Latest Roethlisberger allegations give Rooneys cause for concern

By Jason La Canfora | NFL.com


Regardless of the outcome of the latest sexual assault allegations to surface against Ben Roethlisberger, the franchise quarterback's standing and reputation in the public domain is already under scrutiny, and the Steelers organization has been rocked by the scandal.
The Rooney family, owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers, have long distinguished themselves with class and dignity. They are embarrassed by Roethlisberger's alleged incident with a 20-year-old college student on March 5 in Milledgeville, Ga., not to mention previous rape allegations that surfaced last July, regardless of culpability.

In Pittsburgh, these sorts of scenarios aren't tolerated and, according to team and league sources, Dan Rooney, the U.S. ambassador to Ireland, and Art Rooney are both dismayed that Roethlisberger would again put himself in a position that could tarnish the organization. The Rooneys take any allegations of this nature very seriously, and there are several people within Pittsburgh's organization who believe another such misstep could be Roethlisberger's last as a Steeler.
"He's a great player, but no one is above the team here," a team source said. "That's the Steelers' way. Anything like this happens again, and it's over here. I've never seen the Rooneys this upset."
Roethlisberger left Georgia -- where he has an offseason home -- shortly after the allegations were made, and sources said he traveled back to Pittsburgh to meet with team officials. Roethlisberger spent considerable time with them explaining what occurred. He denies any wrongdoing, and sources close to Roethlisberger maintain that the facts will indicate no culpability.
Even so, Roethlisberger's past off-field habits have raised eyebrows within the organization before, but there is hope that this latest issue will perhaps prompt some changes.
For any young, rich, outgoing athlete -- much less a two-time Super Bowl winner -- to enjoy the spoils of his success is only natural. But with such a high profile come certain pitfalls inherent to celebrity, and overcoming them now is a must for Big Ben.
There is no imminent meeting scheduled between Roethlisberger and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, according to sources, although there very well could be down the road. The investigation in Georgia is in its early stages, and the league will wait for those proceedings to play out. Goodell, at some point, could recommend counseling for Roethlisberger, even if the outcome of this latest investigation exonerates him. Some within the Steelers front office anticipate that happening regardless.
As someone who is the face of the franchise, the expectations are high for Roethlisberger. This is especially so in Pittsburgh, a true mom-and-pop outfit in the best sense of the term and one that is intrinsically tied to the fabric of the game.