Ben Roethlisberger to meet with NFL commissioner about suspension Friday

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy could be shortened to four games by Commissioner Roger Goodell after the two meet in New York on Friday.

The league plans to review Roethlisberger’s behavior since he was accused of sexually assaulting a college student in a Milledgeville, Ga., bar March 5. Once it was determined, six weeks later, that Roethlisberger would not be charged by Georgia authorities, Goodell suspended Roethlisberger for the start of the season and ordered him to undergo an extensive evaluation.

Goodell said he would consider cutting the suspension to four games if Roethlisberger followed the league’s guidelines and stayed out of trouble. Although Roethlisberger probably will contend that his conduct has been exemplary and that the penalty should be cut further, perhaps to three games, NFL officials have emphasized that Goodell’s initial ruling specified a punishment of at least four games.

Roethlisberger played two series in the Steelers’ final exhibition game Thursday, completing four of six passes for 39 yards in a 19-3 win over the Carolina Panthers. Byron Leftwich, expected to start at quarterback during Roethlisberger’s suspension, sprained his left knee in the second quarter when he was knocked down as running back Mewelde Moore and safety Marcus Hudson collided near him.

The Steelers said Leftwich would have an MRI exam Friday, but the quarterback’s teammates sounded discouraged. Backup Charlie Batch called it a “serious” injury, and Dennis Dixon — now the probable starter — said he couldn’t talk to Leftwich because doctors were working on the knee so intensely.

As Dixon talked to reporters, Roethlisberger leaned close and offered words of encouragement.

“It’s very tough, kind of emotional,” said Roethlisberger, who cannot practice with the Steelers while he is suspended. “I’ve just got to go do what I’ve got to do.”

Jones-Drew hopes to return to practice

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who has sat out five consecutive practices, expects to be back at practice next week.

Jones-Drew denied an Internet report that said he had arthroscopic knee surgery, but he acknowledged that he has been “taking care of all the nicks and bruises.”

Jones-Drew started every game last season and finished with a career-high 1,391 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Selected Thursday exhibition games

Cleveland 13, Chicago 10: Highly touted rookie running back Montario Hardesty injured his left knee in the second quarter, a potentially major blow for the Browns’ offense.

“I hurt my knee making a cut,” Hardesty said. “I really don’t know what it is.”

He is scheduled to have an MRI exam Friday.

St. Louis 27, Baltimore 21: No. 1 overall draft pick Sam Bradford made another favorable impression, going six for six for 68 yards and a touchdown for the Rams. A.J. Feeley’s thumb injury gave Bradford his starting shot last week, and the rookie might have done enough to get the nod in the opener Sept. 12 against the Arizona Cardinals.

New York Jets 21, Philadelphia 17: Michael Vick, making his first start at quarterback since Dec. 31, 2006, led the Eagles to a field goal in two series.

San Francisco 17, San Diego 14: Manny Lawson and rookie Taylor Mays each had an interception, and rookie Anthony Dixon ran 46 yards for a first-half touchdown as the 49ers capped their first unbeaten exhibition season since 1992.

Kansas City 17, Green Bay 13: Matt Cassel and Brodie Croyle each led touchdown drives, and the Chiefs picked up their first victory in an exhibition game since 2008.