The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
April 14, 2010
N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell summoned Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to league headquarters on Tuesday, and the question is: what took so long?
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger prepares to read a statement in the NFL football team's locker room Monday, April 12, 2010, in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger says he is "happy" to put sexual assault allegations in Georgia behind him and knows he must work to regain the trust of his teammates and the team's large fan base. (AP)Roethlisberger may be the most popular face in the league aside from Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. But he has engaged in a pattern of reckless behavior and poor decision making — the 2006 motorcycle accident that nearly ended his career; the civil complaint last year from a woman in Lake Tahoe, Nev.; and a complaint from a 20-year-old woman last month in Georgia. No charges were filed, and Roethlisberger received free passes.
Now the quarterback has put Goodell, the law and order commissioner, in a corner.
From Michael Vick to Pacman Jones to Plaxico Burress and others, Goodell has wasted no time throwing down the gantlet and issuing verbal and financial penalties.
On Tuesday, the league issued a statement regarding Roethlisberger: “Commissioner Goodell met today with Ben Roethlisberger and his representatives to discuss the recent incident involving his personal conduct. In accordance with the league’s personal-conduct policy, our office will review all the facts and follow up at the appropriate time with the Steelers and Ben.”
Enough is enough. The league has to sack Roethlisberger — for his sake, for the sake of the league and for the commissioner’s own credibility. He should be suspended for four games.
Perhaps unintentionally, the league has protected Roethlisberger better than the Steelers’ offensive line. He should have been summoned to New York after the motorcycle accident. The league argued that it was simply a vehicular accident and there was no conduct issue involved.
Really? A high-profile quarterback riding without a helmet and without a valid motorcycle license nearly kills himself and then says during the mending process that he would ride again — without a helmet. Sure sounds like a cry for help.
The N.F.L. dismissed the Lake Tahoe incident as alleged misconduct and pointed out that the woman’s complaint was filed a year after the alleged incident.
Finally, after the latest incident, Goodell decided that it might be good to have a chat with Big Ben. Roethlisberger needs more than a chat. He needs to be benched, and even that may not be enough.
Marvel Smith, a former All-Pro offensive tackle with the Steelers, offered a series of candid perspectives on Roethlisberger. Speaking with Sirius NFL Radio, Smith, who played with Pittsburgh from 2000 to 2008, said a number of players were looking to see how Goodell and the Steelers handle Roethlisberger, especially in light of the trade that sent the troubled wide receiver Santonio Holmes to the Jets after his well-publicized off-the-field incidents.
If Roethlisberger is not punished, the Steelers’ locker room could become divided.
“I’m not going to say Ben gets away with a lot, but he’s held to a different standard, for sure,” Smith said. “If they plan on using Santonio as a scapegoat for that, they are going to have a huge issue in that locker room. Guys already feel like, I guess you can say, they put Ben on a pedestal. He gets away with more than any other guy on the team would.”
Smith played on two Super Bowl championship teams with Roethlisberger and felt for the most part that he handled acclaim well.
“I can see how certain things or situations might happen to him that he really ain’t got no control over after he put himself in that situation,” Smith said.
When Bill Cowher was the Steelers’ coach, Smith said, Roethlisberger had an extremely short leash. “Ben had won a Super Bowl and Coach Cowher still wouldn’t let him call his own plays,” Smith said. “Now it’s like Ben can do whatever he wants, really for the most part. If Ben don’t like that play, it ain’t in the offense.”
The league has the option of allowing Pittsburgh to take action, in which case Roethlisberger can appeal, or taking action itself. The commissioner’s decision cannot be appealed.
Goodell should not leave the decision to the Steelers. However, if the Steelers’ Dan Rooney, the patriarch of the N.F.L., wants to handle the Roethlisberger matter internally, Goodell will have to yield.
The Steelers have been known as the class of the N.F.L., but the situation with Holmes and the embarrassing publicity surrounding Roethlisberger have tarnished the Steelers’ armor.
The most sobering observation Smith made was when he was asked if he thought Roethlisberger could win the fans back.
Of course he can. Just win.
“Steelers nation is everywhere,” Smith said. “They don’t care about anything but football.”
If the Steelers win and Roethlisberger tones down his act, “this time next year there won’t be nobody talking about it,” Smith said.
Roethlisberger may be too far gone for punishment to make him really change his ways. Regardless, Goodell needs to come down on Roethlisberger and come down hard.
E-mail: wcr@nytimes.com
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