Roethlisberger's suspension reduced to 4 games (1 Viewer)

[Adebisi]

Terry Bradshaw is not happy. We will definitely hear more on this the first weekend of commentating.

Terry Bradshaw is lucky they didn't have a personal conduct policy when he was a player. He was a drinker and a womanizer. For him to keep going off on Ben looks more like a personal vendetta because Ben hasn't idolized him than anything. It's the proverbial pot calling the kettle black.

Did Roethlisberger get suspended for drinking and womanizing?

 

[Stillers Jr.]

That's true. What's dangerous I think is the difference in what people think really happened. I'm sure some would say the real story is that there was significantly more than just having drinks with his friends.

I'm not saying you're doing this, but in some ways, it can sound like "OJ Simpson was just being a knucklehead". Obviously, there is an entirely different level of accusation between someone that wasn't charged and someone that was found not guilty in court. But I see folks sometimes brush off accusations when there isn't legal action. I think most of us aren't so naive to believe that just because someone isn't charged, it must mean nothing happened.

J

I knew Joe couldn't resist a few more kicks to the sternum...Joe loves him some Roethlisberger bashing.This is one of those things where we don't know what happened 100% but have a good idea...

So Steeler fans like to think it's a little less than the absolute worst (positive spin) and Steeler detractors think it's a conspiracy the likes of which should have been caught on the Zapruder film (negative spin)....complete with bathroom bleach washdowns and cops risking their careers. Hell I did it with the Spygate thing.

But honestly...Part of me wishes he just took the 6 games so people would stop the incessant whining...if that's possible.

As it is now...4 games to watch Dennis Dixon. I am ok with it.

 

[Adebisi]

...Steeler detractors think it's a conspiracy the likes of which should have been caught on the Zapruder film (negative spin)....complete with bathroom bleach washdowns and cops risking their careers. Hell I did it with the Spygate thing.

No one thinks it's a conspiracy. People are just disgusted that Roethlisberger essentially got a slap on the wrist for what is considered an incredibly vile and despicable act... and that the Steeler organization is feigning outrage over the whole thing.

 

[Steelfan7]

...Steeler detractors think it's a conspiracy the likes of which should have been caught on the Zapruder film (negative spin)....complete with bathroom bleach washdowns and cops risking their careers. Hell I did it with the Spygate thing.

No one thinks it's a conspiracy. People are just disgusted that Roethlisberger essentially got a slap on the wrist for what is considered an incredibly vile and despicable act... and that the Steeler organization is feigning outrage over the whole thing.

You need new bait. The bait you are fishing with is old and stanky.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Mike Kruczek

Went 6-0 as a starter in 1976 without ever throwing a TD pass. In fact he never threw a TD pass in his 5 year NFL career.

Thank you for adding some excellent detail to Reason #1 Terry Bradshaw doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame.

 

[Manster]

see. good things happen when you dont rape so much.

 

[Dancing Bear]

I still cant believe he knocked Vicks down from 6 games last year to 2 but keeps Big Bens at 4 despite not being guilty of anything but alot of hearsay really. I am not seeing the justice here in the end.

There is no justice here at all. This is an arbitrary base-less penalty.Michael Vick goes out boozing with his same old buddies; one of whom brings a gun and discharges it within just a few minutes of Vick's departure [way after midnight]. Vick hasn't learned his lesson, and he got no penalty ...Reggie Bush gets CONVICTED of taking boat-loads of $, goods & services before going into the NFL. USC loses a National Championship and cannot even vie for the championship this year as a result of his shameful behavior. Not even a peep by Gooddell. This guy disgraced the NCAA and the NFL! Doesn't matter whether it happened pre-NFL.Bush tarnished the entire football enterprise and on a scale far worse than Ben's. Where's the reprimand?The punishments are arbitrary, ridiculous and not based on any sound foundation of expected behavior or impact on the NFL.

 

[Steelfan7]

Mike Kruczek

Went 6-0 as a starter in 1976 without ever throwing a TD pass. In fact he never threw a TD pass in his 5 year NFL career.

Thank you for adding some excellent detail to Reason #1 Terry Bradshaw doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame.

I must have missed where Kruczek started and won those 4 Superbowls. In today's NFL Bradshaw would have put up big numbers.

 

[money.never.sleeps]

Mike Kruczek

Went 6-0 as a starter in 1976 without ever throwing a TD pass. In fact he never threw a TD pass in his 5 year NFL career.

