The Pittsburgh Steelers have a reputation: they are brutal; hard-hitting; uncompromising; trash-talking; rival-hating; unforgiving perennial winners. They play smash mouth football. They are tough, both on and off the field.
Over the years they have had some pretty vicious, even unsavoury, characters lining their dressing rooms, but one name that doesn't spring to mind when you scan back over their history is current Quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.
'Big Ben' as he is affectionately known, has, in the last five years, led the Steelers to two Superbowl victories. And he's only been starter for six seasons. Needless to say, he got out of the gate fast, and despite his two championship seasons, it was perhaps his first that sticks in the memory for his shock-value.
Roethlisberger stepped in to replace injured Tommy Maddox under center early in the season. The young QB led his young team to a surprising 15-1 record, losing only to the eventual Superbowl Champion New England Patriots in the AFC championship game.
Then came Superbowl XL - the most fitting of swansongs for long-time hero Jerome Bettis who retired on top of the world, winning in front of the his hometown crowd in Detroit, no less.
Then came a motorcycle accident that nearly killed Ben who had been riding without a helmet. The commissioner was pissed off.
Then came the first allegation that Roethlisberger has sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel room. The commissioner was pissed off.
Then another Superbowl, but now it's happened again, and this repeat 'offence' is threatening to sully the career of one of football's most promising youngsters.
A couple of weeks ago, Big Ben was out partying with some buddies in a student area near his home in Lake Tahoe. This is not against the law. Apparently, sometime during the night - so the accuser alleges - Ben assaulted a women and was sexually violent towards her in a club. The case has since been dropped, but the cloud lingers over Big Ben's head.
There are two obvious suggestions: either Ben has a serious problem but enough money to buy the silence of the women he's harassing, or, perhaps more likely given the fact that he is a two-time Superbowl winning Quarterback, a statuesque, good-looking young man and could probably choose from a line of beautiful women rather than having to force himself on them, he is the victim of slander.
If a woman cries wolf for money or attention, the world listens no matter who she's accusing. Having happened once, its all the more likely to happen again - Ben is a big drinker, liable to get himself into these situations and be exploited due to his reputation - deserved or not.
But then psychologists might say that it is precisely that picking-up women is so, so easy for a man of Ben's fame that this kind of alleged abuse is the only thing that appeals. Not to drag Tiger into this, but look at Woods' tastes: pretty extreme. For most of us, a bit of slap and tickle with the local bar-loitering strumpet would be just dandy, but I guess there's only so many times you can go down that road before the scenery all looks the same. I imagine that's what drove (ha ha) Woods to the levels of...quirkiness we've been let-in on.
So Roger Goodell - NFL commissioner and all round bad-ass - is currently reviewing the possibility of disciplinary action for Roethlisberger. He might be fined, even suspended or forced to undergo counselling or therapy. Fair? Well, it's probably in everyone's best interests. Let's just hope it all gets sorted out soon and that this is the last we hear of Roethlisberger's off-field activity - he's much more fun to watch.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day; Bar Centro; or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre.
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