Ben Roethlisberger has suspension reduced by NFL commissioner
Ben Roethlisberger was suspended earlier this year for six games after having been accused of – but not charged with – sexual assault. Ben Roethlisberger now gets two of those games back.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) sets to hand the ball off behind the blocking of Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey (53) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Aug. 29, in Denver.
Barry Gutierrez/AP Photo
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has had his six-game suspension reduced to four games by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Roethlisberger met Goodell Friday in New York and was told he can return for the Steelers' game against Cleveland on Oct. 17.
The quarterback was accused of sexually assaulting a Georgia college student this past March, but was not charged by Georgia authorities. Roethlisberger also faces a lawsuit in Nevada by a woman who said he sexually assaulted her in 2008. No charges were filed in that case either.
The accusations resulted in Roethlisberger being suspended last April for violating the league's personal conduct policy. But the commissioner said he would review Roethlisberger's case in a few months time. Goodell indicated he was satisfied with the player's efforts to follow NFL guidelines and stay out of trouble.
The Steelers open their season Sept. 12 against Atlanta. They will also play Tennesse, Tampa Bay and Baltimore before facing the arch-rival Browns, following their bye week Oct. 10th.