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Post by mayor on Apr 21, 2010 10:27:06 GMT -6
Ben to be suspended 4-6 games?!
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Post by fatmenace on Apr 21, 2010 10:54:59 GMT -6
Yep! Gotta love Goodell.
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Post by fatmenace on Apr 21, 2010 11:39:01 GMT -6
Six games. Wow. Roger sure is power hungry.
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Post by gk on Apr 21, 2010 12:00:30 GMT -6
You think this is too harsh? I know there's the whole "he hasn't been charged of a crime" argument - and it's a convincing one.
But we also know that A) Ben's "posse" prevented the girl's friends from intervening. B) She claims to have said "no." C) This has happened before and without the punishment, it may happen again, except potentially moreso.
Whether it's as a punishment or a deterrent, for conduct suggesting sexual assault, a significant suspension is warranted.
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Post by gk on Apr 21, 2010 12:01:40 GMT -6
Anyone think Ben's going to be traded, as the rumors are suggesting? Not me....
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Post by mayor on Apr 21, 2010 12:29:35 GMT -6
I think there is a serious possibility he will be traded. I think it would be a mistake, but who knows...
I'm not sure we really know as much as you claim here geoff. That's my main problem here. How can they suspend someone for allegations? Of course, if he did the things that are alleged, he deserves more than just a suspension from the NFL. But as you said, he wasn't charged. I think this suspension is crazy.
What happened to my team?
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Post by mayor on Apr 21, 2010 12:30:26 GMT -6
It's so hard to be a Steelers fan.
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Post by gk on Apr 21, 2010 12:30:41 GMT -6
Just wondering: what would the price for Roethlisberger be? It can't be in the Top 10 like Pittsburgh supposedly wants, could it? If McNabb, who hasn't won a Super Bowl but also hasn't raped anyone, is worth a second rounder, doesn't that seem more reasonable?
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Post by gk on Apr 21, 2010 12:59:15 GMT -6
Yeah, I understand that he's not charged with anything and that's an issue (even the Pacman suspension notwithstanding). I just think that sexual assault is an entirely different beast than brandishing firearms (even shooting one's self in the leg!), or even DUIs. Point being: sexual assault is sooooooo much more reprehensible than just about any other crime you can commit (am I being judge-jury-exocutioner? Yes. Yes, I am.) that I understand why the league would want to come down hard, harder, hardest against even an allegation, particularly when there is a lot of circumstantial evidence supporting the allegation.
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Post by gk on Apr 21, 2010 13:02:50 GMT -6
Or, as the joke goes, Goodell could just facilitate a trade to the Raiders: punishment enough.
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Post by mayor on Apr 21, 2010 13:03:33 GMT -6
Yeah, I can understand that. I'd probably be making the same argument if I were you. I'm just surprised.
I think a Top 10 pick would be a steal. Wouldn't you be thrilled if the Browns got Roethlisberger for a 1st rounder?
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Post by mayor on Apr 21, 2010 13:04:09 GMT -6
Right now I'd guess the chances are better than 50% that Roethlisberger is traded.
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Post by gk on Apr 21, 2010 13:13:18 GMT -6
I don't think I'm "supporting" the suspension simply because he's a Steeler, but oftentimes I'm so deeply biased I don't even realize it.
As great as Roethlisberger has been, I don't think he'd be even 60% as effective on the Browns. Seems to me that a lot of his success has come from scrambling, then somehow finding Holmes or Ward after 10 seconds. For some reason, I don't think Mohammed Massaquoi and Chansi Stucky would provide that same outlet.
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Post by fatmenace on Apr 21, 2010 14:53:22 GMT -6
See, defending Ben here can make one sound like some sort of approval of rape, which is entirely not the case. Like Krall, I think rape is reprehensible (there's a reason rape received the death penalty in Leviticus). But six games for mere allegations just seems wrong to me somehow.
Now, it's entirely possible that the league knows something we don't. There are so many former law enforcement people working in the security department of the NFL that it's conceivable they may have access to behind the scenes testimony which corroborated the charges that wasn't made public. Or Goodell may have had a off the record convo with Ben and got the truth. And if that's the case, then fine. But if someone can be suspended without absolute proof simply because he chooses to hang out in sleazy bars and "tarnish the shield" then, wow.
The more I read about this stuff, and especially the conduct of the off duty cop/bodyguards, the more I think it's likely Ben is a scumbag. I am NOT in any way defending him, just saying the suspension seems harsh merely for unproven allegations.
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Post by gk on Apr 21, 2010 15:02:35 GMT -6
So what I'm reading is that Chad thinks rape is ok.
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