Thank you for adding some excellent detail to Reason #1 Terry Bradshaw doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame.

I must have missed where Kruczek started and won those 4 Superbowls. In today's NFL Bradshaw would have put up big numbers.

He would have never got the opportunity (its a joke.. dont kill me.. i know he was 1.1 overall)

 

[Stillers Jr.]

...Steeler detractors think it's a conspiracy the likes of which should have been caught on the Zapruder film (negative spin)....complete with bathroom bleach washdowns and cops risking their careers. Hell I did it with the Spygate thing.

No one thinks it's a conspiracy. People are just disgusted that Roethlisberger essentially got a slap on the wrist for what is considered an incredibly vile and despicable act... and that the Steeler organization is feigning outrage over the whole thing.

Tell the world here and now...what would you have preferred to have seen happen to Ben. 10 game suspension? $500k fine and losing a 1st rd pick? What would make Adebesi say, "That's a fair punishment for Ben"? Seriously.

 

[money.never.sleeps]

...Steeler detractors think it's a conspiracy the likes of which should have been caught on the Zapruder film (negative spin)....complete with bathroom bleach washdowns and cops risking their careers. Hell I did it with the Spygate thing.

No one thinks it's a conspiracy. People are just disgusted that Roethlisberger essentially got a slap on the wrist for what is considered an incredibly vile and despicable act... and that the Steeler organization is feigning outrage over the whole thing.

Tell the world here and now...what would you have preferred to have seen happen to Ben. 10 game suspension? $500k fine and losing a 1st rd pick? What would make Adebesi say, "That's a fair punishment for Ben"? Seriously.

These are the excuses I'm talking about. This guy has shown a pattern so dont get butt hurt when people hate on the guy.

 

[SSOG]

These are the excuses I'm talking about. This guy has shown a pattern so dont get butt hurt when people hate on the guy.

It was a fair question. The people who hate Ben are going to hate Ben regardless of what his punishment was. I get the sense that for some of them, anything other than a lifetime ban from football would be too little. In my mind, that seems like an awfully extreme stance to take for someone who was never charged with a crime. I understand that "innocent until proven guilty" doesn't hold in the court of public opinion, but giving somebody the career death sentence because we suspect he was guilty of something is a little crazy, in my mind.I'm curious to hear some people answer the question. What would have been a fair punishment for Roethlisberger? If you were commissioner for a day, what would you have handed down?

 

[Ghost Rider]

As for the reduction, no one should be surprised by this. Considering how much pull Rooney has with the league, Roethlisberger probably would have had to have had another accusation lobbed at him NOT to have it reduced.

Take it easy there. That team with the rapist quarterback is the classiest organization in football, you know.

Come on, man, you are better than this. Or at least you used to be.

I'm curious to hear some people answer the question. What would have been a fair punishment for Roethlisberger? If you were commissioner for a day, what would you have handed down?

I think the 4 games he is now getting sounds about right. The only beef I have is the waffling. The whole "it is 6, but I will reduce it to 4 if he does this and that in the next few months" seemed a little silly. It was almost like he was trying to look tougher than he was being by giving 6, but knew all along that he was gonna make it 4, barring another incident involving Roethlisberger. But anyway, 4 games sounds about right.

 

[Raider Nation]

