Big Ben About To Be Violated

A few seasons ago the NFL Players Union stupidly decided to give up their rights to due process for some reason and now Roger Goodell is more powerful than most dictators when it comes to handing out punishment.  I know most fans think this is great, but for someone that actually was once in a union I think it is complete BS.  At the very least players should have gotten a little something back from the league, like the ability to play football without their shirts tucked in or maybe the throat slash gesture could become legal again. 

Anyway, the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell appearing on the Dan Patrick Show Monday said Ben Roethlisberger has violated the NFL's personal conduct policy.  What does that mean?  It is now Big Ben's turn to get touched where he doesn't want too.  His wallet most likely thanks to what should be at the very least a multiple game suspension.  http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5113322  The Commish also told former Big Show member Patrick, "The issue here is respect to a pattern of behavior."  For a refresher course pattern of behavior suspensions under Goodell's watch have gone to Adam "Pacman" Jones for a full season although he never was found guilty in a court of law for doing things like "making it rain" at strip clubs or having bouncers at strip clubs shot.  So Goodell can do whatever he wants to Big Ben much like Big Ben allegedly does to really drunk college girls. 

Goodell has a reputation of a no nonsense guy, but dealing with Big Ben will not be easy b/c he is a QB and a damn good one too.  You don't want to go soft on your "stars" however; if you go too hard on him then you send a message that you think the guy is a serial rapist (which he may be).  Do not overlook the racial aspect of this situation because certainly the players will not.  This will be Goodell's first big suspension of a white player and remember many thought he went soft on the Patriots for "spygate."  All of these factors make Goodell's decision extremely delicate.  Then after the smoke clears the ball is in the Steelers court. How do you weigh the off field successes against the off-field embarrassment?  That will be the toughest call of them all.