Goodell and Steelers Collaborate (Collude) on Roethlisberger Punishment

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_...

Once again, to tie it all together, Roeth suspended for 4-6 games.

Per Don Banks of SI, the Steelers have a managable schedule, similar to what I was saying.

"The NFL schedule-maker also seems to have done the Steelers a bit of a favor in the season's first month, at least giving Pittsburgh a chance to endure Roethlisberger's absence. The Steelers open at home against Atlanta, travel to Tennessee and Tampa Bay in Weeks 2 and 3, and return home to face division rival Baltimore in Week 4. That's starting the season with three opponents that didn't make the playoffs in 2009 -- although both the Falcons and Titans were two of the league's better non-playoff teams by year's end -- before getting a stern challenge in the form of the visiting Ravens."

Furthermore, Banks says "The Steelers' newly released schedule features five primetime games this season, but all of them fall between Weeks 8-16, a scenario which now seems to be anything but a coincidence."

So maybe I am paranoid, but I'm not the only one.

To finish this off, I was kinda right, but not entirely. The first three games the Steelers play are Falcons in Pitt, @ the Titans, and @ the Bucs.

As indicated, the first games aren't against the Super Bowl contenders: New England, New York Jets, or New Orleans Saints.

But the Falcons and the Titans aren't pushovers either. So I will plead no contest.

This guy doesn't do his homework. Batch isn't the number two quarterback, Dixon is.the Steelers had a 9-7 record in 2009 not 8-8. I don't think he has a clue.

As a long time Steeler fan ( + 30 years ) I'm totally embarrassed by the whole mess. There can't be two sets of rules and as good as Ben is, I hope he is traded. Friends of mine called me a fool, but it is my opinion.
If the Steelers don't get the locker room back under control, they will not be in the playoffs and good for them. I feel bad for the hard working players that depend on the team leaders. Ben let more that just himself and family down.

2 games is more than enough for a person who was cleared of everything. I dont care about anything else. So there.

I’m just throwing the Steelers organization under the bus too because it’s fun.

Realy? And people are supposed to take this site seriously? I guess you keep me coming back with how stupid your "articles" are. It amazes me more and more how ridiculous this site is. Will you be coming on here to apologize if the Steelers play Baltimore or Cinci in the first week or two?

The league is withholding the release of the schedule and will give the Steelers easy games if Rothlisbeger gets suspended?? You are an idiot. I hope you don't actually get paid to write. Cut your ponytail and move out of your parents basement. What a complete moron.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/nfl...

Update on the Georgia situation. According to reports it's actually worse than I was assuming. I figured he put a full court press on the girl and was rebuffed. Allegedly he committed a personal (if not flagrant) foul. Not cool Ben, not cool.

Robbie,

I didn't think you being rude. I like a civil discourse with knowledgeable fans. That's not always the case over the interwebs. I think my point is still the same even if Dixon is the #2 QB. They have a full 4 games to get him game ready for potentially 2 easier games.

Roeth said that he would accept whatever punishment was handed down so the players union wouldn't really come into play unless Roeth filed a complaint, but I see your point.

Also, the Steelers have historically had questionable character guys on their team and they have accommodated them just as much as other NFL teams. (I read an article just the other day about it. I'll reference it when I get the chance). The Rooney's just have been such good owners (by comparison) that the franchise has a better reptuation than may be deserved. The Steelers of the 70's were ROIDED up which gave them a significant advantage over the COKED up Cowboys.

As for Vegas, it depends on which side of the fence you are standing. I'm not going to speculate, but I don't entirely dismiss those claims as you do.

I'm a Cowboys fan so I can't stand Ben and it annoys me that he has two rings (one of which he didn't really deserve, though the rest of the team certainly earned the rings).

I sincerely doubt the Steelers will trade him. Finding and developing a QB is not as easy as the Patriots make it look, let alone one that can be a Super Bowl winner. Look at the Eagles, they have had 3 really good QB's historically, none of which were Super Bowl winning caliber QB's.

And you may be right about the Steelers not actively lobbying for easier games, but I don't believe the league wants to have the team with the 2nd best TV ratings on prime-time with a backup QB (Cowboys are #1!!!). The old saying is that it never hurts to ask. Maybe they ask in the back room. Maybe it is the Rooney way to get your way by asking nicely and in a whisper.

Didn't mean to sound rude (I'm at work venting my frustration). If you look at the steelers depth charts, dixon is listed as #2,they only brought brittle bones batch back as a veteran backup (just signed a two-yr deal).

What more could the steelers do? We are talking about one alleged crime that is not being prosecuted (if anyone thinks the vegas rape is legitimate, they're an idiot-read the evidence)I think we would/will see that the steelers trade BB if anyone such as the raiders, seahawks, etc pony up the draft picks. Besides the players union will only allow them to impose discipline to a certain extent.

My last disagreement comes forth from your suggesting that the organization would lobby to have easier games played during his suspension. That is definately not the Rooney way. We are talking about the steelers here not the Ravens who last year petitioned the league to not play in pittsburgh during the prime time game.

when talking about financial fines, please don't forget his sponsorships as well ($2 million from jerky, and nike is also going to pull their sponsorship) we are probably looking closer to $7 - $8 million in loses.

Nice attempt at writing a decent article, but your facts are wrong. Batch is the 3rd QB on the team, Dennis Dixon is the 2nd QB. If you watched Dixon's only start last season (Baltimore) you would know that very few people would be heartbroken to see this young fellow play the entire season, he is good. All you mentioned were game suspensions, how about financial ramifications. The league suspends him for 2-3 games and the team fines him $250,000 and suggests counseling for conduct detrimental. Seems pretty fair to me for not being charged.

Everything is bigger in Texas.... except your weiner.