"Feel my wrath!"
This questionable behavior did not go unnoticed from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who suspended Roethlisberger for the first six games of the 2010 season for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Even though Roethlisberger had not yet been taken to trial for the incident in Nevada and had charges dropped for the incident in Georgia, Goodell slapped a suspension on him.
The commissioner saw Roethlisberger as a role model who needed to turn his life around, and as a part of the suspension ordered him to get therapy and undergo behavioral evaluations before he returned to the field. With "good behavior," Roethlisberger could get his suspension reduced from six games to four.
Poor guy, he couldn't even stand on the sidelines...
Goodell was satisfied with Roethlisberger's progress and the quarterback was allowed to return after week four. During that time, backups Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch led the team to a surprising 3-1 record, allowing Roethlisberger to come back "with a vengeance" after the Steelers' week five bye week. The Steelers went 9-3 the rest of the way, won the division title and earned the #2 seed in the AFC playoffs.
After winning two home games against the Ravens and Jets, the Pittsburgh Steelers were headed to the Super Bowl to face the Packers. The game did not go according to plan, however, as Roethlisberger threw two first half interceptions that led to Packers' touchdowns and a late Steelers' comeback faltered as they lost 31-25.
Championship belt: FART.
This entire situation is a good example of how fans will forgive a player's off the field issues if he plays well. As the season went along and the Steelers went deeper and deeper into the playoffs, you could feel the opinions of Roethlisberger getting more and more positive. If he would have won the Steelers their seventh Super Bowl, you could probably bank on the sexual assault cases barely being mentioned ever again. But since they lost, there are still some residual effects of his misbehaviors.
Most of the hate that Roethlisberger still faces is from female fans. More male fans have forgiven him because they are less aware of what "sexual assault" really means, or how it would affect them. Female fans are more upset about what Roethlisberger allegedly did and are going to have to be more convinced by his complete product to accept him back into their hearts, which is completely understandable. On July 24, 2011 Roethlisberger was married to his girlfriend Ashley Harlan, so hopefully that will put an end to his sexcapades.
Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Big Ben!
I hope you enjoyed the five-part series as we look forward to a new and improved Ben Roethlisberger in years to come!
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