TY BALLOU CUTS TIES WITH BIG BEN ROETHLISBERGER.

  On Tuesday, Ty Ballou, the owner of Pittsburgh-based PLB Sports, Inc., said he is terminating his five-year business relationship with Roethlisberger. Ballou's company, which was the maker of the famed Flutie Flakes, markets "Big Ben Beef Jerky." Ballau, who did not disclose how much Roethlisberger was paid in the deal, said that after watching the district attorney's news conference Monday, in which he laid out sordid details of Roethlisberger's encounter with a 20-year-old college student, the decision was easy. In his company 14 years, Ballou has had many athlete endorsers-- including Hines Ward, Jaromir Jagr, Ed McCaffrey and Dustin Pedroia-- and he said this is the first time he has terminated a deal. "We've made a lot of money together," Ballou said in a telephone interview. "I 'm leaving a lot on the table by terminating this contract. Even thought there were no criminal charges, there are just enough issues here that it's the best interests of PLB Sports to break ties. Roethlisberger was estimated making $2.5 million  in endorsement money. Steelers fans are having a bad offseason. This issue with Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes traded to the Jets.