Roethlisberger suspension saves NFL from charges of bias

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All eyes are on Roger Goodell.

Football fans were anxious to see how the NFL Commissioner would discipline Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for his off-the-field actions, even though he was never found guilty of any crimes. But this situation also raised the question: would a famous, white quarterback be disciplined the same way as other black players have been for off-the-field indiscretions?

Goodell announced Wednesday he will suspend Roethlisberger six games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. The suspension contains conditions that allow the suspension to be reduced to four games based on good behavior. Roethlisberger had twice been accused of sexual assault in the last year. He wasn’t found guilty of either crime (though a civil case is still pending for one).

In Goodell’s letter to Roethlisberger outlining the suspension, he states:

”..You are held to a higher standard as an NFL player, and there is nothing about your conduct in Milledgeville that can remotely be described as admirable, responsible, or consistent with either the values of the league or the expectations of the fans.”

I think Goodell got it right with this suspension. Based on how Goodell has handled previous players’ misconduct, he had to sit Roethlisberger down for a significant amount of time. Four to six games accomplishes that, and will certainly teach Roethlisberger, the Steelers organization, and the rest of the league that the NFL will not tolerate this type of behavior, no matter who you are.

When it was previously reported that Roethlisberger would not face criminal charges for his most recent incident, I argued that a suspension was needed, based on the precedent that Goodell had set. Since he took over as NFL Commissioner, he has made it a point to punish repeated bad behavior away from the football field.

Had Roethlisberger not been suspended, I imagine immediate reaction would be that he got off in part because he’s white. This claim certainly would’ve had merit, and many (including myself) would have questioned whether Goodell was biased towards certain players.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis said on Monday if Roethlisberger wasn’t suspended, it would have had more to do with him being a quarterback, than him being white. I agree that this would have been a major factor as well.

Roethlisberger is young, fun-to-watch, and the face of one of the most recognizable franchises in the NFL. He also happens to plays the most high-profile position in football. The NFL makes money off of players like him.

They don’t make money off of guys like Adam “Pacman” Jones or Tank Johnson.

These were all issues Goodell had to consider. Ultimately, by taking the same hard-line stance with Roethlisberger than he did with other players, he’s shown that no player is above the NFL.

It may have taken a while, but Goodell was prudent to gather all of the facts before making this decision. On Monday, Goodell explained the process on the Dan Patrick show.

“I make the decision when I have all the information and I’m prepared to do so. I don’t have a timetable other than making a decision that’s right. I believe firmly as you know, and we’ve talked about it before, that all of us in the NFL have to live up to certain standards.”

A businessman as smart as Goodell was probably also aware of all of the scrutiny from the media, fans and players regarding this decision. He knew how important it was to make the right call on this one.

Now that this decision has reportedly been made, the next question is what does this do for the Steelers? They already traded one of their top playmakers and 2008 Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes to the Jets for 30 cents on the dollar. Now their leader is out for at least a quarter of the season, prompting them to bring back Byron Leftwich.

All of this news has provided nothing but a distraction for a team that missed the playoffs last year and is in one of the tougher divisions in football. And it came out this week that the Steelers have instituted a zero tolerance policy, meaning no more slip-ups for Roethlisberger or any other player.

In 2007, Goodell made it a point to hold players who put the NFL’s image in a negative light accountable. Roethlisberger’s case put that point to the test.

This decision sends a message to every NFL player: If you do something that in any way embarrasses the league, you’ll be punished.

And that punishment will come regardless of the color of your skin or the position you play.