This means little. The charges against Big Ben sullied the good name of the NFL. He would have been suspended no matter what, guilty or innocent.
No doubt Roethlisberger's an immature jerk who continued to behave like a nobody freshman frat boy in college. For a person of his stature and wealth, he should have been acting like a choir boy, but chose to continue to go out and engage in risky business, womanizing and engaging in sexual practices in a public place.
It's would be in both Big Ben's interest and the NFL's for this to settle out of court. A drawn out rape trial against a Super Bowl winning QB would be a nightmare. In addition, in civil trials, the verdict of being held responsible is not as stringent as a criminal trial. No doubt he would have had his nuts handed to him.
You can settle out of court for a civil trial, but you cannot pay off an accuser in a rape trial. Rape is a crime against society and it is up to the prosecuting DA to continue with charges. In 3 cases, it was determined he would not be found guilty, so charges were no pursued.