Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is going to be sitting more than he probably thought in 2010 when commissioner Roger Goodell hands down a suspension of the QB today. ESPN is reporting that Roethlisberger will have to sit 4 to 6 games.
What this means for the Steelers is that they will have to either go with one of three QB’s as their starter come opening day and through at least the first quarter of the season – Dennis Dixon, Charlie Batch, or Byron Leftwich, who came to the team for a 7th round pick on Tuesday.
Here’s what ESPN has to say about the suspension:
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be suspended for four to six games on Wednesday for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, according to multiple sources. When the suspension is announced, it will contain conditions that will allow it to be reduced based on Roethlisberger’s behavior and compliance with clinical evaluators.
Commissioner Roger Goodell’s verdict will reinforce a message that NFL employees will be held to a higher standard than the law. Steelers employees were bracing Tuesday night for what they suspected would be an eight-game suspension, but two sources said it would not be eight games.
First off, if it’s six games, you can bet the NFLPA is going to file to get that reduced right away. They will charge that the QB was never charged with a crime, so that long of a suspension is not fair. As for the Steelers, it’s been said they may have the QB on the trade block at the right price. It will be interesting if this long of a suspension makes them more willing to part with Roethlisberger.
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mark
April 21, 2010 at 10:10 am
4-6 is a bit extreme for a player that wasnt charged with ANYTHING! I can see this being appealed down to 4 games and Ben taking that. I can also see the team finding it hard to trade a QB that will be lost for a quarter of the season to a taker and still getting the pick they desire. I expect Leftwich/Dixon to carry on thru the suspension of 4 games, just in time for the bye week and Ben’s return against the Browns at home. Lets hope for 2-2 or 3-1 by the time that happens! I am starting to feel more and more like Ben will be on the roster for the Steelers this year and in the future. Thoughts????
mark
April 21, 2010 at 10:11 am
Also, when Ben returns, the team either releases Leftwich or Batch. Maybe Batch retires and stays with the team in a coaching/mentor capacity?
George H
April 21, 2010 at 10:20 am
I’ve said it for a while now, Ben will stay in Pittsburgh.
Steve
April 21, 2010 at 11:06 am
Based on what I heard on sports radio this morning, the NFLPA cannot appeal the suspension as it was not handed down by the Steelers. The commish handed it down and they would be appealing to the commish. Would anyone expect him to say, “Yes, I was too hard on him and I’ll reduce it?” Doubtful. Also read that Adam Shefter (sp) at ESPN is saying the Steelers have begun contacting teams in an effort to trade Ben for a top 10 draft pick.
Ben Dover
April 21, 2010 at 11:21 am
I propose a trade between the Steelers and the Bungles, Ben Roethlisberger for Carson Palmer even up.
Ben has a rap sheet now that compares with any player on the Cincinnatti roster, and Palmer would be a worthy replacement for him at quarterback.
It’s a win-win for both teams.
How about this: Tony Romo dates Country singing stars, Tom Brady dates Super models and Ben Roethlisberger is accused of sexual assult. Why isn’t a guy who can have any woman he wants involved in a long-term relationship? Because no woman is good enough for narcisist like him.
He always puts his own interests ahead of the team, it’s is why he dictates to Bruce Arians the plays the offence runs, it’s why he holds on to the ball so long and takes so many sacks, and is why, unlike Brady who took less money than he sould have gotten so the Patriots could sign more players, he pushed the Steelers to the limit of the salary cap when negociating his last contract.
Get rid of him now before more problems arise because of his personality flaws.
DrGeorge
April 21, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Roger Goodell needs to make a statement. A structured suspension (4-6 weeks, with 2-3 games forgiven for good behavior)makes Goodell look tough, but gets Ben back before the Bye week. Ben is out 2-3 weeks at most, if he is still in Pgh. But without Holmes and Ben, Arians’ aerial circus will be grounded. Someone better teach the O-line to block, or it will be a very long season.
George H
April 21, 2010 at 12:17 pm
There is absolutely no way the Steelers can let Ben go. Steelers fans have to be completely idiotic if they think we can win Superbowls without him. Whos gonna win us a SB? Leftwhich? Dixon? Get real! These are back up qbs and have no realistic shot at winning a superbowl. Wait til we trade Ben and we go 7-9 or 6-10 and then see how happy all the fans are
Ben Dover
April 21, 2010 at 1:38 pm
George H. The Steelers won Super Bowl XL with out Ben. They would have won that game 35-3 if it wasn’t for his bungling.
Leftwich would have lead them to victory throughtout the 2009 season and to a Super Bowl XLIII, because he understands to get the ball out of his hand instead of taking sacks which makes it harder for the defence to do it’s job.
The Steelers need to get back to a ball control offence and send that pervert packing.
Remember that the Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV with Trent Dilfer and the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII with Brent Johnson. Teams with great defences win Super Bowls, not quarterbacks. John Elway and Dan Marino proved that.
George H
April 21, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Elway has 2 rings… How many games did Leftwhich start for the Steelers? Ben won SB43
DrGeorge
April 21, 2010 at 1:47 pm
It’s now official and pretty much as we expected here: Ben’s was suspended for 6 games with the possibility of reducing it to 4 games if Ben follows the remedial program (counseling) outlined by R. Goodell. Whether the decision is ‘fair’ is impossible to determine, since all of the facts considered are not public. However, the Steelers are shopping Ben around the league per ESPN, assessing possible trading partners, although a deal seems unlikely before the draft.