Pittsburgh football fans and football fans across the nation — even many people who aren't football followers — have been following all of the developments in the "Ongoing Saga of Ben Roethlisberger."

No doubt that interest will continue at least until National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell decides whether the league will discipline the Steelers' quarterback over the sexual assault allegations that were leveled against him in Georgia; Roethlisberger will face no criminal charges in the incident, Georgia authorities announced on April 12.

But while Roethlisberger has been the one in the spotlight, also troubling was that two law enforcement officers were with him at the nightclub where the alleged assault occurred — and that, for whatever reason, they didn't steer him away from trouble.

Both of the police officers, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Ed Joyner and Coraopolis officer Anthony Barravecchio, were described throughout the Roethlisberger investigation as "bodyguards," although that description has been denied.

Still, conduct such as that with which Roethlisberger is accused should not have occurred in the presence of police officers — even if they weren't actually near the Steeler signal caller when the assault allegedly occurred.

Based on their proximity to Roethlisberger, they should have recognized that a serious problem was evolving and should have helped him avoid the circumstances that have placed his upcoming season — and possibly his future with the Steelers — in jeopardy.

That said, it was reassuring to learn last week that the Pennsylvania State Police are looking closely at whether Joyner violated the agency's code of conduct at the time when the incident involving a 20-year-old college student occurred.

Lt. Myra Taylor, a state police spokeswoman, said an ongoing investigation would determine whether Joyner did anything "that could reasonably be expected to destroy public respect for the Pennsylvania State Police or confidence in the state police."

According to Taylor, Joyner had state police permission to work off-duty for the quarterback since 2005, his duties including answering phones and fan mail and driving and accompanying Roethlisberger to events.

Joyner's request to work for Roethlisberger doesn't include the term "bodyguard" nor is there any reference to personal protection or similar duties, Taylor said.

The possible negative impact of Joyner's conduct on the state police is of greater concern than Roethlisberger's negative impact on the Steelers.

Meanwhile, Coraopolis police Chief Alan DeRusso said Barravecchio is a friend of Roethlisberger's and was on vacation when he accompanied him to Georgia. DeRusso said Barravecchio is not suspended or under any kind of internal department investigation.

But an internal department probe could be justified on the grounds that Barravecchio was the "bodyguard" who escorted the victim to an isolated area in the nightclub where the assault allegedly took place.

The state police are worried about the potential loss of public respect and confidence stemming from one of their own being tied, even indirectly, to such an incident. So should the Coraopolis Police Department.

While some people might have wondered "What about the 'bodyguards'?" when details of the latest incident involving Ben Roethlisberger became public — he still is facing a lawsuit stemming from an alleged sexual encounter in Nevada — the people of Pennsylvania can at least be comforted by the fact that the state police aren't taking the situation lightly.

People have been saying that Roethlisberger should grow up and avoid conduct and circumstances that might put his future and football career in jeopardy. The two police officers should likewise have known to steer clear of situations that could jeopardize their law enforcement careers and reputations of their employers.

That means they should rethink their association with an uncertain personality such as Roethlisberger.