Rooney's Press Conference 4/15 3 ET (1 Viewer)

[werdnoynek]

From the Steelers Official Site

Statement by Steelers President Art Rooney, II

Thank you for being here.

Let me start with an update of Ben Roethlisberger’s situation.

As you know, on Tuesday Ben met with Commissioner Goodell in New York. Since then I have talked with the Commissioner about his review of this matter. As far as the timing of any disciplinary action, the Commissioner has told me he would like to take at least a couple weeks to review this matter. So, I don’t expect we will be announcing any final decisions until the week after the draft, at the earliest.

Next, I want to say that I have informed the Commissioner that the Pittsburgh Steelers are prepared to take disciplinary action at this point. However, I want to make clear that any discipline will be agreed to and coordinated between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Commissioner. In other words, there will not be two separate decisions on discipline.

Let me say at this point that we believe that each of our players not only has a responsibility to live up to the highest standards on the field, but also to equally high standards off the field. Receiving the support of the Pittsburgh Steelers fans all over the world is something that must be earned.

I have made it clear to Ben that his conduct in this incident did not live up to our standards. We have made it very clear to Ben that there will be consequences for his actions, and Ben has indicated to us that he is willing to accept those consequences.

As you maybe aware, Ben has rejoined the team in participating in our offseason conditioning program. We allowed Ben to do this after we were convinced that he was sincerely contrite for his past behavior, as well having Ben’s assurance that he is firmly committed to working hard everyday to regain the trust and respect of this organization and Steelers fans.

After imposing an appropriate level of discipline and outlining the steps we feel will be necessary to be successful as a player and a person, we intend to allow Ben the opportunity to prove to us he is the teammate and citizen we all believe he is capable of being. And we hope the entire Steelers community will allow Ben the opportunity to prove to them that he deserves their trust and their respect.

I would also like to address the Santonio Holmes trade to the New York Jets. Trading players or releasing players is never an easy decision. We have to take into account a number of factors. First and foremost, we must evaluate if that player is truly committed to trying to live up to the standards we expect. And, on occasion, when a player makes a mistake, we have to evaluate whether the player is committed to taking the required steps to improve in the future.

As you can imagine, to keep our commitment to our fans to consistently put the best possible team on the field, we must also evaluate a player’s likely contribution both in short term and the long term. Clearly Santonio is a very talented football player. But his multiple violations of League policies, and the additional off-the-field problems lead us to conclude that it would be in the best interest of our organization to part ways. I wish Santonio all the best and I hope he is able to do what is necessary to be successful both on and off the field.

Are there any questions?

 

[gianmarco]

I was just thinking that I wish a new thread about Big Ben was started to reveal any new developments. Surely we've been due as I don't think there were any started in the last 3 hours.

 

[werdnoynek]

it's not entirely about ben, but the sarcasm is greatly appreciated.

 

[finito]

I was just thinking that I wish a new thread about Big Ben was started to reveal any new developments. Surely we've been due as I don't think there were any started in the last 3 hours.

I think it deserves its own thread.

 

[werdnoynek]

i'd be interested to see what all was asked during the Q&A following this announcement.

 

[perry147]

i'd be interested to see what all was asked during the Q&A following this announcement.

"In retrospect, Mr. Rooney do you feel the Big Ben might have causally suffered brain damage in his latest motor cycle accident? And can you in fact confirm or deny that the driver of the other vehicle was in fact Tiger Woods?"

 

[werdnoynek]

i'd be interested to see what all was asked during the Q&A following this announcement.

"In retrospect, Mr. Rooney do you feel the Big Ben might have causally suffered brain damage in his latest motor cycle accident? And can you in fact confirm or deny that the driver of the other vehicle was in fact Tiger Woods?"

 

[Sweet Love]

From the Steelers Official Site

Statement by Steelers President Art Rooney, II

Are there any questions?

"Yes, Mr. Rooney. So what you are telling us is that if you are a great player, you get a pass and if you are just "good", you cut traded?"Seriously, the timing of the Holmes trade and the fact that their best/most valued player is going through issues of his own, but gets to stay, kind of reminds of when my 5 year-old son spills a full cup and tries to cover it up with a 4x4 napkin..."Um, we know what you are trying to do". I would have had a lot more respect for the organization if they just kept Holmes and said they would try to "save" them both.

