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“Your quarterback is a rapist.”

Every Pittsburgh Steelers fan has heard the same, common rhetoric that’s been applied to Ben Roethlisberger since a 2010 suspension tied to a pair of sexual assault allegations. Both cases were dismissed, Roethlisberger wasn’t charged with anything and all parties involved seem to have moved on from a 2008 incident in Nevada (a civil suit) and a 2010 incident in Georgia (where an investigation resulted in no charges being filed).

With five years having passed and no legal ramifications plaguing Roethlisberger, it would seem as if the statute of limitations on hating the two-time Super Bowl champion have expired. But, you can’t tell a Ravens or Bengals fans, “the charges were dropped, forget about it,” just like you can’t tell a Steelers fan “Ray Lewis was acquitted of all wrongdoing.” When people hear “accused of sexual misconduct” they instantly think “rapist”; and why shouldn’t they?

In the United States, sex crimes are reported only 16 percent of the time. If over 80 percent of victims prefer to remain silent, people tend to take the issue extremely seriously when people do come forward. Heinous crimes committed by Jerry Sandusky and the alleged transgressions of Bill Cosby show how sensitive and emotional the topic of sex crimes are with the public; and how seriously we as a society should be taking them.

The point is, even though Roethlisberger wasn’t proven guilty of committing a crime, simply being associated with the act is a permanent and unredeeming black mark on his image.

Several weeks ago, we discussed the perceived villainy of the New England Patriots. If the Patriots had committed shady acts that rubbed people the wrong way, people would not have cared in Tom Brady and Bill Belichick had a .500 winning percentage and zero Super Bowls. Instead, the duo have won four Super Bowls and have built a dynasty. Boom, instant villainy.

Roethlisberger plays for one of the most popular sports organizations on earth. He’s achieved great individual success. He’s won two Super Bowls. He’s considered among the league’s best quarterbacks and he’s now the second highest paid player in the NFL. He settled down and started a family with a local woman who works as a physician’s assistant. How could a Browns, Ravens, Bengals, Patriots or any other Pittsburgh rival not be unhappy with Roethlisberger’s life?

People hate Ben Roethlisberger because they look at him and see a villain, some even see him as a criminal, and yet he keeps continuing to succeed.

And this is what Steelers fans don’t understand: there’s nothing Roethlisberger can do that will make him universally adored like Andrew Luck, Calvin Johnson or, more appropriately, Troy Polamalu. Think about it: if Ray Rice hand-delivered a box of chocolates to your front door, would you greet him with a joyous expression of friendship or slam the door in his face and mumble, “woman beater” to yourself as you walked back to the couch?

In 2009, Donte Stallworth struck and killed a pedestrian on a Miami highway after a night of drinking. He blew a .12 when he took his breathalyzer test. He was charged with manslaughter and handed a 30-day jail sentence. Sportscenter certainly didn’t cover the event like Roethlisberger’s sexual assault allegations or the ridiculous, around-the-clock DeflateGate coverage. It’s because Stallworth wasn’t as visible as Tom Brady or Roethlisberger.

For some reason, we’ve devolved from a society of jabbing rivals with innocent, “your team sucks” remarks to calling opponents murderers and rapists, regardless of legal standing. Adrian Peterson is almost universally scorned for committing an action many parents witnessed, shrugged their shoulders and said, “meh, that’s parenting for you.”

Just when things begin to settle down, “South Park” airs an episode about sex addiction where Roethlisberger is portrayed as a bumbling ignoramus with a loose grasp on the English language. Or, maybe “The League” shows an episode where he’s compared to Michael Vick. When you’re in a prominent position, like the quarterback of an NFL team, people will latch onto any bit of negative press they can get. Unfortunately for Roethlisberger, his stigma is the worst label a person can wear.

Even in Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger has spent much of his career as a reasonably polarizing figure. After a motorcycle accident he suffered in 2006, he rubbed some people the wrong way by failing to deliver a wholly apologetic response and putting himself in that position in the first place. The rape allegations dug even deeper. The alleged struggle with team management in 2012 widened the divide. When Ian Rapoport reported Roethlisberger would seek a trade if his contract terms weren’t met after the 2013 season, he lost more support, among those who believed it.

Nearly 5,000 yards and one of the best offensive seasons in team history later, many in Pittsburgh are taking a more fair weather approach with the divisive quarterback. His jersey sold well last season, and will do so again this year. He’ll be an early MVP candidate and the catalyst behind the Steelers’ success or failure in 2015.

There’s no question Roethlisberger is guilty of making several poor decisions over the course of his career, maybe none poorer than those two incidents in 2008 and 2010 (charges or not, it appeared sleazy at the least). Although he wasn’t formally charged, Roethlisberger didn’t fare so well in people’s court, as he’ll now play the rest of his career with the stigma of a deviant attached to his legacy. He’s owned the mistake and acknowledges he put himself in a poor position, but he’s been sincere and most importantly, very quiet off the field over the last half decade.

All Roethlisberger can do is continue to be Ben; a family man, a Pro Bowl quarterback a master of his own domain. The younger, more thoughtless Roethlisberger – led by arrogance and testosterone – seems to be gone. The former first-round draft pick is a dozen years into his career and has plenty of good football left in his arm, and with a plethora of offensive weapons at his disposal, he isn’t likely slowing down anytime soon. His success will lead to continued animosity and hatred, and truthfully, Roethlisberger may very well be a pariah outside the friendly confines of the three rivers for the remainder of his playing career, but more than anything, he must continue succeeding, continue pushing forward, and continue delivering success to a Steelers roster that desperately needs him.

Love him or hate him, Ben Roethlisberger still has some unfinished business in the NFL, and he’ll be in the spotlight for quite some time.