Big Ben's situation a cause for concern
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Backups Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon have the quarterback position "set" in face of the situation surrounding Ben Roethlisberger.
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- As the NFL converged on the Ritz-Carlton Hotel for the annual league meetings, high on the buzz list among club officials and coaches is one Ben Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger, accused in two different states of sexual assault in the past nine months, awaits word on whether he will be charged in Georgia after the latest accusation by a 20-year-old college student. Even if he is not indicted, a league source said Sunday, the Steelers quarterback could be compelled to undergo a formal clinical evaluation.
And if he is charged in the March 5 incident, the Steelers and/or the NFL can dole out immediate discipline of Roethlisberger even if there is no conviction, the source confirmed.
The Steelers, as team president Art Rooney has said, are concerned. Coach Mike Tomlin took it one step further upon his arrival here.
"I'm highly concerned for our franchise and for Ben personally," Tomlin told the NFL Network Saturday. Tomlin, scheduled to meet with two Pittsburgh reporters Sunday, instead became unavailable. It is unknown why he is concerned for the Steelers franchise.
Kevin Colbert, the Steelers' director of football operations, declared before the March 5 assault accusation that quarterback and tight end were two positions the Steelers would not consider drafting with high picks. He did not back away from that Sunday.
Colbert noted of Rooney's previous statements about the Roethlisberger situation:
"He made the statement for the organization and until anything changes we're going to live by that statement and our draft planning won't change."
The Steelers have only Roethlisberger and Dennis Dixon under contract at quarterback, although they are expected to re-sign unrestricted free agent Charlie Batch. Still, Colbert stuck by his previous assertion he would not draft a quarterback high.
"We can add depth anywhere," Colbert said, "except save the quarterback because we have a young backup there and hopefully we're going to get Charlie Batch back in the mix soon there. That position appears to be set."
Colbert would not comment on rumors the Steelers are considering trading with Tampa Bay for quarterback Byron Leftwich, who spent the 2008 season as Roethlisberger's backup after Charlie Batch's season-ending injury in training camp.
First Published March 22, 2010 12:10 am
