District Attorney Fred Bright announced that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will not face criminal charges after an investigation into accusations of sexual assault by a 20-year-old woman, and Bright had a personal message for Roeth
"The sexual allegation against Mr. Roethlisberger cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt," announced District Attorney Fred Bright.
Super Bowl hero Ben Roethlisberger won't be charged with raping a 20-year-old college student.
"There will be no arrest made, nor criminal prosecution of Mr. Roethlisberger," continued Bright.
But Bright had this message for the 28-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback: "If he were my son, I'd tell him, 'Ben, grow up!' Come on you are supposed to stand for something. You're the leader, you should be a role model. You don't need to put yourself in this position any more!"
After Bright's dramatic announcement, Roethlisberger appeared in the Steelers locker room and apologized.
"I'm truly sorry for the disappointment and negative attention I brought to my family, my teammates, coaches, the Rooneys and the NFL," he said.
But he had no message for the 20-year-old coed who claimed he raped her in the bathroom of a Georgia nightclub in March.
"I absolutely want to be the leader this team deserves, valued in the community, and a role model for kids," the quarterback continued.
The prosecutor revealed the accuser asked him to drop the investigation.
"A criminal trial would be a very intrusive personal experience given the extraordinary media attention that would be inevitable," Her attorney told prosecutors.
And legendary ex-Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw had something to say about his successor. "He doesn't like me and I'm learning not to like him!" the football legend told reporters. "He has got to realize who he is. He is an elite athlete in the National Football League. He is under a magnificent spotlight!"
