NFL 2009

[JStarr]

"Her lawsuit says she didn't file a criminal complaint because she feared Harrah's would side with Roethlisberger -- a friend of the hotel-casino's regional president John Koster -- and she would be fired." (Psst, that's rape culture.)

Isn't that also grounds for unlawful termination? Yeah, nothing about this is suspect at all.

This would be grounds for a suit that would make anything she could possibly get off of Ben look like couch change.

The article puts out that Ms. McNulty's subjecting herself to ridicule and scrutiny, but much of it could have been very easily avoided by, well, reporting the alleged attack right after it happened. If the alleged attack had happened earlier this week and there was a criminal complaint, she would have much more sympathy from any commenters, including us insensitive clods on the Internet. (Well, okay, Steeler fans who think the sun rises out of Ben's ass-crack, i.e. most of them, would still think she was a lying whore, or worse, a Patriots fan.) The waiting a year part is what brings out the real ridicule.

[zero]

60% of actual rapes go completely unreported... is it really THAT out of the realm of possibility that someone might wait? Someone who feared for their job as a result of it? Someone who, according to their side of the story, thought it was being handled? It's not like this woman called a press conference about it, she's not going out of her way to get into the spotlight, but when something like this pops up in the public record, it's going to get reported. As for "she went for his money rather than his freedom," she's asking for $300,000, which is tip money for a guy like Roethlisberger, just to cover medical expenses. And then you also have to consider the fact that only 16% of rape cases result in a conviction in a criminal court anyway, how much lower do you think that statistic is for someone who's rich and famous?

I'm not saying anyone's guilty of anything, but it pisses me off to see women get dragged through the mud any time they accuse any famous person of rape, like a star athlete is somehow incapable of such an act. People are quick to rush to Big Ben's defense here, but no one in the sports world is willing to listen to this woman's side of the story, which is far more detailed than anyone is giving credit for.

Either way, this story sucks because there's no good outcome. Either Ben Roethlisberger raped a woman and isn't sitting behind bars for it or this woman is lying about it and damaging the case of any woman who's seeking justice for her own rape. Incredibly unfortunate.

Edited July 26, 2009 by Zero

[gunnar hendershow]

60% of actual rapes go completely unreported... is it really THAT out of the realm of possibility that someone might wait? Someone who feared for their job as a result of it? Someone who, according to their side of the story, thought it was being handled? It's not like this woman called a press conference about it, she's not going out of her way to get into the spotlight, but when something like this pops up in the public record, it's going to get reported. As for "she went for his money rather than his freedom," she's asking for $300,000, which is tip money for a guy like Roethlisberger, just to cover medical expenses. And then you also have to consider the fact that only 16% of rape cases result in a conviction in a criminal court anyway, how much lower do you think that statistic is for someone who's rich and famous?

I'm not saying anyone's guilty of anything, but it pisses me off to see women get dragged through the mud any time they accuse any famous person of rape, like a star athlete is somehow incapable of such an act. People are quick to rush to Big Ben's defense here, but no one in the sports world is willing to listen to this woman's side of the story, which is far more detailed than anyone is giving credit for.

Either way, this story sucks because there's no good outcome. Either Ben Roethlisberger raped a woman and isn't sitting behind bars for it or this woman is lying about it and damaging the case of any woman who's seeking justice for her own rape. Incredibly unfortunate.

Couldn't have said it better myself. To make it about men, since that's all some posters here seem to care about. In the Catholic Church sex scandal, it took some men 30+ years to come out and actually make an accusation. They've spent most of their lives with those horrible memories bottled up. Rape victims can, and have, done the same thing. Would you want everyone to know you were molested when you were young? I don't think so. What makes you think a woman would want to wear the tag of a rape victim in public the rest of their lives?

[jrhodes]

60% of actual rapes go completely unreported... is it really THAT out of the realm of possibility that someone might wait? Someone who feared for their job as a result of it? Someone who, according to their side of the story, thought it was being handled? It's not like this woman called a press conference about it, she's not going out of her way to get into the spotlight, but when something like this pops up in the public record, it's going to get reported. As for "she went for his money rather than his freedom," she's asking for $300,000, which is tip money for a guy like Roethlisberger, just to cover medical expenses. And then you also have to consider the fact that only 16% of rape cases result in a conviction in a criminal court anyway, how much lower do you think that statistic is for someone who's rich and famous?

