Ben Escapes Legal Sack … Tuesday Cup O’Chiefs

From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The words of Dean Vernon Wormer of Faber College came to mind:

“Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son.”

That unforgettable scene from the Hollywood classic Animal House had Dean Wormer speaking to freshman Kent Dorfman who had just registered a 0.2 grade point average thanks to excessive partying as a pledge at Delta House.

District Attorney Fred Bright did not mention those words on Monday when he announced that Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will not be prosecuted over an incident in early March in Milledgeville, Georgia. But he did tell the 28-year old quarterback that it was time for him to grow up.

Roethlisberger is the NFL’s version of Kent Dorfman. Big Ben is Flounder.

“If he were my son, the best way I could say it is, Ben grow up,” Bright said. “You are supposed to stand for something. You are the leader. You should be a role model. You don’t need to put yourself in this situation anymore.

“Grow up. Cut it out.”

The reason Roethlisberger will not be arrested or charged with rape came down to a simple fact: his actions could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

That does not mean Big Ben was innocent of the allegations. In fact, as Bright laid out his decision and talked about the investigation of the events that went down that night, it’s obvious something did happen between the quarterback and the 20-year old coed who said she was assaulted.

Roethlisberger spoke Monday evening as well, reading a prepared statement from the locker room of the Steelers facility. “I am truly sorry for the disappointment and negative attention I have brought to my family, my teammates and coaches, the Rooneys and the NFL,” Roethlisberger read. “I understand that the opportunities I have been blessed with are a privilege and that much is expected of me as the quarterback of Pittsburgh Steelers. I absolutely want to be the leader this team deserves, valued in the community and a role model to kids. I have much work to do to earn this trust, and I am committed to improving and showing everyone my true values.”

Right now there are serious questions about what type of “true values” the Steelers quarterback might own. Revered in the Steel City for his toughness on the field and his huge arm, Roethlisberger continually puts himself in positions where his judgments are not sound.

Like the situation in Georgia. What went down there is a matter of he said, she said. There is no other evidence. No videotape. No witnesses. Not enough DNA to make a match. Bright said several times during his lengthy press conference that alcohol was involved, a lot of alcohol. He said that recollections of what happened that night were foggy because too many of the people involved were stinking drunk.

Which brings us back to the question of intelligence – or lack of same. As we wrote last month, the one charge that does stick with this guy is stupidity. That March 4th night, he was out celebrating his 28th birthday with a bunch of friends and hanger-ons. He bought shots in the bar for a bunch of college coeds. How many of those same shots he had, is unknown.

Roethlisberger had one of his bodyguards escort a young woman down a back hallway at the club. That’s where Roethlisberger went and where the incident took place, in a small (5′x9′) bathroom. A 28-year old NFL quarterback and a 20-year old drunken college coed in a dank, dark closet passing for a john. For some men that might be considered a desirable situation.

In this case it was the recipe for a disaster and Roethlisberger has nobody to blame but himself. It’s absolutely ridiculous that he would be attempting to take advantage of a drunken woman, let alone one that’s just 20 years old and legally shouldn’t even have been in the bar.

During his Monday night appearance, Roethlisberger refused to address the situation. Remember, a civil suit against him for sexual assault continues in Nevada in a separate incident. Back when that charge was made public, the quarterback’s lawyers publicly went after the woman publicly because she never spoke with the police about the incident and did not file the suit until a year later. This time, the incident was immediately reported and so far at least Ben and his legal dream team have not dragged the coed through the mud.

That could tell us one of two things: they have negotiated a financial settlement with the young lady, or they do not want to antagonize her and the family. Time will tell.

As he slips away from any sort of criminal entanglements, this is not time for him to celebrate. It’s time for Roethlisberger to become an adult.

I’ve been back in the Steelers Nation for a few days and I can tell you I’ve been surprised by the reaction I’ve found with those who live and die with the black and gold. It’s about 60-40 against Roethlisberger. Among that unhappy 60 percent are plenty of fans who could care less about two Super Bowl victories with him at quarterback and want the Rooney Family to trade Roethlisberger. They are disgusted by his behavior.

Some of this unhappiness is due to the two rape charges that have been laid at his doorstep. Some of it comes from his boorish behavior around Pittsburgh the last few years. I won’t repeat all the stories I’ve heard, but I do know this – the Rooney Family has sat Roethlisberger down several times to talk about how he was carrying himself in the community.

Pittsburgh’s patron saint and the founder of the Steelers, Art Rooney, Sr., used to chide his sons about “putting on the dog” when he thought they were acting in a snobbish manner or putting out the vibe that they were somebody important. His oldest son Dan and now Dan’s oldest son Art II have generally tried to follow that path in leading the team. Somehow, they haven’t been able to convince their $102 million quarterback to do the same.