The most important person in Ben Roethlisberger's life over the next month will be George Whitfield Jr., a quarterback guru from San Diego. They will be attached at the hip while Roethlisberger tries to keep his passing arm razor-sharp during his suspension from the NFL, which was reduced Friday from six to four games by commissioner Roger Goodell. Whitfield flies into Pittsburgh Tuesday afternoon. Class will begin almost immediately. "I land about 3 o'clock, Whitfield said. "He wants to be on the field within an hour of me landing."Although Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and conditioning coordinator Garrett Giemont surely gave Roethlisberger some working assignments before he bid adieu to his teammates after Thursday night's final preseason game, Whitfield will have the most influence on the Steelers' quarterback during his time away.The conditions of the suspension prohibit Roethlisberger from being at the team facility, attending Steelers games or having contact with the team's coaches or personnel. He isn't even allowed to talk football with teammates over dinner.So Roethlisberger's immediate future lies in Whitfield's hands. The plan will include a combination of quarterback drills and conditioning work to prepare for Roethlisberger's return to the team on Oct. 4. His first game back, following a bye, will be against the Browns on Oct. 17."It will initiate through Ben," said Whitfield, 32, who owns Whitfield Athletix, a quarterbacks academy, in San Diego. "I'm really going to draw from him what he'd like to do, what he'd like to put his focus on. Once we (determine) those areas, I'll begin wrapping the workouts around them."You can be assured it will be a lot of the classic quarterback ingredients: a ton of drop drills, a lot of footwork, making sure he's in rhythm, getting his endurance up. Just making sure we're replicating his routine as best as he can as if he were across town in practice."The game plan is to get him a good daily workout, try to put him through the paces. I'm going to let him craft this thing, and then just provide the technical support and fire behind it."This won't be the first time Roethlisberger has trained with Whitfield. At the behest of Roethlisberger's agents, Bruce and Ryan Tollner, Whitfield came up to Newport Beach, Calif., last January to work with the Steelers' quarterback while he was in Orange County."I was really blown away by how athletic and agile he is," Whitfield said of Roethlisberger. "I mean, he's built like a defensive end, or a big basketball player, but he's really light on his feet. I can't believe how a man who's 6-5 and 250 plus pounds can move and have that type of agility." Although Whitfield has worked with quarterbacks at every level, he won't try to alter Roethlisberger's mechanics."There's no construction or surgery," Whitfield said. "This is from a mental standpoint, a footwork standpoint, and a throwing standpoint — how much sharper can he get, let alone keeping up his normal pace."ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski said the most important thing Roethlisberger can do over the next month is throw the football."I think it is absolutely critical that he continues to throw, probably four or five times a week, to keep himself sharp," Jaworski said. "Finding guys to throw to is what I would recommend."Whitfield said he doesn't know where the workouts will take place:"It will probably be a high school football field or some area where we can get some work done and try to keep the circus atmosphere down as much as we can," he said — or who else will participate in the workouts. Roethlisberger and the Tollners are handling those logistics.Roethlisberger is expected to throw to receivers who have NFL experience but are currently out of the league. A defensive back or two likely will join them."He's going to have to throw some 'competition balls' I call them," Whitfield said. " 'I have to beat this defensive back aside from just completing the pass.' "One player available is wideout Santonio Holmes, who played his first four seasons with the Steelers before being traded to the Jets in the offseason. The NFL also suspended Holmes for the first four games.Maybe Roethlisberger and Holmes can get together and re-create their game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl 43.

 

[Manster]

...Steeler detractors think it's a conspiracy the likes of which should have been caught on the Zapruder film (negative spin)....complete with bathroom bleach washdowns and cops risking their careers. Hell I did it with the Spygate thing.

No one thinks it's a conspiracy. People are just disgusted that Roethlisberger essentially got a slap on the wrist for what is considered an incredibly vile and despicable act... and that the Steeler organization is feigning outrage over the whole thing.

Tell the world here and now...what would you have preferred to have seen happen to Ben. 10 game suspension? $500k fine and losing a 1st rd pick? What would make Adebesi say, "That's a fair punishment for Ben"? Seriously.

theres more to it than just the punishment.Ben has proven to be a dirtbag, and steelers nation is trying to just trying to make it into a "move along, nothing to see here, he appologized, he's changed" kinda thing.as a Cowboys fan, i've heard about Irvin and the other Cowboys of that era and their exploits, for years. it still comes up. with that said, hang on for the the roethlisraper ride, cause it aint goin anywhere.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

...Steeler detractors think it's a conspiracy the likes of which should have been caught on the Zapruder film (negative spin)....complete with bathroom bleach washdowns and cops risking their careers. Hell I did it with the Spygate thing.

No one thinks it's a conspiracy. People are just disgusted that Roethlisberger essentially got a slap on the wrist for what is considered an incredibly vile and despicable act... and that the Steeler organization is feigning outrage over the whole thing.

Tell the world here and now...what would you have preferred to have seen happen to Ben. 10 game suspension? $500k fine and losing a 1st rd pick? What would make Adebesi say, "That's a fair punishment for Ben"? Seriously.

theres more to it than just the punishment.Ben has proven to be a dirtbag, and steelers nation is trying to just trying to make it into a "move along, nothing to see here, he appologized, he's changed" kinda thing.as a Cowboys fan, i've heard about Irvin and the other Cowboys of that era and their exploits, for years. it still comes up. with that said, hang on for the the roethlisraper ride, cause it aint goin anywhere.

