Less Than Four?

Ben Waits

The Post-Gazette is reporting that Commissioner Goodell left the door open to a reduction of Ben’s suspension below the four game minimum that was originally announced. I just find that hard to believe. No matter how far ‘above and beyond’ Ben has gone with his redemption I just can’t imagine less than 4 games. The only way I can imagine that happening is if something has surfaced to minimize the credibility of the charges made in Georgia. Of course, the Steelers fan in me wants it to be less than four games but in the interest of doing the right thing, it seems that he should at least serve the minimum suspension.

Here is the PG article:

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke to reporters this morning at Steelers training camp and appeared to leave the door open that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension could be fewer than four games.

Roethlisberger had been suspended for a minimum of four games and a maximum of six games by Goodell after he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Georgia in the spring.

When asked if there was any chance Roethlisberger’s suspension could be fewer than four games, Goodell responded: “I’ll make that decision later this month, but that’s the way it was designed. We’ll evaluate all of that at the end of the month.”

When he was asked to clarify whether the suspension could be fewer than four games, Goodell was vague: “We’ll make that decision on what the suspension is going to be at the end of the month.”

Goodell said Roethlisberger has gone above and beyond what the commissioner asked him to do when he was suspended.

“Ben is doing great,” Goodell said. “I had a chance to chat with him briefly and hopefully we’ll talk again later today. I’ve been encouraged by what I have seen. He’s understanding the seriousness of the issue. I think that’s a very positive development.”

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10217/1077941-66.stm#ixzz0vkDt2wun