NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell took a strong stand on violence against women today. He suspended Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for six games for allegedly sexaully assaulting a 20-year-old college co-ed in a Milledgeville, Georgia bar restroom in March. That’s the maximum punishment:
. . .there is nothing about your conduct in Milledgeville that can remotely be described as admirable, responsible, or consistent with either the values of the league or the expectations of our fans.
. . .In your six years in the NFL, you have first thrilled and now disappointed a great many people. I urge you to take full advantage of this opportunity to get your life and career back on track.
Commissioner Goodell also sent a letter to NFL team owners, executives, and coaches telling them that violence against women needs to stop:
. . .in recent weeks there have been several negative incidents. . .include. . .allegations of violence against women. . .
NFL and club personel must do more than simply avoid criminal behavior. . .every investigation, arrest, or other allegation of improper conduct undermines the respect for our league by our fans, lessens the confidence of our business partners and threatens the continued success of our brand.
Roethlisberger Protected by Cops
It appears Roethlisberger got away with the sexual assault because he surrounds himself with cops. The photo above was taken about an hour before he allegedly raped the co-ed. Yep. They’re all cops.
According to police reports, Roethlisberger was protected by two bodyguards: PA State Trooper Ed Joyner and Corapolis, PA police officer Anthony Barravecchio. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined that Officer Barravecchio escorted the co-ed victim to the alleged assault. Ann Marie Lubatti tried to rescue her intoxicated friend, but Trooper Joyner was guarding the door. She told police that she told Trooper Joyner:
This isn’t right. My friend is back there with Ben. She needs to come back right now.
The officers claim to have “no memory” of meeting the co-eds. If this is true, I wonder how many times they have conspired in Roethlisberger’s sexual assaults. Lt. Myra A. Taylor of the PA State Police claims they are investigating Trooper Joyner’s conduct.
Milledgeville Mayor Is Doing a Happy Dance
Meanwhile, Richard Bentley, the mayor of Milledgeville, thinks the alleged sexual assault of the co-ed will be great for tourism:
Anything that can draw interest to our town and make people want to visit, we would like.
Wonder how he’d feel if it was his daughter who got raped after his cops partied with the rapist.
Anne Caroline Drake 
No shit, what a jerkwad ass that mayor is. And as far as that big dumb football player Roethlisberger getting 6 games thats great but if he is convicted I wonder what the punishment will be. Will he get off as most millionaires do or will he be forced to pay the penalty. Shit like this ticks me off! Thanks for the great article.
LOL ~ you certainly make me laugh! I was smoking hot too when I heard this story. The more digging that I did ~ the more livid I got.
Dude, you gotta read it again and click on the link to my earlier post. Two cops conspired to help him commit the rape. . .Georgia didn’t press charges. . .he was surrounded by cops all night who were so thrilled to be around a Super Bowl winning NFL quarterback that he got a pass from the cops and the prosecutors.
I don’t know the legal drinking age in Georgia, but the co-ed he loaded with drinks before he raped her was just 20 years old.
I hear you. This really ticks me off too. Yet, I’m glad the NFL commissioner finally imposed a meaningful penalty. I just hope the six game suspension sticks after the news vans disappear.
It does sound like his NFL career might be toast. The Steelers tried to trade him, but so far they haven’t gotten any takers.