Roethlisberger also was ordered to undergo a comprehensive behavioral evaluation. Goodell will look at Roethlisberger's progress before the season and might consider reducing the suspension to four games.

However, a failure to comply with the NFL's ruling might lead to a longer suspension.

Roethlisberger is barred from attending any Steelers on-field, offseason activity until he completes the evaluation. He can participate in training camp and preseason games this summer as long as he is cleared by the evaluators and Goodell.

Roethlisberger is the first player suspended by Goodell under the conduct policy who hasn't been arrested or charged with a crime.

"He was disappointed by the number of games [of the suspension], as was I, frankly," Roethlisberger's attorney, David Cornwell, said Thursday on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike in the Morning."

Steelers president Art Rooney II said Wednesday, "I agree and support the decision the commissioner made today."

The Steelers have begun contacting teams about trading a top-10 pick for Roethlisberger, an NFL source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The Steelers have called the Rams, 49ers, Raiders, Bills, Jaguars, Seahawks and Browns, the source said.

The Rams and Bills are known to be not interested, the source said.

Rooney didn't deny that the team was shopping Roethlisberger, but didn't verify the report, either, when he answered a question during Wednesday's media conference call.

"We really can't answer questions about trades, particularly [right before the NFL draft]," Rooney said.

What the Steelers can't quantify is what effect Roethlisberger's absence will have on a team one season removed from winning its second Super Bowl in four years.

"You're going to have stumbling blocks," wide receiver Antwaan Randle El said. "You've got to be able to stay together and move through it, because if you don't, you'll have the problems later on."

There are plenty of championship pieces remaining from that team, including 18 starters, for the Steelers to contend again. The schedule appears to be accommodating. The Steelers play three teams that didn't make the playoffs this past season -- the Falcons, Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans -- plus the division rival Baltimore Ravens in their first four games.

Pittsburgh hosts the Cleveland Browns in its fifth game and travels to Miami to face the Dolphins in its sixth game. The Steelers have a bye in Week 5, meaning Roethlisberger might have two weeks to practice before he plays, if his suspension is reduced.

There's nothing to suggest NFL schedule makers were aware of the length of Roethlisberger's suspension in advance. Still, the first of the Steelers' five prime-time games isn't until Oct. 31 -- or after his potential return.

Some teammates don't doubt he will be back, either, despite the enormity of the suspension. Or the animosity that exists among a Steelers fan base that is disgusted with his behavior -- to some, a quarterback sack now means throwing Roethlisberger's No. 7 jersey into a trash can.

"I think if Ben has shown anything, it's that he's able to recover whenever he has been faced with adversity," safety Troy Polamalu said. "Everything is not always peachy. Not everybody has that unblemished image. If he has that repentance, the way he is going to have to have it to continue to live his life, this will be the great example of that."

Sitting out all six games would cost Roethlisberger an estimated $2.8 million of his $102 million total deal, though the penalty could be shortened to four games for good behavior.

The Steelers also were ordered to remit a portion of Roethlisberger's salary to the NFL for having two players suspended for violations of the league's personal conduct or drug policies. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes was suspended for four games before being traded to the New York Jets this month.

A second player being suspended requires the offending team to pay the NFL 25 percent of the second player's forfeited salary, with the maximum amount being $200,000.