PITTSBURGH (AP)—The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Mike Comrie(notes) to
a 0,000, one-year contract, giving them a proven scorer who might be capable
of playing on one of their top three lines.

The Penguins, looking for affordable scoring help because they have little
salary cap space, signed forward Arron Asham(notes) to a 0,000, one-year contract
two weeks ago.

Comrie has scored 20 or more goals five times during nine NHL seasons with
Edmonton, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Ottawa and the New York Islanders. He has not
scored more than 13 goals since 2007-08.

Comrie will join the Penguins several months after marrying actress Hilary
Duff.

NEW YORK (AP)—Ben Roethlisberger’s(notes) suspension has been cut from six games
to four by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ star quarterback met with Goodell early Friday and
was told he could return on Oct. 17 against Cleveland.

Roethlisberger was suspended in April for violating the league’s personal
conduct policy, but Goodell said at the time he would review the player’s
behavior over the next few months. Goodell was satisfied that the quarterback
has followed the league’s guidelines and stayed out of trouble.

Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a Georgia college student
following a night of drinking in a Milledgeville, Ga., bar on March 5. He was
not charged by Georgia authorities.

The league said the “reinstatement is contingent on Roethlisberger
continuing to adhere to the program established by our advisors and avoiding any
further violations of the personal conduct policy.”

“You have told me and the Steelers that you are committed to making better
decisions,” Goodell said in a letter to Roethlisberger. “Your actions over the
past several months have been consistent with that promise and you must continue
to honor that commitment.”

Roethlisberger is the first player suspended by Goodell under the NFL’s
personal conduct policy who was not arrested, charged with or convicted of a
crime. However, Goodell said in April the policy allows him to impose such a
penalty when the league’s integrity and reputation are at stake.

Roethlisberger’s representatives at one point wanted the suspension cut in
half, to three games, but Goodell stipulated in April it would be a six-game ban
that could only be reduced to four games.

Steelers president Art Rooney accompanied Roethlisberger on his trip to see
Goodell, a meeting that took place in New Jersey. Rooney and his organization
kept in frequent contact with Goodell throughout the four-month process, during
which Roethlisberger underwent extensive evaluations.

Indeed, Goodell’s ruling was made in consultation with Rooney and the
Steelers, who were angered by the two-time Super Bowl winner’s behavior and
would have punished him if the league hadn’t.

“Commissioner Goodell informed us today that Ben Roethlisberger’s
suspension has been reduced to four games,” Rooney said. “Ben has done a good
job this summer of growing as the person that he needs to be, both on and off
the field. I am confident that Ben is committed to continuing in this positive
direction. As a team, our focus is now on preparing for the regular season and
getting off to a good start on opening weekend.”

Roethlisberger and Goodell met last month at the team’s training camp in
Latrobe, Pa. At that time, Goodell said he was encouraged by the progress
Roethlisberger was making and promised to make his decision on the term of the
suspension before the regular season began.

Goodell kept his word Friday.

While he is out, Roethlisberger can’t practice with the Steelers, nor can he
attend games or represent the team publicly in any way. He can’t have contact
with any member of the coaching staff or football operations personnel.

Roethlisberger plans to work with a California-based quarterbacks coach,
George Whitfield, and he’ll throw to some free-agent receivers who are looking
for work in the league.

The Steelers re-signed Byron Leftwich(notes) and planned to start him in
Roethlisberger’s absence. But Leftwich hurt his left knee in Thursday night’s
exhibition finale against Carolina. Depending on the extent of the injury,
Pittsburgh could be down to Dennis Dixon(notes) and veteran Charlie Batch(notes) while
Roethlisberger is suspended, and would certainly need to add another QB.

Pittsburgh hosts Atlanta, plays at Tennessee and Tampa Bay and then hosts
division rival Baltimore before an Oct. 10 bye. Roethlisberger can begin
practicing with the Steelers on Oct. 4.

Roethlisberger also is being sued in Nevada by a woman who says he sexually
assaulted her there in 2008. No charges were brought in that case, and it did
not figure in the NFL’s suspension.

AP Sports Writer Alan Robinson in Pittsburgh contributed to this story.