Should the NFL suspend Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger?
Mon Apr 12, 2010 3:00 PM EDT
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Should the NFL suspend Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger?
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Even though the D.A. in Georgia won't prosecute, this is the second time (that we know of) that Roethlisberger has been in a situation involving questionable behavior. If NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is serious about wanting his players to act responsibly, then he should at least assign Roethlisberger to a substance abuse treatment program, since he seems to have these problems while intoxicated.
Big deal if it's his second accusation.....because that's what they are-- ACCUSATIONS....he's not out getting a DUI, not doing drugs, not pulling guns out at strip clubs, not beating up people....he's out having a good time when some money hungry btches get mad because he doesn't want anything to do with them afterwards. BIG DEAL. Until he does one of the things mentioned above or worse, then this stupid question shouldn't even be asked. PERIOD!
You're an idiot, Jason, One of Ben's bodyguards TESTIFIED that he personally escorted the victim - who was very very drunk at the time - to a 5 x 5 bathroom stall where Ben nailed her. The bodyguard couldn't testify to what happened in the stall because he closed the door once the girl was there, but I can assure you he wasn't ministering to her.
Jason is correct that these are accusations and not convictions. If we punished everyone that was accused of something................then we wouldn't need courts or judges........we would also not have justice!
All the facts support the claim that he raped that drunk girl in that bathroom., and I believe he's guilty. The fact he got away with...again, doesn't make him less guilty, or less of a loser.
A drunk woman can not consent to sex guys. that would make you a rapist.
If all the facts supported a claim, then they wouldn't have been thrown out.
What a huge distraction and waste of talent! First the motorcyle crash, then rape accusation #1 then #2. Showing up at WWF events (nothing wrong with that but......). And this guy is suppose to be my boss on the field when I am putting my neck and other teammates on the line? Where is his judgement? Maturity? Funny thing is, looking at him and how he has reacted (does not seem to be remorseful at all!) to all of this, he still does not seem to get it!
For the amount of money this guy makes, looking at guys who have gone down for much less, this guy needs to go!
Damm this guy gets away with everything..what was this case #5 dismissed?
If he was black..it be 1 year out of football and 6 months in a cell.
Steelers better draft a QB..this guy isn't going to make it!
or 30 days for hitting and killing a motorists with a vehicle while drunk and right back in the league.
HAHA!! Touche'. Everyone tries to make it racial, but it all comes down to they are ALL pampered regardless of race.
Let's get serious, your comment is obviously not pertinent to this discussion. I expect that he will be just fine, expect another title in a year or so. No charges equals no case which equals no conviction.
john williams, you're an idiot. And from your comment, I'm guessing you're an angry black man too. So because some bitter girls who didn't get what they want from Ben, and come up with absurd accusations that didn't merit any criminal charges, you STILL want to suspend him? For what? What if some stupid bches came to your work and make multiple false accusations about you? Would you deserve to be suspended on some stranger's word?
He didn't get arrested. That's the difference, not his race. Those other guys might not have been convicted but they did get arrested, therefore there was a greater amount of evidence.
Jerome Bettis was accused of sexual assualt and wasn't suspended. Kordell Stewart was detained several times for suspicion of soliciting sex near a gay club in the strip, he wasn't arrested and wasn't suspended. Where people are seeing a double standard is really a difference in the nature of the supposed infraction. Many of the suspensions that are handed out deal with arrests for battery, illegal possession of firearms, or drug and alcohol abuse. Note the word arrests. Had Ben been arrested for intoxication when he wrecked his motorcycle, he would have been suspended. Or at least I hope he would have been suspended. Had there been enough evidence for an arrest in either sexual assualt case, then Ben should be arrested. There wasn't enough evidence and he isn't suspended.
Gee, a man has a problem with being horny when drunk...shocking. And even more shocking is a woman throwing themselves at a single, rich and famous man.....what is this world coming too???
Please note alot of sarcasm in the statements above
You were ther when this happened and saw her throw herself at him? Also even if a woman does that does it take rape off the table?
Money probably a very large amount passed hands is my opinion.