 

[Jeremy]

From the Steelers Official Site

Statement by Steelers President Art Rooney, II

Are there any questions?

"Yes, Mr. Rooney. So what you are telling us is that if you are a great player, you get a pass and if you are just "good", you cut traded?"

I'd be surprised if a reporter didn't ask some version of that question. Even though we all know the answer. Star players have a different set of rules. That's true on every team. Well, maybe not the Broncos.

 

[werdnoynek]

an interesting take from Mike Florio @ PFT

Specific source of Roethlisberger discipline raises confusion

Posted by Mike Florio on April 15, 2010 4:37 PM ET

At his Thursday afternoon press conference, Steelers president Art Rooney II said that the team is "prepared to take disciplinary action at this point" against quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Rooney then said that the discipline "will be agreed to and coordinated between" the Steelers and Commissioner Roger Goodell. Rooney added that there will be only one decision on discipline.

In all, it caused us to conclude that the discipline will come from the Steelers.

We're now told that it has yet to be determined whether the league or the Steelers will discipline Roethlisberger. And we're beginning to detect a sense that the league and the Steelers will attempt to create the impression that the discipline is being imposed jointly.

The only problem is that, technically, it can't happen. The league, not the Steelers, has the authority to discipline players under the Personal Conduct Policy. The Steelers, not the league, have the authority to discipline players under the Collective Bargaining Agreement for conduct detrimental to the team.

It appears -- especially in light of Goodell's very recent reiteration of the Personal Conduct Policy, which we'll address separately -- that the league is inclined to act under the Personal Conduct Policy, and that the Steelers will try to make it appear that they are the ones who initiated the matter. It would represent, in our view, an effort to balance the P.R. benefits of having the Steelers be perceived as the party issuing the suspension and the strategic benefits of having the league being the party to actually impose the discipline.

Under the Personal Conduct Policy, any appeal is heard by the Commissioner, the courtroom equivalent of having a judge hear the appeal of his own ruling. Under the CBA, an independent arbitrator resolves the challenge.

That said, it's highly unlikely that there will be a challenge to the discipline -- unless Roethlisberger gets a Pacman-style one-year suspension.

Then again, a lengthy suspension could be coming. The CBA limits a suspension for conduct detrimental to the team to four games. The Personal Conduct Policy has no such limitation, which is another benefit to a suspension imposed by the league.

Either way, it now appears very possible that we will see the league take the unprecedented step of suspending under the Personal Conduct Policy a player who has never been arrested or charged at the same time that we see the league and a team take the unprecedented step of creating the impression that the player's team has a spoon in the stew, too.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Does Mike Tomlin get a pass? The fact the Steelers did not make the playoffs last year and also the fact that even though they won a year or two ago, 2 in the last 5-6 seasons that this team is really starting to look like shell of what it was. Why doesn't Tomlin discipline his players? Is he too much of a players' coach?

I'm asking not assuming. Fans have been very critical of Big Ben...not many Steelers fans that I have seen that are covering for him, most seem like they want him disciplined or gone which I find surprising. I'm surprised the fans are not on Timlin's case more.

 

[perry147]

i'd be interested to see what all was asked during the Q&A following this announcement.

"In retrospect, Mr. Rooney do you feel the Big Ben might have causally suffered brain damage in his latest motor cycle accident? And can you in fact confirm or deny that the driver of the other vehicle was in fact Tiger Woods?"

"Mr. Rooney do you feel that Art is turning clockwise or counter-clockwise at this moment?"

 

[B-Deep]

i wonder if some of the people insisting he did nothing wrong and just had sex are gonna rip rooney.

"I have made it clear to Ben that his conduct in this incident did not live up to our standards" If all he did was have sex, those are some high standards! Ronney is probably just a big ben hater.

