AP GOES EVEN DEEPER IN THE TANK FOR THE STEELERS

Less than a week after the Associated Press penned a curiously pro-organization item regarding the contention by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger that he played Super Bowl XLIII with a concealed injury that turned out to be broken ribs, the wire service has done the Rooneys another favor. This time, the AP is pooh-poohing the Saturday incident involving kicker Jeff Reed. The charges of disorderly conduct and criminal mischief are brushed off as “summary offenses similar to traffic tickets.” Sorry, but that’s not how it works. Though Reed might not have done a perp walk, he is charged with real crimes under Pennsylvania law. And if he ultimately is convicted of or pleads guilty or no contest to either or both of them, he’ll face consequences far more severe under the league’s Personal Conduct Policy than if he’d merely gotten a traffic ticket. UPDATE: This version of the AP article, attributed to Joe Mandak, points out that the crimes carry penalties of up to 90 days each in jail. Those aren’t traffic tickets; they’re misdemeanors.