The district attorney in Milledgeville, Ga., announced Monday that he didn’t find enough evidence to charge Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with sexual assault in a criminal case. The question in Pittsburgh, however, is if there is enough evidence to send the quarterback on his way.
Steeler Nation sure thinks so. Since the nightclub incident became public, talk-radio phones have been ringing off the hook. Die-hard black and gold supporters are chomping at the bit to call out their disgraced quarterback. Some of the fans who once adored him are now eager to take the witness stand to provide key testimony in the court of public opinion.
However, it will be up to the Rooney family — who owns the Pittsburgh Steelers — to decide Big Ben’s fate. The family has held their athletes to a higher standard for a long time. According to the formula that produced more Lombardi trophies than any other in NFL history, attitude is more important than athletic ability. It’s the Steelers’ way or the highway, and the black and gold have never been slow to part ways with problematic athletes like Plaxico Burress and most recently Santonio Holmes.
Since he is the quarterback and the face of the franchise, Roethlisberger has a special obligation to live the “Steeler way.” Publicly, Ben has done that on a number of occasions. He signs autographs at training camp long after the others have retreated to the locker room, kissing babies and shaking hands like a politician. He appears at public fundraisers and generously donated a police dog to the Cleveland’s canine unit. He scribbles PFJ (play for Jesus) on his cleats and points to the heavens after each touchdown pass.
But when he’s out of the spotlight — on a motorcycle or in a nightclub — Roethlisberger has given Pittsburgh a black eye time and time again.
Strike one happened in June 2006. Roethlisberger crashed his motorcycle at an intersection. Big Ben broke his face, the law and Steelers regulations by riding without a helmet. Strike two was in July 2009. Andrea McNulty, an employee at the Harrah’s hotel in Lake Tahoe, accused Roethlisberger of sexual harassment. The case is still pending.
Steelers Nation chalked up the first offense to immaturity and breathed a sigh of relief that the play-caller escaped death and more importantly would still be able to step under center. The second case prompted a few more question marks, among them why the accuser would wait a year to file charges and choose a civil rather than criminal court.
In the latest case, the question marks point more directly toward Big Ben. What was he doing in a club with college kids? Why is he putting himself and his $100 million dollar contract at risk? And why does he continue to make the same mistakes?
The gruesome details that are getting Roethlisberger off the hook are the same ones that should be eating at us on the inside. The accuser suffered “bruising and slight bleeding in the genital area,” according to District Attorney Fred Bright. However, it was largely because the accuser was so severely intoxicated and couldn’t precisely recall the events that no charges were filed.
“If he were my son, the best way I could answer it is, ‘Ben, grow up,’” Bright said during his statement. “’Come on. You’re supposed to stand for something. You’re the leader. You should be a role model. You don’t need to put yourself in this position anymore.’”
To make matter worse, Roethlisberger clearly does not understand the severity of his offenses, and he showed that with his public apology on Monday. With his slicked back hair and five o’clock shadow he looked about as slimy as his actions prove him to be. His statement was short - just 90 seconds long - and his words missed their mark.
“I absolutely want to be the leader this team deserves, valued in the community and a role model to kids,” Roethlisberger said in his public apology. “I have much work to do to earn this trust, and I’m committed to improving and showing everyone my true values.”
The time for Roethlisberger to be a leader, at least in Pittsburgh, may be over. His value in the community is fleeting. The city’s trust is diminished.
As claims only continue to build, maybe time is running out for Roethlisberger. It’s going to take one of Big Ben’s legendary last minute comebacks if he hopes to save face in Pittsburgh.
You can reach this columnist at sports@theeagleonline.com.
