EXHIBIT A
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2004)
2007 Probowl Selection
2-time Super Bowl Champion
Career average QB rating (6 seasons): 91.7
Victories which Roethlisberger rallied the team from a fourth-quarter/OT deficit or tie: 17
Led his team to the AFC Championship game 3 times in 6 years.
Career Playoff Record: 8-2
...and he's only 28 years old!
Now regarding questions surrounding his character or his ability to make sound personal decisions, let's look at the situations he's been in...
EXHIBIT B
A) In 2006 he got in a motorcycle accident in which he wasn't wearing a helmet. He was later cited for failure to wear a helmet and failure to operate in his license class (he had an expired permit at the time). He wasn't drunk, he wasn't speeding, he wasn't driving recklessly - in fact the accident was caused by a motorist that cut in front of him so he wasn't even at-fault.
Aside from the questionable decision to not wear a helmet or renew his license in a timely manner, this sounds like a pretty ordinary, every-day occurance.
B) In 2009 an executive casino host at Harrah's Lake Tahoe accused Roethlisberger of assaulting her and forcing her to have sex with him. She also filed charges against the hotel for trying to cover up the incident.
After the investigation was completed, here are the facts that came out of it:
1. In a sworn statement a co-worker stated that the accuser bragged about having consensual sex with Roethlisberger.
2. Hospital records showed no physical signs of struggle or forced intercourse.
So basically there is no evidence to show that he did anything wrong at all.
Now that being said, this most recent accusation is a bit sketchier since there is some physical evidence involved but not enough to show that an assault had occured. Based on numerous descriptions of the events that occurred at the night club in March, it seems pretty clear that something shady happened but it's all speculative at this point.
Look the bottom line is that this guy has personal problems that the league needs to intervene and help him deal with - through some form of punishment but also through some form of direct education.
Does this mean he sucks as a player? Absolutely not - he's a phenomenal QB with credentials that few active QBs can even come close to.
If we decided to pursue him it would, no doubt, be a significant upgrade at a position that's a huge question mark for us now. If the organization felt like they had a handle on his personal situation and took the right steps to mitigate any possible backlash that might come from it, then my answer is hell yes. Let's get this guy.
raper and let him know if he doesnt clean up his act he is gonzo.
