Roethlisberger will live with suspension

PITTSBURGH, April 26 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Monday he won't appeal his six-game suspension for a nightclub incident in Georgia.

Roethlisberger said in a statement that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell punishment "speaks clearly that more is expected of me."

"I am accountable for the consequences of my actions," the quarterback said. "Though I have committed no crime, I regret that I have fallen short of the values instilled in me by my family. I will not appeal the suspension and will comply with what is asked of me -- and more."

Roethlisberger went on to say missing games "will be devastating to me."

"I am sorry to let down my teammates and the entire Steelers fan base," he said. "I am disappointed that I have reached this point and will not put myself in this situation again."

The discipline came after authorities declined to charge the quarterback in a March incident in Milledgeville, Ga., in which a 20-year-old college student accused Roethlisberger of sexually assaulting her in a nightclub bathroom.

While no charges were filed, Goodell said the quarterback's conduct "raises sufficient concerns" and couldn't "remotely be described as admirable, responsible, or consistent with either the values of the league or the expectations of our fans."

Goodell also gave Roethlisberger a chance to reduce his suspension to four games if he undergoes comprehensive behavioral evaluation and is deemed to have made sufficient progress. However, a failure to cooperate could lead to a longer suspension.