How Much Trouble Can You Get Into? - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

When the Steelers cut Cedric Wilson after he was charged with assaulting his girlfriend, they said it was to send a message that such behavior wouldn't be tolerated.

Of course, when Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison was arrested on similar charges just a week before, the Steelers didn't do a thing--that was a case where it made sense to wait and see how the judicial process works out.

Dan Rooney got himself in trouble by trying to explain the differences away by saying that Harrison's case involved him trying to get his child baptized. He eventually sent out a "clarification" where he said he realized that no case of domestic abuse is acceptable.

But Jimmy Johnson explained it best when he was the Cowboys coach. There are rules for your stars, and rules for the rest of the team. A football team isn't fair, it's focused on winning.
To try to help out, here's a handy chart to explain what charges different Steelers would have to face to be cut. Life may not be fair, but the reality is that James Harrison's skill means he has a lot more leeway when he's arrested than Wilson did.

So here's a handy guide to the kind of infractions different Steelers would have to commit before being quickly released:

Ben Roethlisberger/Troy Polamalu: First or second degree murder, running a gambling ring, being discovered to be a Mafia don or being the ring leader for a internationally renown pit bull fighting team.

Hines Ward/Santonio Holmes: Bank robbery, stealing from orphanages.

James Harrison/Ike Taylor/Marvel Smith: Manslaughter.

Aaron Smith/Willie Colon: Money laundering, drowning puppies.

Kendall Simmons/Brett Keisel: Hit and run, embezzlement.

Najeh Davenport: Taking a dump in someone else's laundry basket (you can only do that once in a lifetime).

William Gay/Tyrone Carter: Speeding 20 miles over the speed limit.

Sean Mahan/Willie Reid/Verron Haynes: Parking ticket.