Roethlisberger's suspension cut to 4 games

Ben Roethlisberger's suspension has been cut from six games to four by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' star quarterback met with Goodell early Friday and was told he could return on Oct. 17 against Cleveland.

Roethlisberger was suspended in April for violating the league's personal conduct policy, but Goodell said at the time he would review the player's behavior over the next few months. Goodell was satisfied that the quarterback has followed the league's guidelines and stayed out of trouble.

Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a Georgia college student following a night of drinking in a Milledgeville, Ga., bar on March 5. He was not charged by Georgia authorities.

The league said the "reinstatement is contingent on Roethlisberger continuing to adhere to the program established by our advisors and avoiding any further violations of the personal conduct policy."

"You have told me and the Steelers that you are committed to making better decisions," Goodell said in a letter to Roethlisberger. "Your actions over the past several months have been consistent with that promise and you must continue to honor that commitment."

Roethlisberger is the first player suspended by Goodell under the NFL's personal conduct policy who was not arrested, charged with or convicted of a crime. However, Goodell said in April the policy allows him to impose such a penalty when the league's integrity and reputation are at stake.

Roethlisberger's representatives at one point wanted the suspension cut in half, to three games, but Goodell stipulated in April it would be a six-game ban that could only be reduced to four games.

Steelers president Art Rooney accompanied Roethlisberger on his trip to see Goodell, a meeting that took place in New Jersey. Rooney and his organization kept in frequent contact with Goodell throughout the four-month process, during which Roethlisberger underwent extensive evaluations.

Indeed, Goodell's ruling was made in consultation with Rooney and the Steelers, who were angered by the two-time Super Bowl winner's behavior and would have punished him if the league hadn't.

Roethlisberger and Goodell met last month at the team's training camp in Latrobe, Pa. At that time, Goodell said he was encouraged by the progress Roethlisberger was making and promised to make his decision on the term of the suspension before the regular season began.

Goodell kept his word Friday.

While he is out, Roethlisberger can't practice with the Steelers, nor can he attend games or represent the team publicly in any way. He can't have contact with any member of the coaching staff or football operations personnel.

Roethlisberger plans to work with a California-based quarterbacks coach, George Whitfield, and he'll throw to some free-agent receivers who are looking for work in the league.

The Steelers re-signed Byron Leftwich and planned to start him in Roethlisberger's absence. But Leftwich hurt his left knee in Thursday night's exhibition finale against Carolina. Depending on the extent of the injury, Pittsburgh could be down to Dennis Dixon and veteran Charlie Batch while Roethlisberger is suspended, and would certainly need to add another QB.

Pittsburgh hosts Atlanta, plays at Tennessee and Tampa Bay and then hosts division rival Baltimore before an Oct. 10 bye. Roethlisberger can begin practicing with the Steelers on Oct. 4.

Roethlisberger also is being sued in Nevada by a woman who says he sexually assaulted her there in 2008. No charges were brought in that case, and it did not figure in the NFL's suspension.

Leftwich, tuning up for his anticipated Sept. 12 start against Atlanta, sprained his left knee in the second quarter of Pittsburgh's 19-3 preseason win over Carolina on Thursday.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Leftwich would undergo an MRI today, but the quarterback's teammates sounded discouraged. Backup Charlie Batch called it a "serious" injury, and Dixon said after the game he couldn't talk to Leftwich because doctors were working on the knee so intensely.

Leftwich, who started the first three games last season for the Buccaneers, was hurt on an 18-yard completion to Emmanuel Sanders as running back Mewelde Moore and safety Marcus Hudson collided near him with 10:25 remaining in the first half. Leftwich immediately clutched his knee in pain.

BRONCOS: Running back LenDale White, who was signed in the offseason as a backup, left Thursday's game against Minnesota with an injured ankle.

BROWNS: Rookie running back Montario Hardesty left his exhibition debut Thursday against Chicago because of an injured left knee. Hardesty, who missed all of training camp with a bone bruise, ran seven times for 25 yards and a 1-yard touchdown before leaving.

DOLPHINS-COWBOYS: Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland and Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant have made amends. About an hour before their teams played Thursday night, they shook hands and had what looked like a brief, pleasant conversation.

Ireland already had apologized to Bryant for having asked whether his mother was a prostitute during a pre-draft interview. This was their first face-to-face meeting since then.

LEGAL: A federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., has ruled against the Ravens and the NFL in a copyright dispute over the team's original logo.

A divided three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the commercial use of the "Flying B" logo in old game films infringes on amateur artist Frederick Bouchat's copyright. The panel sent the case back to federal court in Baltimore to determine whether an injunction should be issued.

A jury ruled in 1998 that the Ravens stole the logo idea from Bouchat, but refused to award damages. The logo was used from 1996-98.