Ben Roethlisberger's Suspension

Ben Roethlisberger's Suspension Is Cut to Four Games From Six by NFL

Roethlisberger is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers 11th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft.

Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension was reduced to four games from six by National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell.The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, who was suspended after being accused of sexually assaulting two women, can return to play on Oct. 17 at home against the Cleveland Browns.

Goodell had barred Roethlisberger from the first six games of the regular season for violating the league’s personal- conduct policy. The commissioner said in a letter to Roethlisberger in April that the player’s conduct at a Milledgeville, Georgia, club the previous month undermined the integrity and reputation of the NFL, and that he put himself and others at risk by providing alcohol to underage college students. 

“You have told me and the Steelers that you are committed to making better decisions,” Goodell said in a letter to Roethlisberger, according to an NFL statement. “Your actions over the past several months have been consistent with that promise and you must continue to honor that commitment.” 

Goodell also barred Roethlisberger from the team’s offseason training until he completed a “comprehensive behavioral evaluation by medical professionals,” mandatory under the league’s policy, the NFL said. 

Roethlisberger met today with Goodell. The commissioner said at the time of the suspension that if Roethlisberger followed the league’s guidelines and avoided trouble, he would consider reducing the suspension to four games. 

The reduction comes more than four months after prosecutors said they wouldn’t charge the 28-year-old quarterback for an alleged sexual assault on a 20-year-old college student in the Milledgeville bar.