Roethlisberger Breaks Silence, Will 'Be Smarter When It Comes To Certain Things'

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger issued no apology. He didn't ask for forgiveness from his fans, and he didn't lobby NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to reduce his six-game suspension.

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What the quarterback said Thursday in his first comments since being suspended April 21 by the NFL were revealing: He's ready to make major changes to a lifestyle that cast him as a role model for bad behavior by privileged pro athletes with a sense of entitlement.

"I've spent a lot of time evaluating and looking at my life both on and off the field," Roethlisberger said in brief remarks following a Steelers voluntary practice. "I think this is a time for me to kind of close the chapter of the last couple of years of my life and move on to a new one, kind of a new start. I'm kind of really excited about it."

Roethlisberger, accused twice of sexual assault in the last two years, pledged to make smarter decisions during what he called "the second chance" he's received to turn around his life. He also said he's working closely with Goodell to rehabilitate his lifestyle and repair an image that's been tarnished by his boorish behavior.

Roethlisberger, known for frequenting nightclubs with an entourage of friends, did not specify what changes he is making.

The first of two questions Roethlisberger addressed was from Channel 11 Sports reporter Bill Phillips, who asked the two-time Super Bowl champion about the public support he has received from his teammates.

"It's been great to read and hear from those guys and not just text messages and calls they send me but to read things they say in the media. That's why I say it's great to be out here with my brothers because they really are family to me," Roethlisberger said.

"Well, a lot of them are personal things, which is just something that I need to do," Roethlisberger said. "But it's been neat being able to really reevaluate my life and spend time with my family and kind of reevaluate and refigure what's important in life. ... It's a new chapter and I'm looking forward to it and it starts with football and I'm glad to be back out here." Roethlisberger did not apologize for his conduct in a Milledgeville, Ga., nightclub, where a college student accused him of sexually assaulting her March 5. But he said he has spent considerable time since then thinking about the type of person he wants to be.

"I've put a lot of thought into my life, the decisions that I've made in the past," Roethlisberger said. "I've been sitting at home thinking about things, and I've been working closely with the commissioner on ways to make changes, corrections. I'm looking forward to the second chance and the second opportunity -- not just in football, because I think everybody knows what you're going to get (from me) in football, but in life. I think that's kind of what's more important."

Roethlisberger offered no specifics about his dealings with Goodell, who ordered him to undergo an evaluation before clearing him to take part in the Steelers' final few spring practices. On Wednesday, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin also said he and the team were working closely with the quarterback.

Goodell has the option of trimming the suspension to four games if Roethlisberger does all the league asks him to do. The NFL has not revealed any specifics.

"(I'm) evaluating what I need to do, and be smarter when it comes to certain things," Roethlisberger said.

Previously, Roethlisberger's only comments since the Georgia incident were a statement he read April 12 in the Steelers' locker room after learning he wouldn't be charged and another he issued April 26 after being suspended.

On Thursday, Roethlisberger made brief remarks, then took two questions before a team publicist cut off his news conference. Neither question dealt with the Georgia incident, which led to no criminal charges but shamed the two-time Super Bowl winner and caused a dramatic drop in his popularity with the Steelers' sizable fan base.

While ticket sales weren't affected -- the Steelers have sold out every home game since 1972 and have a substantial season ticket waiting list -- the team acknowledged the Roethlisberger incident cast the long-admired franchise in a bad light.

To repair that, Roethlisberger is promising to be more accessible -- he rarely talks to Pittsburgh reporters for more than five minutes a week, except on game days -- and to be a better teammate. He also thanked the Steelers players who have answered countless questions about him while he himself was silent for six weeks.

Roethlisberger, often brusque and short in the past when talking to reporters, appeared friendlier and more outgoing.

"It's been a long time away, it's been hard, but I've been putting a lot of time and effort and working hard both on and off the field while I've been gone," Roethlisberger said. "I love football to death. I think it's meant more to be out here with my teammates and my brothers, my family if you will, (and) that's what's really been neat about getting back out here."

While the Steelers have three more voluntary practices next week, they have other team activities scheduled for two of them, so their on-field work is all but over until training camp starts July 30. Roethlisberger is permitted to take part in camp and preseason games, but cannot practice once the season starts and his suspension begins. "It's a new chapter and I'm looking forward to it," Roethlisberger said.

