I must admit that I was shocked to hear that the NFL suspended Ben Roethlisberger for six games. I knew and expected for him to get suspended, but I was looking at the two-to-four game range. That six gamer is quite a sting.
Now, some people think that's too much. I don't. Some people think that the NFL is making an example of Big Ben. I agree with those people ... and the NFL.
Jimmy Johnson used to always say that you don't treat every player equally. Some guys deserve the "star treatment" because of what the offer to your team. He wouldn't treat his backup center the same way as he treated Emmitt Smith or Michael Irvin. I'm fine with that.
That being said, with great power comes great responsibility. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Fill in your own cliche.
The NFL's conduct policy has nothing to do with if you are charged with a crime or not. It is about bringing bad press to the league. Roethlisberger certainly did that. And since he is one of the faces of the NFL, his damage is greater.
Is it fair? That's hard to answer. If some backup center had this happen instead of Big Ben, he may not get that big of a punishment. But Roethlisberger's name holds more weight than most of the league. He's one of the guys the NFL loves putting out there as being tough, great QB and a winner. He's nearly in the level that Peyton Manning and Tom Brady enjoy. If Tiger Woods played in the NFL, Roger Goodell would smack him with a similar punishment.
I liken it to the NBA. In a matter of a couple of years, we had Kobe Bryant accused of sexual assault ... just after Ruben Patterson was (and later convicted of attempted rape). Now, which one do you remember? Which one held more media coverage? Kobe, by a landslide in both cases. The star's reach is greater, so his punishment should be too.
Now, some people think that's too much. I don't. Some people think that the NFL is making an example of Big Ben. I agree with those people ... and the NFL.
Jimmy Johnson used to always say that you don't treat every player equally. Some guys deserve the "star treatment" because of what the offer to your team. He wouldn't treat his backup center the same way as he treated Emmitt Smith or Michael Irvin. I'm fine with that.
That being said, with great power comes great responsibility. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Fill in your own cliche.
The NFL's conduct policy has nothing to do with if you are charged with a crime or not. It is about bringing bad press to the league. Roethlisberger certainly did that. And since he is one of the faces of the NFL, his damage is greater.
Is it fair? That's hard to answer. If some backup center had this happen instead of Big Ben, he may not get that big of a punishment. But Roethlisberger's name holds more weight than most of the league. He's one of the guys the NFL loves putting out there as being tough, great QB and a winner. He's nearly in the level that Peyton Manning and Tom Brady enjoy. If Tiger Woods played in the NFL, Roger Goodell would smack him with a similar punishment.
I liken it to the NBA. In a matter of a couple of years, we had Kobe Bryant accused of sexual assault ... just after Ruben Patterson was (and later convicted of attempted rape). Now, which one do you remember? Which one held more media coverage? Kobe, by a landslide in both cases. The star's reach is greater, so his punishment should be too.
1 comment:
What discipline did Tiger & Kobe receive? They were greeted w/ open arms! And how many guys did they let kill themselves w/ growth drugs? Why? Big leagues - big money! How many trollops are lurking around sports events to show their wares to some naive schlep? Not to condone his actions, but Ben got screwed by the league, also. Seems like he is the white fall guy. Rooney is certainly the type of guy you would like to share a foxhole with.
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