Was The NFL’s Six Game Suspension For Big Ben Too Much?

When I first heard the news that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was suspending Ben Roethlisberger for 6 games, I have to admit I was stunned.  I figured 2-4 games max, but I never dreamed it would be 6 games.  So that now begs the question,  “Based on the circumstances, was this deserved or too much?”So I did a little detailed reading and the more I read, the more I came to believe that the suspension was, in fact, the right move.  Without going into all the details that Commissioner Goodell evaluated, one of the things that he looked at in detail was the police report from Milledgeville, where the recent problems occurred.

And there was one part that stood out to me.  I have heard a lot of talking heads say that Ben wasn’t convicted or even charged, so he was basically just guilty of stupidity.  But as I read some of the information in the recent reports, I had to end up disagreeing with those comments.

Now I am not saying he did it or he didn’t.  But it appears to be clear that there were some things that he did that weren’t in question.  Here is a quote from Goodell on one of these items  “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.”

That’s enough for me.  And it begs another question,  Is Big Ben Roethlisberger just stupid and irresponsible, or is he also a loser?”  I mean what 28 year old multi millionaire professional athlete hangs out drinking (and apparently buying drinks for) 20 year old college coeds?  I just don’t get it.  Of all the company that he could keep, this is what he does? And given the bar that he was in, in the town that he was in, it was a given who would be the primary group in that bar.

Ok, I know it sounds judgmental, but I just believe that it’s time to grow up for Big Ben.