that arises surrounding Roethlisberger and also his behavior moving forward after speaking to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week in New York.

The suspension comes in the wake of accusations by a 20-year-old college student that the two-time Super Bowl champion sexually assaulted her in the bathroom of a Milledgeville, Ga. nightclub on March 5.

After a month-long investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, prosecutors announced April 12 that Roethlisberger, who maintained his innocence throughout, would not be charged in the case due to a lack of probable cause.'

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Comments

I am curious to know the rationale. Perhaps it was because he was publicly intoxicated?

One thing is known: The prosecutor had plenty of reason to want to seek an indictment but it seems could not get enough reason to do so. Does it mean this guy did not do something bad to this girl or try to? We can't know since we weren't there. But we do know a very motivated D.A. still could not get enough to indict after a 6-month investigation.

I have often wondered about what it'd be like to be famous and I have decided I wouldn't want it even if it came with a few million bucks attached to it. There are just way too many ways you can get your name dragged through the mud and/or get caught in someone else's web. People who come into wealth in life often complain they cannot trust new friends and their relationships with old ones almost always change for the worse. If that's the price of fame and fortune, you can have it. And besides, I have no interest in seeing the TMZ camera crew after I get off a plane someplace. :)

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Submitted by Matt on Thu, 2010-04-22 15:58

I assume the NFL is similar to the NBA, and I know a little about the NBA.

The NFL commissioner can do whatever the hell he wants with little rational or consistency between players (at least that is the way it is in the NBA).

But also a player's contract is specific about conduct. It does not have to be illegal conduct, just conduct that draws negative attention and does not uphold the moral values that the NFL is trying to convey to the public and to it's sponsors. There is likely MANY pages in his contract relating to this including being under the influence while in public and lewd/sexual acts.

Not only does a player get paid to play, but they also get paid to stay out of trouble which means managing their personal life and habits. They are reminded of this frequently.

If Ben wants sex, there are many ways to get it. There is no shortage of beautiful women throwing themselves at athletes. Ben could have stayed home, and the girls would have come to him. If he doesn't feel like partying and entertaining to get to the sex, I am sure he can pay a girl to come alone and do whatever he wants and then leave.

I am guessing that the NFL commissioner felt that Ben violated his contract with public intoxication and a sex act in a public restroom with a random female. His personal decisions are bringing unwanted negative attention. This effects sponsors and NFL merchandise sales.

Some might say that Ben should have the right to go out and have fun just like everyone else. But Ben does not get paid like everyone else. He gets paid millions - and he has agreed by signing his contract that he will hold himself to a high standard of public opinion.

Even in the off season he is an employee of the NFL, and is under contract.

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Submitted by Kris on Fri, 2010-04-23 00:22