Then, 49ers owner John York, CEO Jed York, director of player personnel Trent Baalke and other executives called Singletary to a meeting. They had a trade in place with the Steelers for Ben Roethlisberger, who had recently been accused of sexual assault for a second time. Singletary vetoed the deal.
He felt an obligation to Smith, and he also believed he needed to stand for what he had been preaching.
“I had been telling the team I wanted a team of character,” he says. “I felt I had to be true to that. But if I could do it again, I’d do it differently.”
Not if no one actually in the end wanted to be a partner to the trade....they could have just released him I guess. Instead after not being able to find a partner for a trade they worked out a suspension for Ben with Goodell. No charges were ever brought up on Ben. Players before and after Ben have done far worse and nothing ever done but the Rooney's had to have the "moral high ground" for Ben to stay. I wonder what would the Rooney's have done if Ben simply got the players association to fight the entire issue for him. They simply were not part of any of it. Would the Rooney's have released Ben?Meh I think I remember rumors that they were shopping him … but i think it was more exploration than serious… Singletary might be conflating an actual trade agreement with their proposal to get him…
It’s likely that if they were going to move him they would have
They didn't. Would they have? Possibly/probably if charges and conviction would have taken place...Not if no one actually in the end wanted to be a partner to the trade....they could have just released him I guess. Instead after not being able to find a partner for a trade they worked out a suspension for Ben with Goodell. No charges were ever brought up on Ben. Players before and after Ben have done far worse and nothing ever done but the Rooney's had to have the "moral high ground" for Ben to stay. I wonder what would the Rooney's have done if Ben simply got the players association to fight the entire issue for him. They simply were not part of any of it. Would the Rooney's have released Ben?
Yep. The world looks different when you are raising a teenage daughter at the time.Truth be told....At the time....I was in favor of moving on from Ben...
I believe the Raiders were also mentioned as being a possible trade partner at the time..
Not to go back into the whole debate, but when I read the account, I was convinced it was cooked up. Almost no rape victim says he "had sex" with me, which is what she said. Her story changed several times, and her friends were all the ones egging her on. By the way, ever notice the "DTF" pins never came up in the national media? I read the police reports, after the initial report came out I was like **** this guy, he's gotta go, but after reading every report I could find, I changed my mind and haven't had reason to think of it differently since. Was he most likely an entitled ******** out looking for booze and *****? Yep. Did he rape anyone, I don't think he did. Did he learn to not be in those situations going forward, yes, yes he did.Yep. The world looks different when you are raising a teenage daughter at the time.
To Ben's enormous credit, he got it. He realized he was being an ***. He probably didn't do anything criminal, but he was probably guilty of being an ***. Most of these overindulged athletes never do get it.
That's why I wish this **** wouldn't even come up anymore. He has proven he got it.
He didn’t, there was a six game suspension being pended until the investigation was completed. They wouldn’t have traded with a suspension being there. Mr. Rooney (Dan and Art2) gave him a lot to think about in staying as a Pittsburgh Steeler. Dan himself advised Goodlell to give Ben a suspension, so maybe they floated the trade rumor to let Ben see how serious his situation was. Fortunately, his family conducted a Intervention to put his life back in order, and get his partying head out of his ***.I would really question if Singletary had the power to veto a trade that the owner and gm wanted to happen.
Oh wicked thingsHe didn’t, there was a six game suspension being pended until the investigation was completed. They wouldn’t have traded with a suspension being there. Mr. Rooney (Dan and Art2) gave him a lot to think about in staying as a Pittsburgh Steeler. Dan himself advised Goodlell to give Ben a suspension, so maybe they floated the trade rumor to let Ben see how serious his situation was. Fortunately, his family conducted a Intervention to put his life back in order, and get his partying head out of his ***.
Yeah, I remember the Raiders rumor.Truth be told....At the time....I was in favor of moving on from Ben...
I believe the Raiders were also mentioned as being a possible trade partner at the time..
No one wanted him. I think the Raiders showed interest, but the story going around was they wanted "bonus" incentives let's say if they were to take him, too rich for the Steelers.Meh I think I remember rumors that they were shopping him … but i think it was more exploration than serious… Singletary might be conflating an actual trade agreement with their proposal to get him…
It’s likely that if they were going to move him they woulde have
It’s something he is going to have to live with. Outside of Steelers fans and appreciative football fans, he isn’t well liked. However, he’ll be fine. Ex athletes are not sought after news like actors and musicians.Yep. The world looks different when you are raising a teenage daughter at the time.
To Ben's enormous credit, he got it. He realized he was being an ***. He probably didn't do anything criminal, but he was probably guilty of being an ***. Most of these overindulged athletes never do get it.
That's why I wish this **** wouldn't even come up anymore. He has proven he got it.
Singletary is known for being a straight shooter. I highly, highly doubt he would make a story up for no apparent reason or gain to come from it.I would really question if Singletary had the power to veto a trade that the owner and gm wanted to happen.
OkSingletary is known for being a straight shooter. I highly, highly doubt he would make a story up for no apparent reason or gain to come from it.