Big Bens suspension cut to 4 games has 6 comments

Sep 3rd 2010, 17:26 | FFN-Score: 45 points

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's six-game suspension for violating the league's personal-conduct policy was reduced to four games by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the two met on Friday, NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.


Roethlisberger is on his way back to Pittsburgh, according to the sources.

With the shortened suspension, Roethlisberger will not be eligible to play again until the Steelers' Oct. 17 home game against the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers' bye occurs the previous week, so Roethlisberger will have two weeks of practice entering that game.

Goodell stated he would consider cutting Roethlisberger's suspension to four games if the quarterback followed the league's guidelines and stayed out of trouble.

Goodell's meeting with Roethlisberger followed the NFL's review of the quarterback's behavior since he was accused of sexually assaulting a Georgia college student following a night of drinking in a Milledgeville, Ga., bar on March 5. Once it was determined six weeks later that Roethlisberger wouldn't be charged by Georgia authorities, Goodell suspended Roethlisberger for the start of the season and ordered him to undergo an extensive evaluation.

Roethlisberger is the first player suspended by Goodell under the personal-conduct policy who wasn't arrested, charged with or convicted of a crime. However, Goodell said in April that the policy allows him to impose such a penalty when the NFL's integrity and reputation are at stake.

Roethlisberger cannot practice once his suspension begins Friday. He plans to work with a California-based quarterbacks coach, George Whitfield, and he'll throw to some free-agent receivers who are looking for work in the league.

Roethlisberger also is being sued in Nevada by a woman who says he sexually assaulted her there in 2008. No charges were brought in that case, and it didn't figure in the NFL's suspension.