Yeah, Irvin's taken a real beating. Between his HOF induction, his roles in major motion pictures, and his various studio shows and radio jobs, I don't know how he gets through the day.

 

[Joe Bryant]

That's true. What's dangerous I think is the difference in what people think really happened. I'm sure some would say the real story is that there was significantly more than just having drinks with his friends.

I'm not saying you're doing this, but in some ways, it can sound like "OJ Simpson was just being a knucklehead". Obviously, there is an entirely different level of accusation between someone that wasn't charged and someone that was found not guilty in court. But I see folks sometimes brush off accusations when there isn't legal action. I think most of us aren't so naive to believe that just because someone isn't charged, it must mean nothing happened.

J

I knew Joe couldn't resist a few more kicks to the sternum...Joe loves him some Roethlisberger bashing.This is one of those things where we don't know what happened 100% but have a good idea...

So Steeler fans like to think it's a little less than the absolute worst (positive spin) and Steeler detractors think it's a conspiracy the likes of which should have been caught on the Zapruder film (negative spin)....complete with bathroom bleach washdowns and cops risking their careers. Hell I did it with the Spygate thing.

But honestly...Part of me wishes he just took the 6 games so people would stop the incessant whining...if that's possible.

As it is now...4 games to watch Dennis Dixon. I am ok with it.

If that's bashing or whining, you guys are way more sensitive than I give you credit for.And I think it'll be Charlie Batch. You guys'll be fine. Go 2-2 and you're headed for the playoffs.

J

 

[Joe Bryant]

The most important person in Ben Roethlisberger's life over the next month will be George Whitfield Jr., a quarterback guru from San Diego. They will be attached at the hip while Roethlisberger tries to keep his passing arm razor-sharp during his suspension from the NFL, which was reduced Friday from six to four games by commissioner Roger Goodell. Whitfield flies into Pittsburgh Tuesday afternoon. Class will begin almost immediately. "I land about 3 o'clock, Whitfield said. "He wants to be on the field within an hour of me landing."Although Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and conditioning coordinator Garrett Giemont surely gave Roethlisberger some working assignments before he bid adieu to his teammates after Thursday night's final preseason game, Whitfield will have the most influence on the Steelers' quarterback during his time away.The conditions of the suspension prohibit Roethlisberger from being at the team facility, attending Steelers games or having contact with the team's coaches or personnel. He isn't even allowed to talk football with teammates over dinner.So Roethlisberger's immediate future lies in Whitfield's hands. The plan will include a combination of quarterback drills and conditioning work to prepare for Roethlisberger's return to the team on Oct. 4. His first game back, following a bye, will be against the Browns on Oct. 17."It will initiate through Ben," said Whitfield, 32, who owns Whitfield Athletix, a quarterbacks academy, in San Diego. "I'm really going to draw from him what he'd like to do, what he'd like to put his focus on. Once we (determine) those areas, I'll begin wrapping the workouts around them."You can be assured it will be a lot of the classic quarterback ingredients: a ton of drop drills, a lot of footwork, making sure he's in rhythm, getting his endurance up. Just making sure we're replicating his routine as best as he can as if he were across town in practice."The game plan is to get him a good daily workout, try to put him through the paces. I'm going to let him craft this thing, and then just provide the technical support and fire behind it."This won't be the first time Roethlisberger has trained with Whitfield. At the behest of Roethlisberger's agents, Bruce and Ryan Tollner, Whitfield came up to Newport Beach, Calif., last January to work with the Steelers' quarterback while he was in Orange County."I was really blown away by how athletic and agile he is," Whitfield said of Roethlisberger. "I mean, he's built like a defensive end, or a big basketball player, but he's really light on his feet. I can't believe how a man who's 6-5 and 250 plus pounds can move and have that type of agility." Although Whitfield has worked with quarterbacks at every level, he won't try to alter Roethlisberger's mechanics."There's no construction or surgery," Whitfield said. "This is from a mental standpoint, a footwork standpoint, and a throwing standpoint — how much sharper can he get, let alone keeping up his normal pace."ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski said the most important thing Roethlisberger can do over the next month is throw the football."I think it is absolutely critical that he continues to throw, probably four or five times a week, to keep himself sharp," Jaworski said. "Finding guys to throw to is what I would recommend."Whitfield said he doesn't know where the workouts will take place:"It will probably be a high school football field or some area where we can get some work done and try to keep the circus atmosphere down as much as we can," he said — or who else will participate in the workouts. Roethlisberger and the Tollners are handling those logistics.Roethlisberger is expected to throw to receivers who have NFL experience but are currently out of the league. A defensive back or two likely will join them."He's going to have to throw some 'competition balls' I call them," Whitfield said. " 'I have to beat this defensive back aside from just completing the pass.' "One player available is wideout Santonio Holmes, who played his first four seasons with the Steelers before being traded to the Jets in the offseason. The NFL also suspended Holmes for the first four games.Maybe Roethlisberger and Holmes can get together and re-create their game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl 43.

