Breaking News: Big Ben Hit wth Four to Six Game Suspension

ESPN is reporting that Big Ben will receive a four-to-six game suspension. The initial suspension appears to be six games, but will be reduced to four with good behavior. 

Pittsburgh’s first four games are Atlanta, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, and Baltimore. On paper it appears the Steelers will go 1-3 without Big Ben. 

The thing that bothers me about the suspension is the fact that Roethlisberger was never charged with a crime in either case. The first accusation (Las Vegas) appears to have no merit. This was a woman who allegedly bragged about having relations with Ben and looked for a payday a year later. 

The second incident sounds shady. I don’t know why a millionaire would be hanging out in a college bar. The underage part, in terms of drinking, is not a concern for me. It’s the bar’s responsibility to verify her age. The rest of the night is a bit of he said, she said. If he did in fact rape her, the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. Not only should he not play in the NFL again, he should be behind bars.

However, if she was looking for a payday or was embarrassed that she had a one-night stand in a bar, he certainly shouldn’t have been slapped with a four-game suspension. I know the NFL wants to protect its image, but is this really the image you want to portray? It’s basically become a dictatorship. In America, we believe in innocent before proven guilty. Someone who has not been charged with a crime should not be suspended. If he gets a guilty charge, even in a civil case, then have at ‘er.