There is little or no angry reaction in Pittsburgh to the Steelers trading Super Bowl hero WR Santonio Holmes on Sunday night to the New York Jets for a fifth-round choice in next week’s NFL Draft. Holmes has been involved in all sorts of trouble and incidents from even before he was drafted. On Monday, the NFL announced that Holmes will miss the first four games of the ‘10 season with the Jets because of suspension tied to violations of the league’s substance abuse policy. Pittsburgh management had grown so tired with Holmes that if they didn’t make the deal with the Jets, they were going to release Holmes outright.

Roethlisberger still must meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and that will supposedly happen on Tuesday. Because no charges have been filed against him for any of the incidents, it’s unlikely he will be suspended by the league. Goodell will probably leave that issue up to the Steelers and I’d say there’s a better than even chance Roethlisberger will be suspended for at least a game, maybe more.

Every NFL team has faced situations like this involving their players. Nobody is immune, no matter how well they think they investigate the players they acquire through the draft, trade or free agency. Over the years it’s not hard to come up with a list of Chiefs players that have acted stupidly when they were wearing the red and gold – Larry Johnson, Eric Warfield, Bam Morris, Tamarick Vanover, Victor Riley and Dale Carter come quickly to mind.

But how many times has this situation hovered over a two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback like Roethlisberger?

“We are not condoning Mr. Roethlisberger’s actions that night,” Bright said during the press conference. “But we do not prosecute morals. We prosecute crimes.”

It’s a crime that a man with the gifts that Ben Roethlisberger possesses does not have enough moral fiber to 1.) Stay out of these type of situations and 2.) Learn from his past mistakes.

Should Roethlisberger come out and lead the Steelers to another championship all will be forgiven by the black and gold nation. We can only hope that this knucklehead will finally learn that he should stop “putting on the dog” and acting like a quarterback diva.

It’s time for Ben Roethlisberger to grow up.

“You need to be a role model for your team, your city, the NFL. You can do better,” said the Georgia D.A. “I hope that he’s learned something from this, I really do.”

Amen.

KROENKE SHOCKS ST. LOUIS … HE WANTS ALL OF THE RAMS

In what goes down as a surprising move, minority owner Stan Kroenke has exercised his right to buy the 60 percent of the St. Louis Rams that he does not currently own.

Kroenke had until Monday to decide what he wanted to do as that was 60 days after Illinois businessman Shahid Kahn had signed on with the children of the late Georgia Frontiere to buy their majority share of the club.

Kroenke had three options: 1.) sell his 40 percent to Kahn, 2.) keep his 40 percent or 3.) buy the 60 percent for sale. One thing standing in his way was the NFL rule that does not allow an NFL owner to have professional sports holdings in another league city. Kroenke owns the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche.

So, either he is going to sell those teams, or he’s planning to try and convince NFL ownership that they should give him permission to take over full ownership in St. Louis and keep his NBA and NHL clubs.

“We are pleased to announce that we have exercised our right to purchase the remaining interest in the St. Louis Rams football team under the terms of our partnership agreement,” Kroenke said in a statement. “We have enjoyed our involvement in the National Football League since our original expansion efforts beginning in 1993 and our subsequent 15-year partnership with the Rams. We look forward to working with the Rosenbloom family and the NFL to complete this transaction. We will respect the league and its processes in our efforts to complete this transaction.”

During the NFL meetings last month, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked whether the league would allow Kroenke to take over the Rams and keep his other teams.

“Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it, but I don’t think so,” Goodell said. “I think everyone understands we’re going to respect our policies and make sure we treat everyone the same. We have great respect for Stan, and he has to make some choices. But he also understands the league wants to continue to have policies that we think are beneficial to the league in general and fair to all 32 clubs.”

Kroenke also owns 29.9 percent of Arsenal, an English Premier League soccer club.

The 62-year old Kroenke has been a Rams owner since 1994 just before the club moved to St. Louis from Anaheim. He paid $215 million. Frontiere died in January of 2008 and her children inherited the team. They have no ties to St. Louis and the inheritance tax on 60 percent of an NFL team is going to cost millions of dollars.