Excellent post. Thanks. How they handle this fascinates me. As I asked earlier, I wonder how strict they really enforce the "no contact" thing? I mean, can Ken Anderson talk to Whitfield every day and have Whitfield relaying the info? That's what I'd be doing if I were Tomlin or Arians. J

 

[Joe Bryant]

As for the reduction, no one should be surprised by this. Considering how much pull Rooney has with the league, Roethlisberger probably would have had to have had another accusation lobbed at him NOT to have it reduced.

Take it easy there. That team with the rapist quarterback is the classiest organization in football, you know.

Come on, man, you are better than this. Or at least you used to be.

I'm curious to hear some people answer the question. What would have been a fair punishment for Roethlisberger? If you were commissioner for a day, what would you have handed down?

I think the 4 games he is now getting sounds about right. The only beef I have is the waffling. The whole "it is 6, but I will reduce it to 4 if he does this and that in the next few months" seemed a little silly. It was almost like he was trying to look tougher than he was being by giving 6, but knew all along that he was gonna make it 4, barring another incident involving Roethlisberger. But anyway, 4 games sounds about right.

Hi ghostrider,I agree with what it was but I think that was smart for Goodell. He was feeling a lot of heat to come down hard on him. Throw in the racial pressures about going tough on guys like Vick and I think the 6 games was a no brainer. But throw out the carrot for 4 if he stays out of trouble. Looking back on it, I think it was really a smart way for Goodell to play it. J

 

[Joe Bryant]

...Steeler detractors think it's a conspiracy the likes of which should have been caught on the Zapruder film (negative spin)....complete with bathroom bleach washdowns and cops risking their careers. Hell I did it with the Spygate thing.

No one thinks it's a conspiracy. People are just disgusted that Roethlisberger essentially got a slap on the wrist for what is considered an incredibly vile and despicable act... and that the Steeler organization is feigning outrage over the whole thing.

Tell the world here and now...what would you have preferred to have seen happen to Ben. 10 game suspension? $500k fine and losing a 1st rd pick? What would make Adebesi say, "That's a fair punishment for Ben"? Seriously.

theres more to it than just the punishment.Ben has proven to be a dirtbag, and steelers nation is trying to just trying to make it into a "move along, nothing to see here, he appologized, he's changed" kinda thing.

as a Cowboys fan, i've heard about Irvin and the other Cowboys of that era and their exploits, for years. it still comes up.

with that said, hang on for the the roethlisraper ride, cause it aint goin anywhere.

Yeah, Irvin's taken a real beating. Between his HOF induction, his roles in major motion pictures, and his various studio shows and radio jobs, I don't know how he gets through the day.

Irvin has taken a beating. I don't think anyone objective denies that. It still comes up. Just like it will with Roethlisberger. I think the guys are pretty similar in that regard. Both will have detractors (with reason) but both can go on to have HOF careers and be super successful. Or more accurately, Roethlisberger can go on to have a HOF career and be super successful like Irvin has been.J

 

[Raider Nation]

Slightly off-topic.

I already have Big Ben. Which is his receivers would you rather have for the rest of this year.... Ward or Wallace?

 

[hook014]

Since I drafted Wallace and have him stashed I'll say him.

I think Ben is gonna be lights out in the rest of the season to prove he is worth all the trouble. Ala Ray Lewis in his Super bowl run.

Love Ward and have owned him many times but I like Wallace's TD potential.

 

[MIMN]

I've got Wallace and Ben in a variety of combinations. I'd love to see them in a love affair for the rest of the year.

 

[CrossEyed]

Slightly off-topic.I already have Big Ben. Which is his receivers would you rather have for the rest of this year.... Ward or Wallace?

Wallace. Although in ppr it might be close.