Pittsburgh faces image issues

After all the discussions about trading Ben Roethlisberger because of his off-field problems, the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to keep the two-time Super Bowl Champion.

“We can’t defend the behavior or the actions as an organization and we won’t, but we do defend his opportunity to make right, and I think that’s the right thing to do,” said Director of Football Operations for the Steelers Kevin Colbert. “This guy has helped us win two world championships. He’s made some mistakes, but he also deserves the opportunity to rectify those mistakes. And we stand behind his opportunity to do that.”

NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell suspended the two-time Super Bowl winner for six games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Goodell handed down the punishment after prosecutors decided not to charge Roethlisberger after a 20-year-old college student accused him of sexually assaulting her in a Georgia nightclub last month.
Steelers President Art Rooney II has been particularly critical of Roethlisberger, who is being sued by a different woman who claimed he raped her in 2008 at a Lake Tahoe hotel-casino. Roethlisberger denies the accusations and was not charged. He has claimed counter-damages in a lawsuit.

Because of Roethlisberger’s six game suspension the Steelers signed Byron Leftwich from Tampa Bay last week who has signed a contract extension through 2011. Leftwich was the Steelers backup quarterback in 2008.

The Steelers also have veteran quarterback Charlie Batch who broke his wrist late last season, as well as second year quarterback Dennis Dixon who started one game a year ago. It will be a tough decision on who will start in Roethlisberger’s absence.

“We’ll make some hard and fast decisions going into training camp,” said Head Coach Mike Tomlin said. “The reality is you can’t get four guys ready to play in camp. Right now, we’ll work with all three of these men in the short term, [and] get reacquainted with Byron Leftwich. There’s a lot of teaching to be done and we’re going to do that and make a decision prior to going to Latrobe [for camp].”

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