And I'm taking it that YOU were there logdump? He was "ACCUSED" of sexual assault, not rape. If your son or daughter are ever "accused" of anything, I hope you follow the same path and turn them in to serve a sentence even if they did nothing wrong.
Since you are allowed your opinion, allow me mine. The first accusation of assault is well publicized, and according to the media (which is all we have to go by) her coworkers said she was bragging about how she was going to have sex with him. Then she decides she wants a payday too. Second case, March 17th this accuser withdraws her request to file charges. You think there was money exchanged?? Then what does that make these to women??
@glr100154....sexual assault is a legal term that includes rape.
@Greg4422...since you are such an legel expert.....please explain how all the facts support he raped her.....because the Georgia Police and DA believe the facts support he did not rape her or wouldn't they have charged him? Just because they don't agree with his behavior does not mean they believe he raped her. The girl asked and wrote a letter for them to not press charges. How much more do you need to show you it was not rape.
The fact that he raped her is that she was ' VERY DRUNK" and thus unable to legally consent to sex. Without consent we have a rape. He's not disputing that he had sex with her. Moreover the Georgia DA never said that he didn't rape her. The DA given the fact she was drunk and refusing to cooperate at this point...declined to prosecute. Not being able to prove something "beyond a reasonable" doubt does not equal he's innocent. Case in point the OJ Simpson case.
He shouldn't just be suspended for all of this crap, I wouldn't be so passionate about this, but this is his second time doing it and the girl needs to explain why she is dropping the charges because I am tired of time after time again a rich or famous person gets away with something because of all of their influences.
What a disgusting chain of events in spite of the fact that he skated through this incident with flying colors! It really is time Mr. Rothlisberger considered cleaning up his act. Should he decide to enter into the NFL Substance Abuse Program, he might also consider enrolling in an anger-management program! I am sp sorry for the young woman, and yes, we need to teach and constantly remind our daughters to be safe and to conduct themselves as if their very lives depended on it.
The NFL will not suspend him because he is white.
Another Athlete Serial Rapist with big $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. What a butthole.
He is a man in his mid 20';s with millions of dollars, I suppose there isn't a chance these "victims" were looking for a quick pay day. If you read the article on this, the "victim" wrote a letter to the DA saying she did not want to press charges.
How can you suspend someone who has not been charged with anything.
This also is not about race, people bring up pac man jones and Michael Vick. BIG difference they were charged and arrested for crimes.
Like you said he has lots of $$$$.
What makes you think he didn't pay-off that girl to shut up and just drop the complaint..Tiger did it, but way to many for him to pay-off to shut up!
Please note that the girl refused to cooperate with the DA after she made the accusations. Also, the Nevada case is NOT a criminal case only a civil case (i.e. going after his $$$).
It is called INOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY!!
Wonder if she was paid off, or scared off?
possibly, scared off!
This isn't about her writing a letter to drop the charges, if he's a serial rapist he's a danger to society and should be in prison.
@Kathy there's a huge difference in "I'm innocent" and "you can't prove it," Mr. Ben is in the latter category hun.
I am a die hard as a die hard Steelers fan can be and I say suspend him. No exceptions for idiots even if they happen to wear the prestigious black and gold.
Suspend him for what? Bad judgement?? How do you suspend someone who has not been convicted or arrested for a crime?
Rape
there's a lot of rapist walking around that haven't been charged. But they are still rapist. What gets me is people like you that are defending this guy. Such a shame
Regardless of how messed up you think the system is, if he didn't break the law, no reason to suspend him. I, like most people, are questioning Big Ben's judgment but again, no law-breaking, no suspension.
The DA never said he didn't break the law. The DA said he couldn't prove he broke the law "beyond a reasonable doubt." He never said Ben was innocent.
Yea well, he's not black so get over it......He hasn't been arrested in connection to any of these sexual accusations. So why should this question even be up here? Could it possibly be the girls are gold diggers looking to get paid? No players should ever be suspended without being arrested and charged with a crime or failing a drug test. Accusations should never merit a suspension, no matter how many come his way
Florio and TMZ should be suspended. How much sloppy jounalism do we have to put up with???
