National Football League

Goodell to meet with Big Ben in wake of sexual assault claim

Published Mar. 22, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell plans to meet with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger about the star's off-field problems.

Goodell already has spoken with team owners about Roethlisberger, who is accused of assaulting a 20-year-old college student in a Georgia nightclub on March 5. Roethlisberger's attorney says the quarterback committed no crime. Roethlisberger has yet to be interviewed by police in Milledgeville, Ga., and charges have not been filed.

"We take this issue very seriously," Goodell said Monday at the NFL meetings. "I am concerned that Ben continues to put himself in this position.

"I spoke with the Steelers and (team president) Art Rooney about it and, at some point, I will be meeting with Ben at the appropriate time."

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he talks to Roethlisberger daily while the star quarterback is being investigated.

Tomlin says they talk ``about football, about personal life; that's the nature of our relationship.''

Tomlin says Goodell ``is well within his right in terms of meeting with him and I share his concern.''

Roethlisberger also is being sued by a woman who claims he raped her in 2008 at a Lake Tahoe hotel. He denies those allegations and has asked for counter-damages.

His latest alleged incident came during a 28th birthday party for Roethlisberger, who has a home about 30 miles from Milledgeville.

The two-time Super Bowl champ's lawyer, Ed Garland, said he has hired his own investigative team.

Rooney has said the Steelers are "in a situation we're going to let this investigation play out and then go from there."

Roethlisberger skipped voluntary workouts with the team last week.

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