Damn, he's my FF keeper league QB!!!!

Whisenhunt won't confirm or deny Roethlisberger report
Posted by Michael David Smith on April 22, 2010 1:26 PM ET
Responding to a report that the Cardinals called the Steelers to inquire about quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said he couldn't confirm or deny.

"It seems like you'd be hard-pressed to find a team that hasn't been linked to [Roethlisberger]," Whisenhunt told Darren Urban of the team's official web site. "At this time of year there's no shortage of information and misinformation flying around; who teams are interested in drafting, who they're not, who's gonna be traded, etc. From our standpoint, it doesn't seem to make sense to publicly comment on which rumors are fact and which are fiction but I can tell you there's a fair amount of each."

Whisenhunt could run afoul of the league's tampering rules if he were to say he's interested in Roethlisberger, so that's really the only answer he could offer.

Which means that's about as close as Whisenhunt is going to come to answering whether the report of the Cardinals calling the Steelers is one of those rumors that's fact, or one of those rumors that's fiction.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... er-report/

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers fielding phone calls from other teams about the availability of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger over the past couple of days, it is extremely unlikely a trade will occur, sources told ESPN.com on Thursday.

Multiple sources indicated the Steelers have not shopped Roethlisberger and have done nothing more than field phone calls. Many of the phone calls have come during the normal course of conversations of teams just checking in with the Steelers to see if they were willing to make other deals.

Mike and Mike in the Morning

Ben Roethlisberger's attorney David Cornwell explains Roethlisberger's reaction to the suspension, what Roethlisberger was expecting to get, what he acknowledges doing wrong and how hard he will work to rebuild his image.

The conversations with other teams would be termed only preliminary, but with the draft set to start Thursday night, there would not be time to put a deal together and it's doubtful whether the Steelers would be willing to trade him at this state.

An NFL source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that the Steelers have begun contacting teams about trading a top-10 pick for Roethlisberger. The Steelers have called the Rams, 49ers, Raiders, Bills, Jaguars, Seahawks and Browns, according to the source.

Roethlisberger was suspended for six games by commissioner Roger Goodell, but he has a chance to return after four games if he fulfills a checklist of obligations presented to him by the commissioner.

Leftwich Hurt . Charlie Batch all the way!!!!!

Roethlisberger suspension reduced to 4 games

By BARRY WILNER, AP Pro Football Writer

NEW YORK (AP)—Ben Roethlisberger’s(notes) suspension has been cut from six games to four by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ star quarterback met with Goodell early Friday and was told he could return on Oct. 17 against Cleveland.

Roethlisberger was suspended in April for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, but Goodell said at the time he would review the player’s behavior over the next few months. Goodell was satisfied that the quarterback has followed the league’s guidelines and stayed out of trouble.
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Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a Georgia college student following a night of drinking in a Milledgeville, Ga., bar on March 5. He was not charged by Georgia authorities.

The league said the “reinstatement is contingent on Roethlisberger continuing to adhere to the program established by our advisors and avoiding any further violations of the personal conduct policy.”

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

Roethlisberger is the first player suspended by Goodell under the NFL’s personal conduct policy who was not arrested, charged with or convicted of a crime. However, Goodell said in April the policy allows him to impose such a penalty when the league’s integrity and reputation are at stake.

Roethlisberger’s representatives at one point wanted the suspension cut in half, to three games, but Goodell stipulated in April it would be a six-game ban that could only be reduced to four games.

Steelers president Art Rooney accompanied Roethlisberger on his trip to see Goodell, a meeting that took place in New Jersey. Rooney and his organization kept in frequent contact with Goodell throughout the four-month process, during which Roethlisberger underwent extensive evaluations.

Indeed, Goodell’s ruling was made in consultation with Rooney and the Steelers, who were angered by the two-time Super Bowl winner’s behavior and would have punished him if the league hadn’t.

“Commissioner Goodell informed us today that Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension has been reduced to four games,” Rooney said. “Ben has done a good job this summer of growing as the person that he needs to be, both on and off the field. I am confident that Ben is committed to continuing in this positive direction. As a team, our focus is now on preparing for the regular season and getting off to a good start on opening weekend.”

Roethlisberger and Goodell met last month at the team’s training camp in Latrobe, Pa. At that time, Goodell said he was encouraged by the progress Roethlisberger was making and promised to make his decision on the term of the suspension before the regular season began.

Goodell kept his word Friday.

While he is out, Roethlisberger can’t practice with the Steelers, nor can he attend games or represent the team publicly in any way. He can’t have contact with any member of the coaching staff or football operations personnel.

Roethlisberger plans to work with a California-based quarterbacks coach, George Whitfield, and he’ll throw to some free-agent receivers who are looking for work in the league.

The Steelers re-signed Byron Leftwich(notes) and planned to start him in Roethlisberger’s absence. But Leftwich hurt his left knee in Thursday night’s exhibition finale against Carolina. Depending on the extent of the injury, Pittsburgh could be down to Dennis Dixon(notes) and veteran Charlie Batch(notes) while Roethlisberger is suspended, and would certainly need to add another QB.

Pittsburgh hosts Atlanta, plays at Tennessee and Tampa Bay and then hosts division rival Baltimore before an Oct. 10 bye. Roethlisberger can begin practicing with the Steelers on Oct. 4.

Roethlisberger also is being sued in Nevada by a woman who says he sexually assaulted her there in 2008. No charges were brought in that case, and it did not figure in the NFL’s suspension.