Big Lead Sports Bar

5/28/2010

ROETHLISBERGER CLEARED TO REJOIN STEELERS



Beginning next week, Ben Roethlisberger can return to team activities with the Steelers, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said on Thursday. Roethlisberger will be permitted to play in preseason games and is still facing a suspension for 4-6 games at the start of the 2010 season, with the length to be reviewed in the future by Goodell. He will not be permitted to practice or work out with the team during the regular-season suspension.

The league issued a brief statement on Goodell's latest decision:
"Based on the reports and recommendations of our medical experts, commissioner Goodell advised the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger [Thursday] that he is cleared to return to team activities beginning next week. The commissioner will continue to monitor Roethlisberger's progress as he begins the next phase of his recommended plan and will meet with Roethlisberger again at the appropriate time. There has been no decision on any modification to the length of Roethlisberger's suspension. In his April 21 disciplinary decision, commissioner Goodell announced that Roethlisberger is suspended without pay for the first six games of the regular season. The commissioner said he would review Roethlisberger's progress prior to the start of the regular season and consider whether to reduce the suspension to four games. Failure to cooperate and follow his plan could result in a longer suspension."
The reinstatement to his team is the latest in the overall rehabilitation of Roethlisberger and his image, which got some good PR courtesy of ex-girlfriend Natalie Gulbis earlier in the week after the pair golfed at Oakmont:

"He's a great guy. I've known him for four years. He has always been fantastic to me, and we've been friends since before he even started playing for the Steelers," Gulbis told WPXI's Rich Walsh. "I'll continue to cheer for him and the Steelers."

People are vouching for him again, the stories from his past are slowly dying down, plenty of other scandals have knocked him from the headlines, the legal front has been quiet, and we're a few months closer to actual football. We're definitely at a new point in the Roethlisberger scandal lifeline, but he still faces a tremendously long road to travel in restoring his name and image, if they can ever be restored.



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7 comments:

Unknown said...

"People are vouching for him again, the stories from his past are slowly dying down, plenty of other scandals have knocked him from the headlines, the legal front has been quiet, and we're a few months closer to actual football"

yeah, until next off season when he does something stupid.

JeremyT said...

The best thing he can do is to quit drinking. Some people can handle alcohol and some can't. Sober up and reclaim your life, Ben.

NickDawg said...

cant wait till he gets back on the field so we have a chance to win!

Papa Eo said...

Put a photo of Ben Roethlisberger from his rookie season next to a photo of him today, and then put that comparison side by side with photos of Barry Bonds from 1991-2005, and I don't know which transormation is more shocking.

BurressWithButterflywings said...

I am glad to see Herr Goodell let him return to practice.

It's one thing to suspend Ben for a few games for " pattern of behavior", but when you are rewarding guys taking steroids and allowing multiple felons back into the league, it becomes a bit ridiculous to put some1 out for nearly half the season with no charges or arrests.

I also love Whitlock calling Ben "PacBen" and comparing them because Ben goes to nightclubs with a posse....... I think that pretty much is the end of realistic comparisons, but Whitlock is a blatant racist.

Steve said...

I wonder what "progress" is defined as with Ben. Is it going a day without a sexual assault accusation? If he farts in a grocery store will they need to re-evaluate? Maybe add a game to his suspension? I bet a priest visits him every day to sprinkle holy water on his head and make sure he doesn't start blistering.

Casey said...

As for Ben's rookie appearance and now, remember, he has five titanium plates in his face that he didn't have then. He had facial reconstructive surgery. His body is still fairly slender.