Previous Stories: June 2, 2010: Slimmer Roethlisberger Returns To Practice; Teammates ‘Excited To Move Forward’ May 27, 2010: Golfer Natalie Gulbis Talks Ex-Boyfriend Roethlisberger Before Oakmont Practice May 26, 2010: Some Taxpayers Want Ex-Roethlisberger Bodyguard To Face Consequences May 26, 2010: Goodell: Roethlisberger Review Coming Within Week May 25, 2010: New T-Shirts Take Aim At Steelers' Roethlisberger May 18, 2010: Life Without Roethlisberger: Steelers Search For Temporary QB May 17, 2010: Roethlisberger Participates In Teammates' Golf Tourney May 12, 2010: Trooper Appeals Ban On Working For Steelers' Roethlisberger May 11, 2010: Has Roethlisberger Worn Out His Welcome In Pittsburgh? May 6, 2010: Wexford Bar Owner, Fans React To Roethlisberger Sports Illustrated Article May 4, 2010: TMZ: Congressman Says Big Ben 'Is An Idiot' May 4, 2010: Coraopolis Officials Could Discipline Officer In Roethlisberger Case May 3, 2010: Report: Behavioral Doctors Evaluate Roethlisberger April 30, 2010: Steelers' Polamalu Talks To WPXI About Roethlisberger April 29, 2010: Eminem References Roethlisberger In New Rap Song April 27, 2010: Wecht: Could Roethlisberger's Concussions Be Blamed For His Actions? April 23, 2010: Pittsburgh Zoo Swaps Roethlisberger For Lemieux April 22, 2010: NFL Suspends Roethlisberger; What Did Goodell Say? April 20, 2010: Pittsburgh Steelers Acquire Leftwich For 7th Round Pick April 17, 2010: Former Coach Bill Cowher Comments On Roethlisberger April 16, 2010: Channel 11 Speaks With Attorney Of One Of Roethlisberger's Bodyguards April 16, 2010: Accuser: Roethlisberger Made 'Crude Sexual Remarks' April 16, 2010: Rooney: Steelers Ready To Punish Roethlisberger Now April 15, 2010: Target 11 Gets Roethlisberger's Georgia Accuser's Story April 15, 2010: Going Cheap: Roethlisberger Jerseys In Pittsburgh April 15, 2010: NFL.com: Steelers Open To Roethlisberger Trade Offers April 15, 2010: D.A. Details Roethlisberger's Entourage Night Woman Claimed Sexual Assault April 14, 2010: Roethlisberger Working Out With Steelers On South Side April 14, 2010: Roethlisberger Trade Rumors Fly; No Suspension Yet April 13, 2010: 'Big Ben Beef Jerky' Sponsor Cuts Ties With Roethlisberger April 13, 2010: Lawyer: 2nd Roethlisberger Nevada Incident Investigated April 13, 2010: Adoration Fades, Support Remains In Roethlisberger Hometown April 13, 2010: Bradshaw Cautions Big Ben: 'Fight The Temptation' April 12, 2010: Roethlisberger Talks To Media; No Sex Assault Charges Filed April 7, 2010: DA Gets Roethlisberger Case; 2nd Interview Never Happened April 7, 2010: Hines Ward Voices Support For Roethlisberger, Holmes April 1, 2010: Target 11: Ga. District Attorney To Get Roethlisberger Case Soon March 30, 2010: Roethlisberger Doesn't Show For Steelers' Off-Season Workouts March 26, 2010: Report: Manager Told By Accuser's Friend She Was In Bathroom With Roethlisberger March 26, 2010: Lawyers: Roethlisberger Accuser Still Cooperating With Investigators March 25, 2010: Roethlisberger's DNA Controversy: Did Police Ask For It Or Not? March 23, 2010: NFL Commissioner To Meet With Roethlisberger March 22, 2010: Tomlin Speaks Out On Roethlisberger Ordeal March 19, 2010: Steelers' Rooney: Wait And See On Roethlisberger Concern March 17, 2010: Georgia Officials Want To Talk To Roethlisberger's Other Accuser March 15, 2010: New Questions Surrounding Roethlisberger's Security March 12, 2010: WPXI Scopes Out Club Where Alleged Roethlisberger Assault Occurred March 12, 2010: Ga. Police Posed With Roethlisberger Before Alleged Assault March 12, 2010: NFL.com: Steelers' Roethlisberger On Rocky Ground With Rooneys March 12, 2010: Exclusive: Rick Earle Interviews Lead Investigator In Roethlisberger Case March 12, 2010: Attorney For Off-Duty Officer With Roethlisberger Talks To WPXI March 11, 2010: Maker Of 'Big Ben's Beef Jerky' Concerned About Allegations March 10, 2010: Roethlisberger’s Accuser To Return To Ga. College March 9, 2010: Roethlisberger Accuser Drops Out Of College, TMZ Reports March 8, 2010: Roethlisberger's Attorney: 'No Sexual Assault Occurred' March 8, 2010: Investigation Continues After Roethlisberger Accused Of Sex Assault

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