I'm not saying anyone's guilty of anything, but it pisses me off to see women get dragged through the mud any time they accuse any famous person of rape, like a star athlete is somehow incapable of such an act. People are quick to rush to Big Ben's defense here, but no one in the sports world is willing to listen to this woman's side of the story, which is far more detailed than anyone is giving credit for.

Either way, this story sucks because there's no good outcome. Either Ben Roethlisberger raped a woman and isn't sitting behind bars for it or this woman is lying about it and damaging the case of any woman who's seeking justice for her own rape. Incredibly unfortunate.

I admit I'm focusing on something trivial here but how do we know 60% of rapes go unreported if they're...well, unreported?

[NobBe Nobbs]

People are quick to rush to Big Ben's defense here, but no one in the sports world is willing to listen to this woman's side of the story, which is far more detailed than anyone is giving credit for.

Probably because it's been a year since the event allegedly took place. Give me a plot outline and a year and I could come up with a fucking novel. I'm not pro-Ben or pro-athlete, I'm anti-idiot who took a year to report a crime then didn't feel criminal charges were necessary and knew nobody was taking care of it because the security blew her off.

[zero]

I admit I'm focusing on something trivial here but how do we know 60% of rapes go unreported if they're...well, unreported?

"Unreported" doesn't always mean the victims keep it to themselves their entire lives, it just means the police aren't involved. This could be for a multitude of reasons - shame, guilt, knowing the perpetrator, not wanting family to find out, not wanting to be in the spotlight, fear of a tarnished reputation, not wanting to be reminded of the events, the fact that it's nearly impossible to prove rape in a trial. Many studies have been conducted about the subject.

Probably because it's been a year since the event allegedly took place. Give me a plot outline and a year and I could come up with a fucking novel. I'm not pro-Ben or pro-athlete, I'm anti-idiot who took a year to report a crime then didn't feel criminal charges were necessary and knew nobody was taking care of it because the security blew her off.

Did you just not read any of the things I've posted? I mean, essentially what you're saying is that anyone who waits to speak out about their rape is lying.

[NobBe Nobbs]

Probably because it's been a year since the event allegedly took place. Give me a plot outline and a year and I could come up with a fucking novel. I'm not pro-Ben or pro-athlete, I'm anti-idiot who took a year to report a crime then didn't feel criminal charges were necessary and knew nobody was taking care of it because the security blew her off.

Did you just not read any of the things I've posted? I mean, essentially what you're saying is that anyone who waits to speak out about their rape is lying.

Not everyone, but the longer they wait the greater the chance is that it's bullshit. Anybody with an ounce of sense can probably realise that the more time passes between the event and their reporting of it just makes it more difficult for the police to get anywhere with an inquiry, so when somebody waits a full year before claiming she was raped it strikes me as more than a little peculiar. But yes, I did indeed read what you said - she clearly didn't believe it was being handled because she's claiming the casino security blew her off and, let's face it, if she got fired for claiming she was raped the shitstorm that would cause would be apocalyptic in size.

[alldaws1]

Ahahaha, Derrick Mason retires so the Ravens sign Drew Bennett and then a few days later he retires too.

[GhostMachine]

Plaxico Burress and Antonio Pierce could possibly end up spending at least 3 and a half years in prison (that's the mandatory minimum sentence) ov er the gun possession. Ouch.

Ahahaha, Derrick Mason retires so the Ravens sign Drew Bennett and then a few days later he retires too.

I'm wondering if Bennett signed fully intending to retire and waited to announce it, rathen than deciding to after signing.

[Maxx]

Plaxico Burress and Antonio Pierce could possibly end up spending at least 3 and a half years in prison (that's the mandatory minimum sentence) ov er the gun possession. Ouch.

Ahahaha, Derrick Mason retires so the Ravens sign Drew Bennett and then a few days later he retires too.

I'm wondering if Bennett signed fully intending to retire and waited to announce it, rathen than deciding to after signing.

Fucking good, its the law and it'd be complete bullshit it Plax got off without jail time. Possession of an unlicensed handgun carries a minimum sentence and considering he shot himself with an unlicensed handgun, there's absolutely no reason he shouldn't be serving said sentence. I'm so fucking sick of athletes acting like their above the law and people being okay with it.

[GhostMachine]

Plaxico Burress and Antonio Pierce could possibly end up spending at least 3 and a half years in prison (that's the mandatory minimum sentence) ov er the gun possession. Ouch.

