MNF crew criticized for calling Ben Roethlisberger’s sexual assault allegations “immature”

[ad_1]

Ben Roethlisberger presumably played his last home game of the regular season at Heinz Field on Monday night in front of an adoring crowd of Pittsburgh Steelers fans. It was a festival of love in and around Pittsburgh, but also on Monday Night Football where the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback was feasted and celebrated in a way worthy of someone who has spent 18 years with the same NFL franchise and established the Hall-of-Famous Figures.

Ben Roethlisberger takes a lap of honor with Steelers fans at Heinz Field. pic.twitter.com/cKAPTjgdXV

– The Return (@thecomeback) January 4, 2022

One aspect of Big Ben’s legacy that wasn’t discussed much throughout the evening, however, was the multiple sexual assault allegations made against the quarterback during his NFL career.

After being accused of raping a woman in a hotel room in Lake Tahoe in 2008, this case was settled out of court in January 2012. Then, in 2010, a student alleged that Roethlisberger had raped her. in a bathroom at a nightclub in Georgia. No criminal charges were laid against Roethlisberger and the Baldwin County District Attorney said at the time that they “did not have enough evidence to prosecute.” Still, Roethlisberger was suspended by the NFL for six games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, although that suspension was later reduced to four games.

Roethlisberger was never charged with any crime, but the allegations were part of his reputation after that. However, Ben and the Steelers put space between him and those headlines with a sustained win on the field and a legacy that has linked him to one of the NFL’s most legendary franchises.

Every now and then we would remember the allegations, like the time in 2016 when Cincinnati sports radio station 700 WLW broadcast a tacky “Big Ben Warning” to women on shows. But over time, they appeared less and less as Big Ben became an older statesman for the Steelers and the league.

So naturally, that wasn’t something we would expect ESPN or the NFL to want to shed light on at a game that was supposed to be a celebration of one of the most decorated quarterbacks of the 21st century. However, to deny the total existence of the allegations is to denounce them in its own way.

And it would have been one thing if the MNF team hadn’t referenced them at all, but the way Steve Levy, Brian Griese, and Louis Riddick verbally danced around them and softened their impact rubbed a lot of viewers. in the wrong way.

Ben was immature at times, ”Brian Griese said on the show. “He made mistakes. And this fan base loves him and will always support him.

While that last part may be true, there is a flippant ‘boys will be boys’ quality to the way he described the sexual assault allegations that only discourages many viewers.

Ben was sometimes immature. He made mistakes. And this fan base loves him and will always support him #MNFonESPN Advertisers

It’s a funny way to allude to the rape allegations against Roethlisberger. This is also appropriate because ESPN refused to report the original story for 2.5 days. pic.twitter.com/fQOxH1GjBz

– ChuckModi (@ ChuckModi1) January 4, 2022

Everything Ben Roethlisberger was immature made mistakes and fans love him and forgive him the spiel was pretty disgusting

– Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) January 4, 2022

He was immature at times, that’s one hell of a way to describe Big Ben’s claims.

– being struck down by a resolute roo (@theGarzanator) January 4, 2022

Ben Roethlisberger made mistakes according to Brian Griese. If he is so commendable, his mistakes would be discussed openly and honestly instead of youthful indiscretion

– Herb Lawrence (@ Ecnerwal23) January 4, 2022

Ben was immature at times when he was younger, that’s a really nice way to say Accused of Sexual Assault. Twice.

– Jordy? (@JordanOnRadio) January 4, 2022

Everyone on TV acting like Ben Roethlisberger is some sort of hero, not a serial sexual predator

– Amy, but Eagles in the playoff edition (@amy_shee) January 4, 2022

Calling him “immature” is also noteworthy in that this is how Ben himself referred to the allegations at the time.

The allegations also did not appear in an ESPN profile article on Sunday about Roethlisberger’s entire legacy with the Steelers, noting only that “at times he was mercurial and immature, but he never deviated from his ultimate goal. He wanted to win … “

Many advocates will note that, again, Roethlisberger has never been charged with any crime. You can also point out that he tried to redeem himself through religion and repentance and did a lot of charitable work in and around Pittsburgh. Yes, these things are also part of his heritage.

But as ugly as the allegations were, they were also a part of his NFL history, as much ESPN or the League might not want to discuss. Trying to eliminate them under the guise of “youthful indiscretions” only draws attention to them, whether you like it or not.

[ad_2]