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Ben Roethlisberger’s representatives and Pittsburgh Steelers team president Arthur J. Rooney IImet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in New York Wednesday in hopes of getting the Steelers starting quarterback’s suspension reduced to just 3 games.
Roethlisberger is serving anywhere from a 4 to 6 game suspension for violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The Steelers quarterback was accused in April of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old college studentinside a Georgia nightclub.
The Pittsburgh Steelers current odds of winning the 2010 AFC North stood at +230 for a payout potential of $23 on every $10 bet at SBG Global. The longer than typical AFC North opening odds are a direct result of Roethlisberger likely sitting out the first 6 games. A 3 game suspension changes the prospects for this franchise as Roethlisberger would be available to play against Baltimore and Cleveland, the later of whom beat the Steelers towards the end of last season, preventing them from making the Playoffs.
Pundits would suggest that Pittsburgh could win games in Tennessee and Tampa Bay during Weeks 2 and 3, respectively, without Roethlisberger. Week One’s game against the Atlanta Falcons might prove a little more challenging.
Goodell had previously pledged to consider reducing the length of the suspension if Roethlisberger complied with a number of league-imposed conditions, including a comprehensive behavioral evaluation. The expectations, however, were that Roethlisberger would be able to play during Week 4.
Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com
