Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is not expected to attend practice Tuesday as the Steelers are still awaiting word from the NFL on when he can re-join the team.
It looks like Roethlisberger, who was suspended for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, will not return to offseason practices until next week at the earliest.
Commissioner Roger Goodell is in Dallas this week for the NFL owners meetings, and he probably won’t make a decision on Roethlisberger until the end of the week at the earliest.
There has been talk that Goodell would hold out Roethlisberger for at least the first two weeks of the Steelers' offseason practices if only because of perception.
Simply put, it wouldn’t look good — or maybe consistent is the better word — if Goodell took a hard line against Roethlisberger when he handed down a six-game suspension in late April and then let the two-time Super Bowl winner take part in most of the offseason practices.
It will be interesting to see which of the three quarterbacks competing to replace Roethlisberger for the first part of the 2010 season will work with the starter this week.
Byron Leftwich has gotten most of the work with the first-team offense since offseason practices resumed last week.
Coach Mike Tomlin has said Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch will also run the first-team offense before the conclusion of the voluntary practices.
Both are still waiting for that opportunity.
May 24th, 2010 - 8:38 pm
like i said, this whole thing was a PR move from the commish. no charge, no crime, no conviction. naacp and ( sharpton ) was all over this.
May 24th, 2010 - 10:46 pm
TH PG ran a great article about Joe Namath and his party days. Amazing how times have changed! Broadway Joe talked about how he would pick up a bottle of whiskey and a young girl he never met before from a bar, go back to his hotel room and party all night before a game. Namath admitted that the sex and booze before a game kept them loose and that he did better than when he was not drinking or messing around with girls.
Poor Joe and Johnny U would be banned by today's NFL!
Joe talked about being a swinger and having to travel down to Florida after a Jets game to see his new girlfriend. When one of the players asked her name Joe said he didn't know, when he asked her if she was at least a senior, Namath busted out laughing and said he again didn't know. Hmmm...wouldn't that make the girl about the same age as Ben's accuser, or YOUNGER?
Back then this behavior would get you a chuckle and was acceptable if you were young, single and wealthy. Today's world of Twitter, camera phones, YouTube and $100 million contracts it will get you a lawsuit, a multi-game suspension and vilified by the national sport's media!
May 24th, 2010 - 11:22 pm
They need to get onto punishing Vincent Jackson now.
May 25th, 2010 - 1:42 am
The almighty PooPah of the NFL is so afraid of what will be said if he lets Ben back soon. The media and the some players including the blond bomber that came out in favor of Ben getting the suspension would be out in full force if he let him back anytime soon. SO DONT COUNT ON IT FANS Of Ben or Not!!
May 25th, 2010 - 2:01 am
David, Amen
May 25th, 2010 - 5:11 am
This is totally ridiculous now. The man comitted no crime, except for poor judgement. You'd think he was Ted Bundy the way Goodell is treating this. I agree it's all about look at what I can do for Roger Goodell. I am glad they lost the anti=trust, case. What goes around comes around.
May 25th, 2010 - 5:39 am
I think it's time for the courts to put Goodell on notice that he is not the Fuhrer and make him answer his decisions to the NFLPA.
His head is overblown with power and his punishm,ents to players are not consistent. If your are a premier player the punishment is over and above of what is just and proper because of the players status..
I would say without prejudice that the FUHRER GOODELL should also be mentally evaluated.
May 25th, 2010 - 7:38 am
I think the way we manage the QB position will be: Run the ball, Play Action, Tight End and Running back catching screens and short yardage passes. Receivers will be clearing out the congestion with occasional passes to keep the opponents defense honest. (High-percentage passes)
Our defense must be prepared for a high diet of passing vs. the run in all downs.
The games will be close, the determining factor will be our FG team and defense until Ben comes back.Prediction 3-1, or 4-2 Steelers.
May 25th, 2010 - 8:48 am
I agree that it was a PR move for the commish. I do feel that Big Ben deserved to be suspended, but six games. I was not charged, no conviction, just crazy. Maybe 4 games with opportunity to come back after two would have been more appropiate. Don't think it was the NAACP but I do feel it was pressure because it was a big name "White" player that there were rumblings.
May 25th, 2010 - 9:04 am
I agree, I think there were outside influences on this suspension, which I think was to harsh, given the fact that he was never charged with a crime. Now he is looking even more foolish by not addressing the Saints allegations and others. I mean wasnt it by his own words that he only needed an allegation. To me it looks like he was "pushed" to suspend Ben .
