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Steelers' 'Big Ben' gets six-game suspension
Source: Agencies |
April 23, 2010, Friday
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PITTSBURGH Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for six games without pay on Wednesday and must undergo behavioral evaluation for violating the National Football League's personal-conduct policy.
The 28-year-old Roethlisberger, who won Super Bowls with Pittsburgh in 2006 and 2009, was accused in March of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old female college student in a nightclub.
He was not charged with any crime but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Roethlisberger, or "Big Ben" as he is known, still had violated the league's personal-conduct policy.
"Your conduct raises sufficient concerns that I believe effective intervention now is the best step for your personal and professional welfare," Goodell said in a statement.
"In your six years in the NFL, you have first thrilled and now disappointed a great many people. I urge you to take full advantage of this opportunity to get your life and career back on track."
Trade rumors immediately swirled, and while the Steelers declined to address the speculation, they were privately weighing whether they should consider dealing their franchise quarterback for a Top 10 draft pick if one were offered.
Roethlisberger is the first player suspended by Goodell under the conduct policy who hasn't been arrested or charged with a crime. In all, 16 players have been suspended under the conduct policy by Goodell.
Roethlisberger also is being sued by a woman who accused him of raping her at a Lake Tahoe hotel-casino in 2008. He denied the allegation and wasn't charged.
Roethlisberger cannot participate in any offseason team activities until after he has completed a professional behavioral evaluation by medical professionals.
Goodell said he will review Roethlisberger's progress prior to the start of the regular season and could reduce the suspension to four games but may also opt to extend it if Roethlisberger fails to cooperate with terms of the suspension.
If Roethlisberger serves the full six-game suspension, he will be eligible to return for Pittsburgh's game against the Super Bowl champions New Orleans Saints on October 31.
But if the suspension is reduced to four games, he will be eligible to return for Pittsburgh's game against division rivals the Cleveland Browns on October 17.
Sitting out all six games would cost Roethlisberger an estimated US$2.8 million.
Roethlisberger went 9-6 last season as the team's starting quarterback with 26 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions but the Steelers fell short of the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
The suspension came one day after the Steelers acquired quarterback Byron Leftwich from Tampa Bay in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick.
The 28-year-old Roethlisberger, who won Super Bowls with Pittsburgh in 2006 and 2009, was accused in March of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old female college student in a nightclub.
He was not charged with any crime but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Roethlisberger, or "Big Ben" as he is known, still had violated the league's personal-conduct policy.
"Your conduct raises sufficient concerns that I believe effective intervention now is the best step for your personal and professional welfare," Goodell said in a statement.
"In your six years in the NFL, you have first thrilled and now disappointed a great many people. I urge you to take full advantage of this opportunity to get your life and career back on track."
Trade rumors immediately swirled, and while the Steelers declined to address the speculation, they were privately weighing whether they should consider dealing their franchise quarterback for a Top 10 draft pick if one were offered.
Roethlisberger is the first player suspended by Goodell under the conduct policy who hasn't been arrested or charged with a crime. In all, 16 players have been suspended under the conduct policy by Goodell.
Roethlisberger also is being sued by a woman who accused him of raping her at a Lake Tahoe hotel-casino in 2008. He denied the allegation and wasn't charged.
Roethlisberger cannot participate in any offseason team activities until after he has completed a professional behavioral evaluation by medical professionals.
Goodell said he will review Roethlisberger's progress prior to the start of the regular season and could reduce the suspension to four games but may also opt to extend it if Roethlisberger fails to cooperate with terms of the suspension.
If Roethlisberger serves the full six-game suspension, he will be eligible to return for Pittsburgh's game against the Super Bowl champions New Orleans Saints on October 31.
But if the suspension is reduced to four games, he will be eligible to return for Pittsburgh's game against division rivals the Cleveland Browns on October 17.
Sitting out all six games would cost Roethlisberger an estimated US$2.8 million.
Roethlisberger went 9-6 last season as the team's starting quarterback with 26 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions but the Steelers fell short of the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
The suspension came one day after the Steelers acquired quarterback Byron Leftwich from Tampa Bay in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick.
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