Of course this is no surprise to anyone right now, but considering I wasn’t at a computer when I heard the news of Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension, I couldn’t post anything on it.
And since I’m finally at work and can type something, here’s my take:
It’s about time Roger Goodell put an end to the speculation and the drama of how long Ben Roethlisberger will be suspended.
The NFL commissioner put the Steelers quarterback away from now to potentially Week 8 of the regular season, when the Steelers play in their first prime-time game against the Super Bowl-champion Saints (8 p.m. Oct 31). The six-game suspension pushes back Big Ben’s return to Oct. 31 because the Steelers have a bye during Week 5.
There’s a chance that Roethlisberger could join his teammates following a mandatory treatment program and professional evaluation. If Goodell feels Roethlisberger is making personal and professional gains, the commissioner will reduce the suspension to four games and allow Big Ben to participate in training camp and preseason games this summer. After the preseason, however, Roethlisberger must leave the facility for four weeks, and then he can return during the bye week and play Week 6 against Cleveland.
The ruling was never a matter of if, only when. And it’s about time Roethlisberger paid the price for his off-field misconduct. And even though he wasn’t charged with a crime, that didn’t matter.
In a letter to Roethlisberger, Goodell wrote, “The Personal Conduct Policy makes clear that I may impose discipline ‘even where the conduct does not result in conviction of a crime’ as, for example, where the conduct ‘imposes inherent danger to the safety and well being of another person.’
“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.
“The Personal Conduct Policy also states that discipline is appropriate for conduct that ‘undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs, or NFL players.’ By any measure, your conduct satisfies that standard.”
The public knowledge of the suspension couldn’t come at a better time for the league, given the prime-time exposure the NFL draft will get at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (first round) and 6 p.m. Friday (second and third rounds). Saturday’s draft coverage starts at 10 a.m. and comprises rounds four through seven.
Essentially, the buildup to the draft, water cooler discussions over the picks and the media attention will surely focus on draft selections. So by the time the weekend is out, Roethlisberger will be flushed out of the news cycle and more attention will be paid on the rookie class and the NFL schedule, released Tuesday.
Quite frankly, Roethlisberger’s offseason problem of keeping his hands (and other portions of his anatomy) to himself without consent — allegedly — was getting more annoying than Brett Favre’s waffling.
That reminds me: It seems that this is the first time in recent years that the 40-year-old QB and newly minted grandfather is more a part of the witness protection program these days than being mentioned in the media.
Simple solution to that is it’s the first time in a few years that Favre is a surefire bet to return to football and rejoin his Vikings teammates late this summer.
For Roethlisberger, there’s a chance he may not be back until late October.
Being Mr. Irrelevant is pretty sweet — at least for a week
For those who watched the NFL Draft until its completion, you might of heard the name Tim Toone.
Toone, a Weber State receiver, was the final selection of the draft at 255th overall by the Detroit Lions.
The first thought that may have came to your mind was that’s this year’s Mr. Irrelevant — which is the name given to the last player taken in the annual draft.
Although you may think that being dubbed Mr. Irrelevant is as cold as the weather in Poconos right now (it was snowing yesterday and it’s a feel-like temperature of 30 degrees outside right now), it does have its perks. For one, he just had his NFL dream come true with the recognition of being selected; not only that, he also gets a weeklong celebration in Newport Beach, Calif., in his honor.
For one week, the public is invited to events including a golf tournament, a regatta and a sports banquet — all to celebrate the underdog.
In fact, this will be the 34th year of celebrating the last pick in the draft. Irrelevant Week was born in 1976 when University of Dayton recevier Kelvin Kirk was selected with the 487th pick that year by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After that, he was surprisingly invited to Newport Beach for a week of celebrating. This year’s edition is from June 21 to 25.
“It all transpired that historic first week just as Irrelevant Week founder Paul Salata hoped and dreamed,” according to the website IrrelevantWeek.com. “Hardly anyone outside of Newport Beach swooned or blinked. Few noticed. Fewer cared. Perfect. It was so irrelevant that birds didn’t even sing. But some kind of strange spark was ignited. The humble essence of being irrelevant stirred souls.”
Salata, a former USC standout, is also the spokesman of the event, which ends with the presentation of the Lowsman Trophy as plenty of sports celebrities join in on the fun.
“And so what was originally planned to be a mere one-shot-only, once-in-a-lifetime brief flight into happy lunacy lingered and survived and grew beyond belief or reason,” IrrelevantWeek.com says. ”Once Irrelevant Week hit age 20, it became rather obvious that it will never go away. It’s here to stay.”
So here’s the you, cheers, Tim Toone. And good luck in the NFL.