Ben Roethlisberger and Six Others Welcomed Back To the NFL This Week

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Seven players return from their suspensions this week, among them Ben Roethlisberger, Santonio Holmes, and Brian Cushing.

Each player will have an impact on their team and the way other teams prepare to face them.

The Steelers have the highest profile player, while the Broncos will still be without LenDale White due to an injury suffered in preseason.

Each player had their own reasons for being suspended, but let's run down what happened and what to expect.

Ben Roethlisberger

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Roethlisberger's case has been well-documented here and elsewhere, so we won't dwell on it. Roethlisberger really likes putting himself in bad situations involving women and the league ordered him to deal with his issues.

His six-game suspension successfully was reduced to four games, and Roethlisberger returned to his team this week. However, the Steelers have a bye week and we won't actually get to see him until next week when the Steelers play the Browns.

The Steelers went 3-1 in Ben's absence and got a good performance out of Dennis Dixon before he injured his knee, and a great performance out of Charlie Batch.

If anything, Roethlisberger's absence proved how good the rest of the team is, and it's scary for every other team in the AFC North to think how much better the team will be with its star QB back behind center.

Santonio Holmes

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Wide Receiver Santonio Holmes had to take a few weeks off because of substance abuse issues, but now he's back on the Jets sideline.

The real question is how his return will affect Braylon Edwards, who doesn't like to share the spotlight with anybody. Edwards has been having good games in Holmes' absence, but his ego is fragile and his career has shown the slightest thing will send him on a five-game drop spree.

If that happens, it's a good thing for Holmes, who would become quarterback Mark Sanchez' favorite target.

Brian Cushing

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Brian Cushing was suspended for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Cushing has denied using anything illegal, but the suspension stuck.

Cushing was the Defensive Rookie of the Year, so his impact on the Texan's defense will be significant. The only question is how much rust he may have from sitting for four weeks, but then again, that just may make him the freshest guy on the field.

Gerald McRath

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Gerald McRath also was suspended for violating the league's PED policy.

McRath, a linebacker for Tennessee, is in his second year with the team and will help add some speed to the defense with his return.

Shawn Nelson

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Shawn Nelson returns from a substance abuse policy suspension, and the tight end could help the Bills offense.

The Bills, and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, need all the offensive weapons they can get, and if Nelson can catch a few passes and throw a few blocks, the Bills will be better off for it.

LenDale White And Robert James

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LenDale White and Robert James technically come off suspension this week, but White tore his Achilles' tendon in the last preseason game with the Broncos and is done for the year.

James, a 2008 fifth-round draft pick for the Falcons, was cut by the Falcons upon his return to active status. The linebacker out of Arizona has yet to be claimed as of this writing.