MKRob Sports

Milledgeville (Ga.) Police Chief Woodrow Blue says authorities hope to interview Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the next several days about an alleged sexual assault that took place early Friday morning.

Blue offered little other new information at a press conference Monday. Roethlisberger has not been charged with any crimes. Steelers president Art Rooney released this statement prior to the press conference on the team’s web site: “All of us in the Steelers family are concerned about the recent incident involving Ben Roethlisberger in Georgia. We cannot comment on any of the specifics until law enforcement’s investigation is concluded. Certainly, we will continue to closely monitor the situation.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Steelers organization is very upset that Roethlisberger is in this situation for the damage it has done to the Steelers brand.  This recent incident comes less than a year after a different woman, Andrea McNulty, accused Roethlisberger of sexually assualting her at Harrah’s Casino in Lake Tahoe.

No police charges were ever filed in that case but McNulty filed a civil lawsuit.

Roethlisberger hired Ed Garland to represent his interests in the investigation that became public on Friday, according to Mike Florio, editor of PFT and a Sporting News contributor.

When Ray Lewis was accused of murder, the Ravens linebacker hired Garland to defend him. With Garland’s help, Lewis avoided the more serious charges, and instead, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in June 2000.

The alleged incident with Roethlisberger occurred early Friday morning at Capital City — a club in Milledgeville, Ga. According to police, the alleged victim is a 20-year-old female student from Georgia College & State University.

Florio notes Garland’s focus now is trying to persuade investigators that charges should not be filed.