Goodell Pulls The Plug On Big Ben, Hands Out 6-Game Suspension

The verdict everyone has been waiting for is finally in.

Big Ben will be forced to sit out up to six games for the Steelers this coming season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Roethlisberger will be forced to undergo a behavioral evaluation and can gain two games back of his suspension should he employ good behavior before the season starts.

However, if Ben can’t keep his dick in his pants for the preseason he can face an additional suspension, which I am sure every Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Baltimore fan are hoping for, so that they don’t have to see this guy and his damn pump fakes for over half the season.

The Steelers should consider themselves lucky that it could possibly be losing its franchise quarterback for only the first four games. They open the season with Atlanta at home, at Tennessee, at Tampa Bay, then Baltimore at home.

Three of the four teams did not make the playoffs last year, although Atlanta and Tennessee have the potential to get there. I could see a 2-2 record for those four games.

Even if he sits out all six, the additional two games include Cleveland and Miami. As much as I loathe this team, I have to keep it real. We are talking about a Steeler team that manages to put out a winning team every year, so if they could manage a 3-3 record in those six games, we could still see them in the playoffs next season.

ESPN supplied excerpts from Roger Goodell’s letter to Ben, I found the following the most interesting:

“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’,”

“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.”

“I recognize that the allegations in Georgia were disputed and that they did not result in criminal charges being filed against you. My decision today is not based on a finding that you violated Georgia law, or on a conclusion that differs from that of the local prosecutor. That said, you are held to a higher standard as an NFL player, and there is nothing about your conduct in Milledgeville that can remotely be described as admirable, responsible, or consistent with either the values of the league or the expectations of our fans.”

“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.” (In other words; stop being that creepy guy that gets underage girls drunk and takes advantage of them.)

It will remain to be seen what the Steeler organization decides to do with Roethlisberger. ESPN is also reporting that they have begun contacting teams to see if anyone is willing to trade a top 10 pick for him.

At first I did not think there was any way in hell they would trade him, but with the draft coming up tomorrow, the acquisition of Leftwich, and the Rooney’s no tolerance policy for bulls**t (see Santonio Holmes) there is a possibility Big Ben could be seen wrecking motorcycles and creeping on young women some place else.