Roethlisberger Suspended Six Games

By Justin Worsley

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethisberger may have been able to evade punishment from the police, but not NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Roethlisberger, who has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman for the second time in nine months, was suspended for the first six games of the season by Goodell for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Roethlisberger must also undergo a comprehensive behavioral evaluation. The suspension could be reduced to four games if Roethlisberger undergoes the evaluation as well as good behavior.

"The Personal Conduct Policy makes clear that I may impose discipline 'even where the conduct does not result in conviction of a crime' as, for example, where the conduct 'imposes inherent danger to the safety and well being of another person'," Goodell wrote in his letter to Roethlisberger informing him of his suspension. "As the District Attorney concluded, the extensive investigatory record shows that you contributed to the irresponsible consumption of alcohol by purchasing (or facilitating the purchase of) alcoholic beverages for underage college students, at least some of whom were likely already intoxicated. There is no question that the excessive consumption of alcohol that evening put the students and yourself at risk."

The Steelers, who were willing to suspend Roethlisberger as well for conduct detrimental to the team, has installed a "zero-tolerance policy" in the wake of Roethlisberger's actions as well as wide receiver Santonio Holmes recent run-in with the law. Holmes was traded to the Jets last week for a fifth-round pick in tomorrow's NFL Draft.

Pittsburgh has also placed Roethlisberger on the trading block. Roethlisberger, who has won two Super Bowl rings as a Steeler, has high value due to his arm strength as well as his ability to rally his team in the fourth-quarter. The Steelers traded with Tampa Bay for quarterback Byron Leftwich earlier today.

The Steelers are hoping to earn a top-ten pick in tomorrow's draft. Several teams in the top-ten need a franchise quarterback, including the Rams, who hold the first overall pick in the draft.