Roethlisberger’s suspension clipped
Commissioner cuts penalty to four games
The NFL reduced the suspension of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger from six games to four games. League commissioner Roger Goodell informed Roethlisberger of the decision during a meeting Friday.
“You have told me and the Steelers that you are committed to making better decisions,” Goodell wrote in a letter to Roethlisberger, according to the NFL’s announcement. “Your actions over the past several months have been consistent with that promise and you must continue to honor that commitment.”
Roethlisberger’s suspension is for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
“I have learned a lot over the past several months about myself as a person,” Roethlisberger said in a written statement released by the Steelers. “I am committed to continuing on this path of being the type of person my family raised me to be …”
The league previously had announced that the six-game suspension of Roethlisberger, imposed in April, contained a provision allowing Goodell to reduce it to four games.
The two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback was accused of sexual assault by two different women in separate alleged incidents.
Roethlisberger denied the allegations in both instances. He was not charged with a crime.
The ruling by Goodell leaves Roethlisberger eligible to return to the Steelers’ lineup in an Oct. 17 game against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. That game follows the Steelers’ bye week.
Roethlisberger is to miss games Sept. 12 at home against the Atlanta Falcons, Sept. 19 at Tennessee, Sept. 26 at Tampa and Oct. 3 at home against the Baltimore Ravens.