Lara Logan, of CBS News, was recently attacked in Egypt's Tahir Square

During celebrations in Tahrir Square in Egypt this past Friday, CBS News correspondent Lara Logan was brutally attacked. According to CBS News:

On Friday, Feb. 11, the day Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down, CBS chief foreign correspondent Lara Logan was covering the jubilation in Tahrir Square for a “60 Minutes” story when she and her team and their security were surrounded by a dangerous element amidst the celebration. It was a mob of more than 200 people whipped into frenzy.

In the crush of the mob, she was separated from her crew. She was surrounded and suffered a brutal and sustained sexual assault and beating before being saved by a group of women and an estimated 20 Egyptian soldiers. She reconnected with the CBS team, returned to her hotel and returned to the United States on the first flight the next morning. She is currently in the hospital recovering.

There will be no further comment from CBS News and correspondent Logan and her family respectfully request privacy at this time.

Anyone who values a free press should be appalled by what happened. Unfortunately, I can’t say I’m surprised. Several reporters have been assaulted or detained during the coverage in Egypt. These incidents occurred at a rate that I don’t recall happening during any other news event.

Media companies provide security, but how can you make sure someone is truly secure when they are in a violent environment with tens of thousands of people? You can’t.

I’ve often watched the nightly news during winter storms that show reporters on location in dangerous weather telling us how bad it is out, and warning us to stay home. If it’s so bad, then why are they on the road? There’s no need. Again, this is just a local example.

In the case of the coverage of the Egyptian protests, it’s a risk media outlets should carefully evaluate. With anti-American sentiment all over the globe, are increased ratings really worth risking the health and safety of correspondents? If so, there has to be better, safer ways to handle reporting.

I know that a lot of reporters thrive on being in the middle of the action, but at a certain point, you have to wonder if the risks are really worth it.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wasn't charged in a sexual assault case, but was punished anyway.

Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault by a 20 year old woman. Police performed a thorough investigation and decided there wasn’t enough evidence to bring charges against him. Think about this: Not only was there not enough evidence to convict him, but there wasn’t even enough evidence to bring charges. Despite this, Ben Roethlisberger will be punished.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has decided to suspend Roethlisberger for the first 6 games of the season. The suspension will cost Roethlisberger nearly $3 million in salary, and could be even longer if the League isn’t satisfied with the progress of his behavioral evaluation. Goodell readily recognizes that Roethlisberger wasn’t charged, but in a letter, he points out other actions that evening that undermine the “integrity” of the NFL:

“As the District Attorney concluded, the extensive investigatory record shows that you contributed to the irresponsible consumption of alcohol by purchasing (or facilitating the purchase of) alcoholic beverages for underage college students, at least some of whom were likely already intoxicated. There is no question that the excessive consumption of alcohol that evening put the students and yourself at risk. The Personal Conduct Policy also states that discipline is appropriate for conduct that ‘undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs, or NFL players.’ By any measure, your conduct satisfies that standard.”

To summarize, Roethlisberger is being suspended for 6 games and losing nearly $3 million because he drank excessively and bought alcohol for a woman who was months shy of her 21st. Yet, Ray Lewis wasn’t suspended for any games after he was indicted on two counts of murder and later pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice.

Does this make sense? There isn’t enough evidence to bring charges against Roethlisberger, and he’s “guilty” of buying alcohol for a 20 year old. What does he get? 6 games and $3 million. Ray Lewis is actually indicted for the murder of two men and obstruction of justice, and he walks away with a $250,000 fine and no suspension. Isn’t there something wrong here?