Ben to meet with Goodell this week:

[43Hitman]

(http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-steelers)

(http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-steelers) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5536) is scheduled to meet with commissioner Roger Goodell in New York on Friday, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed on Sunday night that the two will meet soon but he declined to say when or where the meeting would take place.
Goodell said earlier this month that he will meet with Roethlisberger before the regular season starts in September and determine whether to reduce the six-game suspension to four games.







Goodell praised Roethlisberger for the way he's reshaping his life after meeting with the quarterback in early August and said the NFL would continue to monitor his progress before making a final decision on how long the suspension would be.
A reduction would allow Roethlisberger to play Oct. 17 at home against Cleveland rather than Oct. 31 at New Orleans.
"I'm very encouraged by what he's doing," Goodell said. "I'll take the period of time that I have before making the decision and make it probably right before the regular season."
Asked what the league still needs to see, Goodell said, "He's got to work through the program that's designed for him to help him. A lot of that is confidential, but he's done it and he's done it with enthusiasm. I think that's a good thing."
Goodell was vague when asked several times if Roethlisberger's suspension could be reduced even further. Later, league officials clarified that the commissioner's April 21 ruling specified a minimum of four games.
Either way, the Steelers will know before their opener against Atlanta on Sept. 12 how long they'll be without their two-time Super Bowl winning QB.
Roethlisberger didn't play very long in the Steelers' game at Denver on Sunday night, giving way to Dennis Dixon (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11390) after taking 11 snaps in the first quarter.
Roethlisberger was 4 for 6 for 67 yards, including a 47-yarder to Mike Wallace (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=12601).
After he was pulled, Dixon got his first significant playing time with the starters. Dixon has started only one NFL game, and he is expected to be Byron Leftwich (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4465)'s backup when the season starts and Roethlisberger's suspension begins.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5510770

[steeldevil]

Cut it to 3 Mr. Goodell. Ratings for the Steelers Rats game may double if you do. Its all about the money right? haha

[siss]

:censored::yell::frusty::frusty::mad::mad2::rant:
I hope I don't need to go to New York!

[venom]

Ive been saying for awhile to knock it down to 3 games. Game # 4 is HUGE for us . We should all pray to Allah to make that happen , lol .

P.S. Whats wrong with New York ?

[steel striker]

I like to see them cut it to two games but, I know who we are dealing with so it will be four games. Known steeler haters.

[SirHulka]

There is one other possibility. Goodell could make it conditional. If #7 stays out of trouble for 4 weeks, he's back for game #5. But if he has any problems during the first 4 weeks, it could be longer.

Just saying.

I fully expect it to be cut to 4.

[steelatl]

Here's where we all start praying that Goodell drops the suspension down to 2 games.

[SirHulka]

Well, you can kiss that prayer goodby. Nowhere has Goodell even hinted at less than 4.

[43Hitman]

He has said that he's impressed with the way Ben's handled it thus far. We can hope for two, but more than likely it will be 4 games.

[SirHulka]

Like I said, hope all you want, but Goodell has never given any kind of indication it'll be less than 4.

[stlrtruck]

Good Deal isn't going to drop it below 4. While it would be awesome if he would pull his head out of his arse and realize that these were just accusations against Ben and not actual criminal charges, bottom line is Roger was looking for someone to crucify and Ben became that target of discipline regardless of the fact that other league policy offenders faired much worse through the legal system.

And having Ben for the ratbirds game isn't going to happen because good ole jolly roger doesn't want the Steelers to have a chance to win the division or be poised for another run.

[Nadroj 20]

He wont go below 4 I agree. If he does then I'll will have to like him for about 4.5 seconds and that would just be weird.

[steeldevil]

He wont go below 4 I agree. If he does then I'll will have to like him for about 4.5 seconds and that would just be weird.

:rofl2:

[Butch]

He was in the Burgh when he was asked if he would reduce it to less than 4 so he, (fearing for his life) did not answer. This gave a lot of fans hope, but I aint buyin' it.

It will be 4 from Go To Hell Godell.

[steelpride12]

Im sorry, but no one should even hope he will lower it to anything under 4 games. Goodell made it apparent this is a huge deal even though he was never convicted and no way he would want people up his ass if he lowered it below 4 games.

[CanadianSteel]

YA I was kinda hoping some media types, and even the Steelers themselves would start to put some pressure on Godell for all the other "Non suspensions" and inconsistentcy in the conduct policy, before his final Ben decision comes down, but no-one seems to want to challange the commish on this.....
I was hopimg for 3 as well , that game 4 is a huge advantage for the ravens, they get theit Pitt road game without Ben, Bengals and Browns should be complaining as well.....