The Steelers Collection of Violence Allegations Mounts

UPDATE: Despite earlier reports saying a police report was not forthcoming, a representative from the Orlando Police Department told Pro Football Talk that one is likely on the way.

With the news that Ben Roethlisberger will be missing today's start of the Steelers voluntary offseason workout program because he and his handlers feel Ben's presence would qualify as too much of a distraction to the rest of the team, the last thing the Steelers need is more players to become embroiled in controversy. And if I'm typing a lede as ominous sounding as that one, you know it's because that's exactly what has happened. Santonio Holmes, the MVP of Super Bowl 43 and the Steelers leader in receiving yards last season is being sued by a woman who claims during a March 7 incident at an Orlando nightclub that he threw a full glass of beer at her face when she refused to surrender a seat on a couch.

The complaint continues: "When confronted with the possibility of incarceration, defendant asked to speak with the plaintiff. He proceeded to inform the plaintiff that he was an NFL football player and that he could not face criminal charges. Subsequently, defendant offered to give the plaintiff money because he was an NFL star and could not get into trouble. Plaintiff felt pressure from the defendant and the Orlando Police Department not to press charges. Plaintiff, feeling pressured, made a short victim statement incoherently stating that she was hit in the face and bleeding near her eyes, however, intended not to press charges. The Orlando Police Department failed to write a police report."

The woman alleges that she approached a police officer after the attack, and that the officer refused to write a police report, though her statement indicating that she wished not to press charges may have had something to do with that. Instead, the woman, Anshonoe Mills, has filed a civil suit seeking damages for assault and battery and emotional distress.

This brings the amount of pending cases of assault against Steelers players to three. For the team, there's minor solace in the fact that none of these has yet to produce even a single criminal charge against a player, but there's no question that the mounting controversy will keep the attention of executives, coaches and fellow players from being completely focused on the task at hand: preparing for the upcoming season without worry of contingencies.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.