Roethlisberger to be out millions once suspension is announced

Ben Roethlisberger must not have been thinking about his pocket book when he decided to enter a bathroom with a 20-year old a few weeks back. James Walker of ESPN reports today in his blog that a suspension against the QB, which is likely to happen, could cost him quite a bit of cash.

According to his contract, Roethlisberger has a base salary of $8.05 million this upcoming season. Therefore, it would cost “Big Ben” $473,529 — or one-seventeenth of his salary — for every game he is forced to sit. Players are paid by the league in 17 increments.

In addition, Roethlisberger also could lose a small percentage of his $25.2 million signing bonus if the Steelers choose to pursue it. In 2008 Roethlisberger signed an eight-year, $102 million contract with the Steelers that remains the largest deal in franchise history.

Maybe losing a big chunk of change will finally get Ben to see the error of his ways. Then again, when you have a deal on the table for as much money as Ben does, it may take even more for him to finally wake up.