Schefter on D&C: Send message to Big Ben

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter made an appearance on the Dennis & Callahan show Tuesday morning and discussed the Ben Roethlisberger situation as the Steelers quarterback prepares to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. "Do I think that action is going to be taken against Ben? I do," Schefter said. "And the reason I say that is because he has now basically brought embarrassment and unwanted attention to the shield, the NFL shield."

Added Schefter: "I know there are a lot of players around the league watching to see whether a Super Bowl-winning quarterback is handled differently than some other players who have trotted through the commissioner's doors. And I think partly because of that, the league must send a message, and certainly the argument can be made that it's worthy of being sent at this particular point in time."

Schefter said that the Steelers might be the ones who end up suspending Roethlisberger rather than the league, and that would lead to a noteworthy difference in the appeal process. "I think Roger Goodell is a very thoughtful man," Schefter said. "I think he's going to take some time today, he's going to listen to Ben. And it's no assurance that he's going to be the one that does the disciplining. It could turn out to be that it's Rooneys and the Steelers themselves that discipline Ben Roethlisberger, which creates an interesting dynamic here, because if it's the Steelers that ultimately fine and/or suspend Ben Roethlisberger, then he would have the right to appeal that to an arbitrator, and it would go to a special master, who would make a ruling. But if the commissioner imposes the disciplinary action, i.e. fine and suspension, and Ben Roethlisberger wants to appeal that, then it goes back to the commissioner to review the appeal, and you know how that's going to go."

Schefter also talked about the Jets' acquisition of trouble wide receiver Santonio Holmes. Asked if the Patriots had a chance to make an offer to the Steelers for Holmes, Schefter said he didn't know, but, "There are other teams I spoke to [Monday] that did not know. ... My guess is, on the basis of that, is they didn't call the Patriots."

To hear the interview, click on the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page [1]. Check the It Is What It Is blog [2] later this morning for more highlights.