Ahahaha, Derrick Mason retires so the Ravens sign Drew Bennett and then a few days later he retires too.

I'm wondering if Bennett signed fully intending to retire and waited to announce it, rathen than deciding to after signing.

Fucking good, its the law and it'd be complete bullshit it Plax got off without jail time. Possession of an unlicensed handgun carries a minimum sentence and considering he shot himself with an unlicensed handgun, there's absolutely no reason he shouldn't be serving said sentence. I'm so fucking sick of athletes acting like their above the law and people being okay with it.

Oh, I'm all for Plaxico (and Pierce) going to the Gray Bar Hotel. And you've pretty much said exactly why. I was just unaware of what the minimum sentence is; I figured it would be around 2 to 2 and a half, not 3 and a half. And frankly I hope Plaxico gets at least 4 to 4 and a half if he's convicted rather than accepting a plea deal.

(Only thing worse than athletes acting like they're above the law is celebrities in general acting that way. Lindsay Lohan's skank ass should be in prison for all the shit she's done in the past)

[Tits McGee]

Plaxico Burress and Antonio Pierce could possibly end up spending at least 3 and a half years in prison (that's the mandatory minimum sentence) ov er the gun possession. Ouch.

Ahahaha, Derrick Mason retires so the Ravens sign Drew Bennett and then a few days later he retires too.

I'm wondering if Bennett signed fully intending to retire and waited to announce it, rathen than deciding to after signing.

Word is Bennett came into it healthy and feeling good then when he got home from the practice for the Ravens he then realized how bad his knees were hurting.. given the reason he decided to retire.

[GhostMachine]

Plaxico Burress and Antonio Pierce could possibly end up spending at least 3 and a half years in prison (that's the mandatory minimum sentence) ov er the gun possession. Ouch.

Ahahaha, Derrick Mason retires so the Ravens sign Drew Bennett and then a few days later he retires too.

I'm wondering if Bennett signed fully intending to retire and waited to announce it, rathen than deciding to after signing.

Word is Bennett came into it healthy and feeling good then when he got home from the practice for the Ravens he then realized how bad his knees were hurting.. given the reason he decided to retire.

Ah. Well, that sucks. I'm not a Ravens fan, so I couldn't care less about what it means for them, but I liked Drew Bennett. Always sad to see a good player retire due to injuries.

[Meacon Keaton]

Michael Vick is reinstated, well, sorta.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4359354

[JStarr]

Plaxico Burress and Antonio Pierce could possibly end up spending at least 3 and a half years in prison (that's the mandatory minimum sentence) ov er the gun possession. Ouch.

Ahahaha, Derrick Mason retires so the Ravens sign Drew Bennett and then a few days later he retires too.

I'm wondering if Bennett signed fully intending to retire and waited to announce it, rathen than deciding to after signing.

Word is Bennett came into it healthy and feeling good then when he got home from the practice for the Ravens he then realized how bad his knees were hurting.. given the reason he decided to retire.

Ah. Well, that sucks. I'm not a Ravens fan, so I couldn't care less about what it means for them, but I liked Drew Bennett. Always sad to see a good player retire due to injuries.

Agreed. I still remember the late-season run he had in '04 where it looked like he was going to be the next breakout receiver. A three-game run where he rolled up 28 catches, 517 yards, and EIGHT TD's.

It was the same run that made it seem that Billy Volek was a star QB in the making. Neither happened, but I always kept an eye on Bennett, wondering if he was ever going to get that lightning back.

[Lint]

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Jim Johnson, whose attacking defenses helped the Eagles to one Super Bowl appearance and five NFC title games, has died. He was 68.

Johnson had taken a leave of absence from the team in May as he continued to battle a cancerous tumor on his spine. The Eagles announced his death on Tuesday afternoon.

A veteran of 22 years as an NFL assistant, Johnson was considered one of the top defensive minds in the league, known for complex schemes that confused opponents and pressured the quarterback from every angle. His defenses consistently ranked among the best in the league, including last season, when the Eagles finished third in total defense and fell one victory short of the Super Bowl.

From 2000-08, Johnson’s Philadelphia defenses ranked second in the NFL in sacks (390). During his 10-year tenure, the Eagles made the playoffs seven times and he produced 26 Pro Bowl selections.

