NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has socked Ben Roethlisberger with a six-game suspension for his involvement in two tawdry sex scandals, though he apparently will be able to serve only four games if he keeps his nose (and his other appendages) clean. I guess that makes sense, though I felt Goodell should have been even tougher with Roethlisberger because of his stature in the league.
I realize that Big Ben wasn't charged with a crime in either case, but he certainly tarnished the image of the Steelers and the NFL with his scummy behavior, so I was hoping that he would be suspended for half the season without parole.
You're going to have to trust me that I'm wasn't hoping for that because it would benefit the Ravens. The four-game suspension will turn out to be will benefit them anyway, since they are scheduled to play Pittsburgh in Week 4.
Goodell basically cut the baby in half. There was speculation that he could have imposed anywhere from two to eight games. He obviously wanted to send a strong message to Roethlisberger, but he didn't want to completely change the balance of power in the AFC. I'm sure some people don't think that's important, but if he had banned Ben for half a season or more, he would have been severely punishing everyone else on the Steelers roster, too.
Associated press photo