Go back and read their flagrant posts.
The facts haven't changed... he raped that girl in that bathroom, the fact the DA declined to prosecute doesn't mean he didn't rape her. The evidence says she was drunk, she was lead into that bathroom and immediately afterward reported she had been raped and a rape kit did find male DNA, but not semen. In what state can a drunk woman consent to sex? absent consent what we have here is rape.
yea for Yarhoodig protecting a rapist...what a big man you are. The DA stated exactly what happened... and he described a rape. The fact he declined to prosecute, doesn't mean Ben is innocent, he means he got away with rape...for the second time.
Greg4422.......once again your statements prove you know absolutely nothing about this case. HOW IN THE WORLD DOES A DA DESCRIBE RAPE AND THEN DECLINE TO PROSECUTE. if the facts showed enough for the DA to think Rape then I those fact would be enough to prosecute. The girl also yelled "NO" when her friends asked if he raped her. This was a major factor in the case.
If an idiot professional athlete continues to take stupid pills then he should deal with the consequences of his stupid behavior. I'm sick and tire of these prima donna's athletes thinking they're not accountable for their stupidity.
He wasn't charged. What do you suspend him for? You are speculating and judging him guilty without a charge.
Under the personal-conduct policy, you don't need charges, you don't need a conviction. This is becoming a habit with him..NFL will put a stop to it, one way or another.
And I don't suppose you ever thought that after the first woman accused him, the second thought she would get a payday that much quicker? What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty?
suspend him. he paid her off. they started saying that this morning before the announcement. we already knew he paid everybody off by the time of the press conference. he needs to go or i won't have the games on in my house.
Stupid is as stupid does. He needs to be brought down a few pegs. These guys think their above the law. He acts like's he 12, sit his A$$ on the bench.
Holmes was not convicted either for a lesser charge and he got traded...
He got traded for substance abuse as a repeat offender.
He's been problematic from the beginning. I wonder if he'll still be with the Steelers or even in the league in 10 years.
If convicted they should throw the book at him. But, how can you suspend
someone for doing something that he is not charged with doing. This looks
like it could be starting down a slippery slope.
Everything that I've read about Roethlisberger points to a dumb guy with a lucky streak. Motorcycle injuries, sexual assaults, etc. I agree with the earlier post from the Vet, if he was black he'd be treated harsher by the media and the fans. I am not sure if the league would treat it differently or not. He is the same as Tiger. He thinks because he is famous that the rules should apply differently to him. At least Tiger is owning his problems, it would be nice for Roethlisberger to do the same. That likely won't happen because he feels entitled compared to regular folks. You are a poor representative to a model franchise, shape up or ship out primadona.
What a comparison. Roethlisberger isn't married. He didn't cheat on his wife and children 19 times. And we all see how the public and media are treating him. Welcome back with open arms, we need the ratings for golf so we'll forget what you did was immoral. And, maybe it's kind of as you say, except he has an "unlucky" streak. After all he is rich and famous, so maybe he's just having sex with gold digging women. I'll agree, he needs to use better judgement on where he goes and who he associates with, but if he isn't guilty, I won't crucify him.
I meant the comparison only to show the poor judgement and consequent entitlement both seem to share. I realize the Woods' situation is different and probably worse morally, however, Roethlisberger seems more violent ,and, as I said before, he is lucky. I personally don't believe either one about anything.
Who are these cretins who, when submitting their comments, cannot compose a cogent sentence, can't spell and don't know the purpose of punctuation? So, if they cannot get even that right, why should anyone give any credence to any "opinions" they may have? Roethlisberger is not charged with any crime and, absent a charge, much less a conviction, should not be suspended.
The NFL has rules, and one of their rules is: Under the personal-conduct policy, you don't need charges, you don't need a conviction. What he has been doing falls under this rule!
Also this is just a blog, nobody is writing a book here..its call internet typing!
If I somehow got 3 women to "accuse" Roger Goodell of sexual assault, do you think he would be suspended even if they were false accusations?