May 25th, 2010 - 9:08 am
This is a joke. Let the man practice. Good grief!
May 25th, 2010 - 9:32 am
Goodell is an egomaniac. He catches Bill "The Genius" Belichick red handed with illegal videotapes and does not even have the courage to issue a one game suspension. Then he turns around and suspends Ben 6 games for being an immature idiot. Where is the justice?
May 25th, 2010 - 9:33 am
Never charged with a crime. . .
He didn't hit any of these women, kill a dog, wasn't near a (multiple Homicide) stabbing situation, didn't use his car to run over a construction worker, or run down a parking lot attendant, nor were there multiple gunshots in (or outside) the club and a gun turned up with his fingerprints and registered to him out of state.
Of course he always could do sit-ups in his driveway and get banned from the NFL-
Ben will be OK provided he watches where and, more importantly, with whom he goes to relax and have a good time with.
They have to run the ball because they had to get rid of the wake and bake receiver before he murdered someone (Yeah right).
Go Steelers but do not make any mistakes cause the Franchise is suppose to be perfect--and so are you. . .
May 25th, 2010 - 9:44 am
I agree with most of the above.
I think Ben and the Steelers have been crucified enough and it is time to move on.
I think it is unfair that the entire Steeler team be punished by Goodell by not having
their best QB practice. And 2 game suspension is plenty. If Ben is truly trying to correct his behavior and change his life, we need to help him. No matter what religion we are if we love God we must be able to forgive.
Some media(non Steeler fans) are hounding and printing so much negativity.
None of us, incuding members of the media are sin free.
May 25th, 2010 - 11:13 am
I think Roger Goodell needs to have his head brought back down to earth...He is using this to make himself look good to the non white players...The NFLPA needs to reign him in....He is to egotistic.....Ben was not charged with any crime!...Bad judgment yes but no crime was committed...
May 25th, 2010 - 11:24 am
I still have faith Ben will overcome all this crap! I'm a Steelers fan and a Ben fan!!!
It's crazy how many fans have thrown him under the bus. But as soon as he comes back and wins us games, they will be right back on his bandwagon. As long as he does everything that has been ask of him, I have NO problem wearing his jersery and supporting him! He's only human, made some mistakes. Haven't we all? It was what we DO about it!
May 25th, 2010 - 11:31 am
I echo the same sentiments exactly from previous posters. Goodell is a tyrant who plays to the media and his hypocrisy knows no bound. Isn't it funny how he destroyed the Spygate camera evidence (which was undoubtedly ultra damning and thus would soil the sanctity of "the shield") but was more than willing to crucify an innocent man (in the eyes of the law, mind you) to appeal to the masses (mob)? Goodell likes to think of himself as a hard-liner when it comes to discipline but what he's going to find out is that his tenure of being the single handed most powerful figure in sports will be marred by his poor judgmental, excessively harsh and unreasonable reactions to perceived crimes. More than that, however, will be the upcoming failure to reach agreement with the NFLPA on a new CBA. Believe me friends, I will gladly pick up a torch and a pitchfork to lead the crusade against this tyrant who deprives me of the game that I love. Roger, your days of dictatorship are very f***ing nigh, sir.
May 25th, 2010 - 11:35 am
Vick was convicted of & imprisoned for killing dogs by drowning, electrocuting, strangling, etc.
I think Vicks suspension was 4 games. How did Goodell ever let Vick back into the NFL?
May 25th, 2010 - 12:01 pm
Times have changed? You must be kidding. Just because Joe Namath got away with it 40 years ago does not make it right today. Prowling for drunken underage women is wrong. It was in 1969 it is today. Any man who intentionally buys drinks for women hoping that at least one get hopelessly drunk needs to grow up fast. Ben was very close to being accused of rape. He is very lucky that he is not facing jail time. Unfortunately it seems that dignity and character are attributes that Ben may not posses, and for the record, anyone else who makes excuses for predatory behavior.
May 25th, 2010 - 12:06 pm
If you look at the list of suspensions meted out by Goodell, almost all of the others are black and most of them committed crimes. Maybe Goodell wanted to balance the issue of race so he grabbed on to Roethlisberger and threw the book at him. Ben made the mistake of promising not to appeal though it would be the ludicrous to appeal to the Commissioner, as the only way available.
This points out how badly needed is an independent board to evaluate player behavior and mete out any punishment with a credible process for the player to appeal. Goodell doesn't even have to explain his edicts.
