4-6 game suspension for Big Ben
The NFL has announced that Ben Roethlisberger is going to receive a 6-game suspension for his involvement in the recent sexual assault case in Milledgeville, GA. With good behavior, the suspension can be reduced to 4 games.
In order for the suspension to be reduced to 4 games, Roethlisberger will have to show good behavior, as well as compliance with clinical evaluators. Translation: Big Ben has to straighten his act out, and prove to the psychologists that he’s not a sexual predator.
Reports claim that the Steelers organization was actually anticipating an 8-game suspension. That would help explain the sudden trade for Byron Leftwich.
A 4 game suspension would mean that Ben would miss 25% of the regular season. A six game suspension would encompass a full 38% of the season. That’s nothing to sneeze at.
Now that it is clear to other NFL teams how much of the season Roethlisberger will miss, they will probably start making trade offers to the Steelers.
He is gone. My best guess is a second round pick and a decent defensive player. Steelers go 5-11 in 2010, no better in 2011. Tomlin is fired after 2011.
1No way Tomlin gets fired. Actually, there’s a rumor that the Steelers are willing to trade Ben and the #18 pick to the Raiders for Asomugha and the #8 pick. Then they would probably take Clausen.
Asomugha would fill the Steelers’ biggest need, and Clausen would try to take Ben’s spot. I trust that the FO know what they are doing here. How many times have they let players go, let the fans panic, and still come out smelling like roses?
2Nice to listen to ESPN Radio and have Ben mentioned in the same breath as Vick and Pac Man. Proud moment for the Steelers. Time to kick Ben to the curb and get what you can for him.
I would like to see Ben go to the Raiders. Unlike the Pirates, the Steelers will figure out a solution to the problem and make things work out.
3The Steelers appear willing to hold for decent value for Ben (as oppossed to Holmes) so I doubt he will be traded (maybe 15% chance). Most teams wouldn’t want the baggage at this time (except the Raiders who don’t care) and the Steelers are not going to give Ben up for a pittance because franchise QB’s are very hard to replace. Hence, I doubt it will happen.
Just for arguement’s sake, however, I hope that particular rumor is wrong. While I would love to have Asomugha on the team, I am not all that impressed with Clausen.
Also, TO, the Steelers will not go 5-11 without Ben unless they are hit with a number of other problems. Cohwer made the playoffs regularly without an elite QB…he just never won the SB without one and there’s the rub. The Steelers will be able to win with Leftwich, maybe make the playoffs, but are unlikely to go far because to win the SB you need a great QB. Only about 2 in the last 20 SB winner’s did not have an elite QB (Ravens and Tampa Bay).
4Tomlin ain’t Cowher, he just won a SB with his players.
And the PS went 9-7 with him last year. Can’t see how they are going to do any better than 7-9-at the very very best with Dennis Dixon at QB and a bunch of geezers on Defense. You think that is a playoff team? Pure Comedy!
This D is an Ike Taylor ankle sprain away from starter corners of William Gay and Jimmy Burnett.
5Fair point on Tomlin. Thus far we only have 3 years to go on. This will be a big test for him.
On being 7-9 at the very best, well there’s a reason why they play the games. Every year there are teams who underperform and overperform. The Steelers have a number of unanswered questions (as most teams do) – how well will Dixon or Leftwich play – who will be the 2nd corner – will the defense deteriorate due to age – will Arians adjust the play calling with Ben out?
As far as I could tell, the only player whose play slipped due to age was Farrior. They tried to address this with the addition of Foote. With Foote, Farrior, Timmons, and Fox – they have good depth at ILB to rotate people throughout the game to keep everyone fresh. I don’t recall anyone else’s play slipping last year but that doesn’t mean it won’t this year.
I expect Dixon or Leftwich tp play adequately, that they will run the ball more, and that they will address CB in the draft. Will that be sufficient? That’s anyone’s guess. Even if they draft a CB high, there is no gaurantee he will be good.
My position is that there is too much uncertainty to make an adequate prediction right now. Heck, we are not even past the draft yet. Who thought Atlanta was going to make the playoffs 2 years ago? How many people thought the Titans would flame out last year and then surge under the QB’ing of Vince Young?
The Steelers might suck this year but it is too early to believe that right now.
6I think there will be no trade, in part because they will not get offered what they want. I think DD will start 4 games and will be .500. I think we have a legit chance of the playoffs. I think Big Ben better pull his head out, man up, and earn the respect back of his teammates and the Steeler Nation.
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