Ben Roethlisberger: What Now?

On Monday, Ocmulgee (Ga.) Judicial Circuit District Attorney Fred Bright is expected to announce that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will not be charged on allegations that he sexually assaulted a 20-year old college coed in the bathroom of a nightclub last month.

The likely reason: insufficient evidence to substantiate the young woman's claim.

But what does this mean for the star player, his team and their fans?

For Roethlisberger, this is a minor victory.

He may yet face a civil lawsuit and there will be intense pressure to settle it, just to make it go away.

That would be tantamount to a confession that he did something wrong, but it would also enable him to get on with his life and career.

He could also fight it with all the resources at his disposal, which are quite substantial. However, nothing will completely erase the blot on his character in the eyes of many. If he is truly innocent of any wrongdoing, this is a prison of his own making.

Big Ben put himself in a position that opened the door to a  despicable accusation. The truth is, once you are accused of one of the most serious crimes in our society, you are never fully acquitted in the minds of some.

At the same time, if he got away with inappropriate behavior (i.e. criminal) because of his fame and wealth, then a terrible injustice has been done to a young woman who may well be additionally traumatized by the fact the justice will never be served.

There is also speculation that despite being cleared, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, or even the Steelers, might suspend Roethlisberger. It could be an unprecedented move since no NFL player has been suspended in a case where no criminal charges were filed and no arrest had been made.

While a suspension would serve a purpose in sending a message to the rest of the the league that reckless behavior will not be tolerated by even its biggest stars, it would also give some the ammunition to claim that Ben was guilty of something in the eyes of the league or the team, if not in the eyes of the law.

We will find out in the coming days how his teammates will respond. We will most likely hear muted support from most, but it is unlikely that anyone will go on the record blasting the leader of this team.

It is what we don't read in the media that will really determine whether there is a wound to the team's cohesion that will effect their future success. It is already known that Ben is something of a divisive figure in the locker room because, as the star  quarterback, he wields a great deal of influence with Steelers' management.

The allegations against him may only serve to fuel a simmering resentment in other players.

So far reaction from Steeler Nation has been mixed.

It seems those who reserved judgment, or openly supported Ben, are still with him and are relieved at the reported decision. For others who were outraged by his alleged behavior, he will forever remain a "rapist" in their minds.

Ben will also be a target for the fans of opposing teams for at least the coming season. There will be rude, offensive and cruel signs and taunts about this case. He will be humbled and  humiliated publicly in a way that few can understand or appreciate.

Assuming that he is truly innocent of anything more than poor judgment, this is more than adequate punishment. If, however, he got away with a heinous crime, this isn't even the  equivalent of a slap on the wrist.

There are no winners in a situation like this. We all lose something. Ben has lost his reputation, the young woman may have lost more (since the public can never be sure if she is a victim or a liar) and the Steelers and the league have lost some luster.

As for the fans, well they have lost the joy of watching Ben sling the ball all over the field, winning games with clutch play, without having a nagging thought in the back of our minds: What if he really did it?