“This whole Eagles-Andy Reid regime here that’s taken place wouldn’t have been possible without Jim,” said Andy Reid, who hired Johnson to be his defensive coordinator shortly after he got his first head coaching job with the Eagles in 1999.

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“I’m not sure there’s a person that I’ve met that isn’t a Jim Johnson fan. He really represented everything this city is all about with his toughness and grit. That’s the way he fought this cancer.”

Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie praised Johnson for his leadership skills and the person he was.

“For 10 years, Jim Johnson was an exceptional coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, but more importantly, he was an outstanding human being,” Lurie said. “As an integral part of the Eagles family, Jim epitomized the traits of what a great coach should be—a teacher, a leader, and a winner … It was easy to feel close to him.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell echoed Lurie’s sentiments.

“He was a teacher to many players both on and off the field and devoted his life to the game of football,” Goodell said in a statement. “He had a positive influence on scores of young men, and leaves behind a wonderful legacy.”

On Sunday, the Eagles announced that Sean McDermott would replace Johnson. In his first news conference as coordinator, McDermott gave full credit to Johnson.

“What haven’t I learned from Jim?” McDermott said. “I don’t think it would be fair to Jim, in this setting, to try and limit in one statement, one press conference, the effect that Jim has had on my life.”

McDermott paid Johnson the ultimate compliment in describing the style of defense he wanted the Eagles to play: Johnson’s style.

“There is one thing I know, and that is that this system, it works,” McDermott said. “Jim has spent a considerable amount of time in his coaching career researching and finding things that work and finding things that didn’t work, quite frankly, and I’m going to respect that and we’re going to build on that. From there, we’ll add wrinkles.”

Coaches across the league paid homage to Johnson’s impact on their careers and the league.

“I loved Jim Johnson,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh, an Eagles assistant for nine seasons with Johnson. “He had a special ability to bring out the best in people while getting you to see the best in yourself. He saw potential and developed it. He made me believe I could coach at this level. In football, he was a pioneering and brilliant strategist, changing the way defense is played in the NFL. For me, he was a father-type mentor, and above all, a cherished friend. He belongs in the Hall of Fame. I will miss him so much.”

“He was a dear friend and a special person,” said St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, a member of the Eagles defensive staff under Johnson for eight seasons. “Our prayers and thoughts go out to his wife Vicki and their family. Jim meant the world to me, both personally and professionally. I am very blessed to have had the privilege to work for him and with him. The NFL has lost a good man.”

Giants coach Tom Coughlin did not know Johnson, but admired him from afar.

“He was great to work with and for, and he had his priorities in order,” Coughlin said. “His players loved to play for him and his coaches loved to coach with him. It is a sad day for the National Football League to lose somebody the quality of Jim Johnson. It is a sad note on which to start the season.”

Johnson had been treated for melanoma in 2001.

In January, he complained of back pain and coached from the press box in the Eagles’ playoff win over the New York Giants and in the loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC championship.

An MRI after the divisional playoff win against the Giants on Jan. 11 alerted doctors that something might be wrong. Following the Arizona loss, the team announced the cancer had returned and Johnson would undergo more treatments.

Johnson had recovered sufficiently to coach during the team’s first post-draft minicamp in May. But he coached from a motorized scooter during practices and said he wasn’t certain he’d be able to return for the season.

“Jim was tailor-made to coach in Philadelphia,” said Broncos safety Brian Dawkins(notes), who played 10 seasons for Johnson in Philadelphia. “He was a tough coach who wasn’t afraid to let you know how he was feeling, but at the same time, he cared about us deeply.”

Johnson is survived by his wife, two children and four grandchildren.

AP Sports Writer R.B. Fallstrom in St. Louis contributed to this report.

A sad day for Eagles fans

[Mr Evil Guy]

Yeah, RIP.

Also Brett Favre is staying retired if you all hadn't heard. He said he's still working on his throwing and working out though, so it's basically saying "I am not signing right now"

[SeanDMan]

Over/under he plays his first game this year before Vick?

[NobBe Nobbs]

Over/under he plays his first game this year before Vick?

That's not how over/under works, although I'd say the O/U on games Vick plays in would be about four.

[Meacon Keaton]

Over/under he plays his first game this year before Vick?

That's not how over/under works, although I'd say the O/U on games Vick plays in would be about four.

Four is a reasonable number. I'm still saying under, though. Maybe a push, but I won't expect him to play any more than that.