The Ben Roethlisberger saga rages on. Word came down from NFL League Commish, Supreme Ruler and Dictator-For-Life Roger Goodell that Big Ben would be suspended for a conditional six games.
The way the suspension is spelled out is ridiculous. It can be reduced to four games if he behaves himself. Strangely enough, if he doesn’t behave it can also be increased. Which means if he doesn’t get into any trouble, its a 4-game suspension. If he does, it might be a season-long suspension. I guess if he get in a little trouble, swearing in front of a nun or multiple speeding tickets perhaps, they’ll stick to six.
But the suspension itself does not interest me the most today. Its the side-stories, the minutiae. The questions that come forth as a result of the suspension.
Trade rumors abound. Are the Steelers listening to offers? Is it true that they’ll trade Ben for a top-10 pick in this year’s draft? All speculation as of today. And by tomorrow evening, this will all be answered. But can you imagine Ben being traded to Seattle or Oakland or, God-Forbid, Cleveland? That would make Ben Roethlisberger the 2nd QB ever to be traded after winning two or more Super Bowls. The other was an aging Joe Montana. No QB with his record in his prime has ever been traded to another team.
Who is the starting QB for the Steelers opening day? Dependable backup and all-around-good-guy Charlie Batch? The inexperienced but potentially electric Dennis Dixon? Or will it be Byron Leftwich, who was re-acquired for a 7th round pick just yesterday? I honestly have no idea. None. Any one of the three could be the starter on opening day.
Was race an issue in the decision? Did Roethlisberger get a harsher punishment because the NFL overreacted to potential racial backlash? I hate the race card and those who play it, but you have to give it some thought. Its really a no-win for the NFL. Give a light suspension, and have people accuse you being harder on the black players. Lower the boom and you have people wondering why someone who’s been convicted of nothing received a harder sentence than those who have been convicted of legitimate criminal activity.
Has the Commish finally overstepped his authority? Michael Vick underwent a federal investigation and trial, went to jail for a few years, and received a conditional 4 game suspension that was reduced to 2. Ben Roethlisberger has not been convicted (or even charged) other than in the court of public opinion, and he is to serve 6 games with a possible reduction to 4. Is that fair? And what is the line of demarcation?
If half of what they say is true, Ben’s behavior was reprehensible. However, I don’t understand Goodell’s reasoning here. From the length of the suspension, to the timing of the announcement, I don’t get the commissioner’s logic. Then again, I don’t have to. His word is law, as far as suspensions go. Look for that to change at the bargaining table in the upcoming months.
Whatever happens in the coming days, you can bet it will have ramifications for not only the Steelers, but a lot of the league. A draft-day trade would leave a lot of teams scrambling to re-adjust their draft boards and perhaps anticipating the arrival of a big-name embattled QB to their division, or perhaps even their team.
I’ve never been a fan of Roethlisberger, but I have to agree. This suspension is a little bit beyond belief. I was more aggravated with it a week ago, when I knew it was coming but it wasn’t laid out yet. Now, I’m over it, admittedly, but I’m still a bit perplexed as to how being a drunken idiot equates a six game suspension.
At this point, I am literally not even a fan anymore. I have a Roethlisberger jersey that is going to Goodwill. That is not an exaggeration. But the disconnect between suspensions of players with varying degrees of questionable activity is laughable.
Oh absolutely. This clearly became a case of Goodell setting an example… you know, in case he hadn’t done that already.