 

[Kenny Powers]

There wasnt really anything significant in the Q&A outside of Rooney saying that they had not talked with any other teams about a Roethlisberger trade and made it sound like they are prepared to move forward with Roethlisberger as their QB

Oh, he also said there will be "disciplinary action" taken against Roethlisberger although they do not know if it will be from Goodell, the team, or both. It sounded like it will be more than a fine (ie a suspension) and IMO it would seem Goodell wont suspend him so as not to set a precedent but the Steelers will

 

[beavers]

Does Mike Tomlin get a pass? The fact the Steelers did not make the playoffs last year and also the fact that even though they won a year or two ago, 2 in the last 5-6 seasons that this team is really starting to look like shell of what it was. Why doesn't Tomlin discipline his players? Is he too much of a players' coach?I'm asking not assuming. Fans have been very critical of Big Ben...not many Steelers fans that I have seen that are covering for him, most seem like they want him disciplined or gone which I find surprising. I'm surprised the fans are not on Timlin's case more.

What does Tomlin have to do with this? What does Cowher have to do with the motorcycle accident (without a helmet)?Nothing

 

[werdnoynek]

Does Mike Tomlin get a pass? The fact the Steelers did not make the playoffs last year and also the fact that even though they won a year or two ago, 2 in the last 5-6 seasons that this team is really starting to look like shell of what it was. Why doesn't Tomlin discipline his players? Is he too much of a players' coach?I'm asking not assuming. Fans have been very critical of Big Ben...not many Steelers fans that I have seen that are covering for him, most seem like they want him disciplined or gone which I find surprising. I'm surprised the fans are not on Timlin's case more.

What does Tomlin have to do with this? What does Cowher have to do with the motorcycle accident (without a helmet)?Nothing

you've both got a point. it seems each organization handles these situations differently. i would think it would be ok for a coach to make the disciplinary decisions, but maybe rooney didn't give tomlin that authority. i'm sure tomlin has an opinion on the issue as well as a reasonable idea of how to handle the situation, but it seems that rooney is the one to make these disciplinary decisions. i would think that tomlin has had some input and say, but given the possiblity of legal ramifications with this maybe it had to be handled differently. i understand what you're saying about a coach controlling their players on and off the field, but it's not reasonable for him to be watching them constantly - all of the time, especially during the off season. we cant forget these are grown professional men, they need to be professional in everything they do. not be babysat by their coaches.

 

[delusional]

i wonder if some of the people insisting he did nothing wrong and just had sex are gonna rip rooney."I have made it clear to Ben that his conduct in this incident did not live up to our standards" If all he did was have sex, those are some high standards! Ronney is probably just a big ben hater.

Called saving face. If none of this was in the news, this #### wouldn't matter.

 

[Godsbrother]

From the Steelers Official Site

Statement by Steelers President Art Rooney, II

Are there any questions?

"Yes, Mr. Rooney. So what you are telling us is that if you are a great player, you get a pass and if you are just "good", you cut traded?"

I'd be surprised if a reporter didn't ask some version of that question. Even though we all know the answer. Star players have a different set of rules. That's true on every team. Well, maybe not the Broncos.

Steelers suspended Santonio Holmes 1 game with pay 2 seasons ago for smoking dope when they should have probably handed out a longer suspension and without pay. He rewards them by testing positive for dope at least once more and possibly again (or he failed to show up for his test) and gets suspended for 4 games. In addition he gets involved in an altercation in a nightclub and posts some really stupid stuff on his twitter account like telling fans to kill themselves and that it time to wake n bake (i.e. smoke dope). He also posted stuff this season about how he wants to go to bigger market team because he doesn't think the Steelers will pay him what he deserves.Santonio Holmes' actions, the suspension, and the fact that he was going to be a free agent at the end of the year made him an easy target to trade. And really what kind of a punishment is it to send him to a great up and coming team in a big market which is exactly what he wanted?

Roethlisberger's situation is entirely different. He is signed for a lot of money through the 2016 season at the most important position on the team. Dennis Dixon may have potential but he is a complete unknown. And even with all of this I think if the Steelers were offered even a semi-decent trade they would do it just to get rid of him.

You gotta give the Steelers a little slack here. They are between a rock a hard place...