Last night Ben Roethlisberger played what is assumed to be his final game in Heinz Field. Roethlisberger walked out of the tunnel to a special ovation, heard the roar of the crowd when he kneeled in victory formation, and had an emotional post-game interview.
Everyone was praising Big Ben and his legendary career including the Monday Night Football Broadcast crew.
A part of Roethlisberger’s legacy that was not touched on specifically were the sexual assault allegations made against him earlier in his career.
Roethlisberger was accused once in 2008 and again in 2010 of raping women. The first was settled out of court in 2012 and the criminal charges were not pursued in 2010 due to the Baldwin County district attorney claiming at the time they “don’t have enough evidence to prosecute.” He was however, suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.
These allegations, although never charged, became a major part of the Steelers QB’s reputation in the minds of many. Due to multiple Super Bowls and the continued winning of the franchise others seem to overlook them. As Roethlisberger aged, his image also changed along with fans’ opinions of him. He grew into the living legend type role as he remained in the league even in his older age.
Every now and then opposing fans or markets will bring up these accusations. 700 WLW, a sports radio station in Cincinnati, once ran a “Big Ben warning” for women in 2016.
During the MNF broadcast, as the announcers were praising the quarterback, the allegations seemed to be the elephant in the room. While it may have been uncomfortable to mention, Brian Griese did say this, “Ben was immature at times,” said Brian Griese during the broadcast. “He made mistakes. And this fan base loves him and will always support him.”
Many viewers did not respond well to the comments and believed Roethlisberger was being wrongly admired. They were upset that he seemed to be being treated like a hero while they believed he should be looked at in less appreciation.
While it should again be noted that he was never charged with any crimes, these allegations are in fact something that will always be attached to the legacy of the Steelers’ QB.
