Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was permitted to return to practice this week only after undergoing a league-mandated psychological evaluation. Steelers kicker Jeff Reed revealed today that he was required to go through an evaluation, too.
“I’ve been to doctors, too, and psychologists and I take it seriously,” Reed said. “Because if someone thinks it’s that important to do something like that, then I treat it like that.”
Reed said the NFL mandated the evaluation after he was charged with disorderly conduct and public drunkenness in an October incident in which he confronted police officers who were citing Steelers tight end Matt Spaeth for urinating in public. Those charges were later dropped when Reed completed 40 hours of community service. Reed had previously been in trouble for damaging a paper towel dispenser and harassing the employees of a convenience store.
Reed said he’s determined not to get in trouble off the field again.
“How you deal with it and how you respond like any adversity, whether it’s on the field or off, is what kind of person you are,” he said.
