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Steelers' Roethlisberger finishes behavioral evaluation
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Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
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Ben Roethlisberger has completed his behavioral evaluation, and he and the Steelers now await word on when the quarterback can return to full participation training with his teammates, a source told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Also, NFL.com reported Tuesday that the evaluation ordered by commissioner Roger Goodell was completed last week but that there could still be a recommendation the quarterback receive further treatment.
The evaluations are part of Goodell's suspension of the quarterback for the first six games of the season. If Roethlisberger fulfills the requirements as stipulated by Goodell, the commissioner has said he could reduce the suspension to four games.
The Steelers resume their practices Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, more than two weeks after their minicamp ended May 2, a weekend in which Roethlisberger stayed at the NFL-assigned clinic for his evaluation. They will conclude their spring practices June 10.
Roethlisberger's camp is optimistic he will be able to return to the team soon, but club officials are not sure of the timetable. The quarterback has been working out privately and is said to be in good shape and eager to mount a comeback in many ways and to meet the challenges ahead of him.
Goodell used the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy to discipline the Steelers' two-time Super Bowl quarterback for incidents that occurred March 4-5 in Milledgeville, Ga. A 20-year-old woman accused Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting her, but, after a month investigating the allegations, Georgia prosecutors decided not to charge him with a crime.
The commissioner ordered Roethlisberger to have a comprehensive behavioral evaluation before he could return to the team. Once he returns, Roethlisberger can participate in training camp but cannot enter the Steelers' facilities while he is suspended.
The Steelers placed wide receiver Limas Sweed on their injured-reserve list after he cleared waivers, and they signed another player to replace him on a roster that stands at 90.
Sweed had surgery on an Achilles tendon after it was ruptured on the final day of the team's minicamp May 2. After being placed on injured reserve, he cannot play for the Steelers in 2010.If for some reason, however, they reached an injury settlement and released him, Sweed could play for another team.
It is more likely he will spend the season on injured reserve and try to play in 2011. The Steelers waived him injured in order to place him on injured reserve so he would not count against their 80-man training-camp roster limit.
The Steelers signed first-year wide receiver Isaiah Williams, who signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie last year and was released before the season.
First Published May 12, 2010 12:26 am