PERSONNEL UPDATE FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE

  • BEARS – re-signed UFA LB Pisa Tinoisamoa.
  • BILLS – signed UFA RB Rodney Ferguson (Titans).
  • COLTS – released RB Ko Simpson.
  • GIANTS – RFA OT Guy Whimper signed tender offer; released DT Anthony Bryant.
  • JETS – acquired WR Santonio Holmes from the Steelers for a 5th-round selection in 2010 NFL Draft; Holmes suspended by NFL for four games due to a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.
  • LIONS – re-signed UFA DE Jared DeVries.
  • PANTHERS – signed UFA S Aaron Francisco (Colts).
  • RAVENS – RFA QB John Beck signed tender offer; RFA K Billy Cundiff signed tender offer.
  • REDSKINS – RFA QB Jason Campbell signed tender offer; signed DT Anthony Bryant (Giants).
  • SAINTS – RFA OT Zach Strief signed tender offer.
  • TITANS – signed QB Chris Sims (Broncos).
  • VIKINGS – RFA DT Fred Evans signed tender offer; RFA OT Ryan Cook signed tender offer; RFA S Eric Frampton signed tender offer.

9 Responses to “Ben Escapes Legal Sack … Tuesday Cup O’Chiefs”

  • April 13, 2010  - The Morning Fix | Arrowhead Addict | A Kansas City Chiefs blog says:

    [...] Ben Escapes Legal Sack … Tuesday Cup O’Chiefs-BobGretz.com #5 – Kansas City – They are pretty much in the same position as the Browns. So many holes to fill, but Shaun Rogers might plug up enough holes for the Browns to move up and get a couple picks in the process. If Cleveland made this trade it wouldn’t be too crazy to see them try to get the #5 and #36 for Rogers, #7, and #38. This would help move the Browns ahead of the Eagles in the second round and the Chiefs would have gained a huge talent and only lost a couple spots in the draft. I believe the Chiefs would even try to ship off Matt Cassel in the process so they could pick up Jimmy Clausen. [...]


  • April 13, 2010  - Tracy says:

    The Rooney’s ownership must certainly be unique in pro sports. The family has owned the franchise AND lived in Pittsburgh the entire time. Little wonder the locals value the good name of the team/family more than the tenure of a knothead like Ben Roethlisberger.

    Contrast the Pittsburgh legacy to that of St. Louis. The Frontiere/Kroenke ownership must have been an oddity in and of itself. She inherited her part from her late husband while Kroenke married second generation Walton/Wal-Mart money; he has had some success in real estate but, like the chicken and the egg conundrum, which came first?

    Legend has it that the founding Rooney patriarch played the horses and on a “Let It Ride” weekend in the early 1930’s won in excess of $700K which founded the family’s fortune and enabled the purchase of the Steelers. Given that pathway to ownership, it is little wonder there is great pride associated with the name. St. Louis should be so lucky.


  • April 13, 2010  - SG says:

    Good stuff Bob.

    “It’s time for Ben Roethlisberger to grow up” sums it up perfectly.


  • April 13, 2010  - ThunderChief says:

    Playing the attorney game is one thing. Seeing through the attorney game is another. Roethlisberger’s attorney bought off the potential plaintiff, under the table, and Ben lives to grope again.


  • April 13, 2010  - Mad Chief says:

    “Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son.”

    “Roethlisberger is the NFL’s version of Kent Dorfman.”

    There’s one major difference there… Roethlisberger is rich. Very rich.

    Also, I find it disturbing that this DA is giving out life advice. If there was a crime, prosecute it. If not, then nothing else needs to be said. “If he were my son…” Well Mr. Bright, he’s not your son. So, stick to your job. Seriously…how unprofessional can you possibly be?


  • April 13, 2010  - findthedr says:

    well said Mr. Gretz!


  • April 13, 2010  - XianDave says:

    DA: This is not the first time you have been accused of this, is it?
    Ben: No
    DA: There seems to be a pattern here. Had you been drinking?
    Ben: Yes
    DA: And you bought shots for several co-eds?
    Ben: Yes
    DA: Did you know the victim was underage?
    Ben: Well, I, uh…
    DA: Why did you want to meet this girl in the bathroom?
    Ben: It seemed… um… I don’t recall.
    DA: Did you try to force yourself on her?
    Ben: (Clinton-esque) I did not have sexual relations with that woman.
    DA: Did she resist? Did you keep her in the bathroom?
    Ben: I did not have sexual relations with that woman.
    DA: Is it your contention that you had her brought to the bathroom for no reason?
    Ben: It depends on what your definition of what the word, “is” is.


  • April 13, 2010  - HatfieldMcCoy says:

    The NBA infection is now rampant in the NFL. I don’t watch the NBA anymore and the NFL is wearing me out. I’m so sick of this…..


  • April 14, 2010  - SGL says:

    Loved this commentary as Steeler nation winces over another possible “situation” for Ben that is coming forward. The sentiment here is definitely not tolerant to his poor personal standards and for dragging our beloved Steelers through the mud. Ask any coed who frequents Carson Street bars and venues about Ben and you hear their observation on him, things you just don’t want to hear.


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