Goodell appears interested in getting his name into the NFL history books with his decisions to play gameS in Europe and elsewhere, to play a Super Bowl in 3 ft of snow, to have Roethlisberger hopping through hoops even though he committed no crime. In effect, he has punished the Steelers and has taken property from Ben without due process, a basic right here in America.
Come back Tagliabue wherever you are.
May 25th, 2010 - 2:11 pm
Patrick: What does "very close to being accused of rape" mean? That 20 year old girl was following Ben around much of the evening, and according to some, was looking to get lucky. If I was Ben's Father, I would kick his butt and tell him to grow up. Yes, he has been a first class jerk, but deserves another chance. I will embrace him as our qb upon his return, trusting he has learned a lot. I hope the young lady too has learned from this experience.
May 25th, 2010 - 2:11 pm
if big ben were black, nothing would have happened. The al sharptons of the world would have protested he didn't even have charges against him. blahh blahh blahh.
May 25th, 2010 - 2:43 pm
a 4-6 game suspension in reality could be much more. if ben can't practice with the team until the suspension is over, the chances of him being in 'football shape' will be low. He'll be out of synch with his teammates. even if he starts as soon as he returns, it's unlikely he'll be up to speed with the rest of the team. so who's being punished more? Ben? The Steelers? Their fans?
Too much PC. Not enough common sense.
May 25th, 2010 - 4:14 pm
BigBen is a jackass and that is all he is guilty of!I think this suspension is BS!!I do hope this humbles him.He is no Bret Farve that is for sure!
May 25th, 2010 - 4:29 pm
I live in Arizona and went to a movie last week and saw four different people wearing Ben's jersey.It seems to me that most people outside of Pittsburgh do not view Ben in the disgust that seems to be on most blogs in Pittsburgh.Was he guilty of boorish behavior(yes) was he convicted of a crime(no).Hopefully the TRUE fans of Pittsburgh will give Ben the chance he deserves to restore his image and his game.Its a good thing Bill Clinton didn't play in the NFL
May 25th, 2010 - 5:14 pm
Since Roger is into prosecuting morals and not crimes now, why doesn't he go after the Kansas City chiefs and the "importing" story. Afterall I'm sure all those facebook women were well over 21.....yeah right.
I work as a mental health clinician, there is NO reason he shouldn't have all the information he needs already to have come up with a decision on Ben. This is just a tactic to leave Ben hanging in the wind. I also personally hope the New York Super Bowl is a disaster. The fans will be subject to possible snow and 20 degree weather for the biggest game on the planet.....yeah the NFL cares about the fans.....what a crock.
May 25th, 2010 - 6:27 pm
This is, without a doubt, the biggest case of 'blown out of proportion' I have ever read. I'm sorry - but all those 'lovely' people at the top of the food chain certainly have to remember what it's like to be a rich baller, no pun intended! To accuse and sentence this guy, based merely upon speculation, cause let's be serious folks, no criminal charges were filed, is beyond a travesty. I understand players, again no pun intended, are to be held to a higher esteem, but seriously???
Nothing like being young, dumb, and well...you get the idea....next time Ben, go to Vegas, I hear they can hook you up with those that won't lock you up! If you need assistance, I'm sure you have Jordan, Barkley, and Woods on speed dial!
May 25th, 2010 - 8:06 pm
I agree with Patrick's comments the most.
Although the Commissioner may have political motives and/or impose discriminatory discipline and Ben has not been charged or convicted of a crime, that's beside the point, with a player who has engaged in not only self destructive and loutish behavior but team-destructive behavior, i.e., insisting on riding his motorcycle without a helmet Are we supposed to wait until Ben has another incident and IS charged with a crime or until his obvious alcohol abuse spirals up to Lindsey Lohan, Court-involved levels?
A this point, what is most important to his own and the /Steelers future is that Ben fully commit to a treatment plan that will lead to his overcoming his off-field character and conduct issues. He may not think so now, but that's what he owes his teammates, Steelers fans, the Rooneys and his own family.
May 25th, 2010 - 8:29 pm
Let the man work out with the team. I so tired hearing about his poor behavior. This guy is young and single and choice the wrong chippy to get lucky with. I makes me laugh to hear about this poor 20 year old woman as an under-aged girl Please at her age she knows the ropes and was probably looking for romance vs a quicky in the ladies room.
Yes he is stupid but not a criminal and the team should not be punished for his indiscretion.
Goodell make sure your house is in order, you could be the next person suspended.