Deshaun Watson Off the Field Thread v3: 11 games, $5M

[Chris]

The funny thing about numerous people calling this a "clown show" is that a decision to increase the suspension will be universally praised by basically anyone who isn't A. a Browns fan, B. Deshaun Watson, C. the highest ranking members of the NFLPA.

Pretty much everyone else thinks Watson got off way too light with 6 games and is in full throated support of a longer suspension.

Erm, I’m pretty sure it’s a clown show because Lord Goodell could have just ruled a year suspension from the start and saved everyone some time. But yeah.

 

[CBBI]

This is gonna end up at 12 games and a fine somewhere between 5 and 10 million dollars. Seems obvious at this point.

NFL Lawyer scuttlebutt may have been more accurate than initially thought.

Yeah the more I read, the more it feels like the NFL really wants to punish Watson financially.

It feels like the NFL is upset (although they can't outright say it) that the Browns structured Watson's contract so his money will be as minimally impacted by a suspension as possible.

Feels like Watson is staring down the barrel of the biggest fine in NFL history here. On top of whatever additional games.

 

[Triplethreat]

 

[bushwick_bill]

Only if a judge agrees to grant that. He could just as easily have his 6 game suspension start while this is all sorted out.

Which is the wise thing to do...

 

[Surge]

The funny thing about numerous people calling this a "clown show" is that a decision to increase the suspension will be universally praised by basically anyone who isn't A. a Browns fan, B. Deshaun Watson, C. the highest ranking members of the NFLPA.

Pretty much everyone else thinks Watson got off way too light with 6 games and is in full throated support of a longer suspension.

This is true. I don't know if anyone here has defended Watson as "innocent" but there was precedent and a deeply flawed (but substantive) case presented by the NFL. In the end, the process is what upset me. There's no reason for this to (1) take so long and (2) have so many damn ups and downs.

 

[Triplethreat]

The funny thing about numerous people calling this a "clown show" is that a decision to increase the suspension will be universally praised by basically anyone who isn't A. a Browns fan, B. Deshaun Watson, C. the highest ranking members of the NFLPA.

Pretty much everyone else thinks Watson got off way too light with 6 games and is in full throated support of a longer suspension.

Most of these people also assume guilt of all 24 accusers. Ludicrous shit really.

 

[Jscc]

Now this changes things considerably.

An indefinite suspension is wholly unprecedented and way outside the bounds set forth by Sue Robinson.

This is probably going to be a lengthy battle if the suspension does actually become indefinite.

It is going to be a very messy and painful court battle.

Unless they settle at 12 games.

Robinson said the new minimum for non-violent sexual conduct is 6 games and that it is proportional to Watson's unprecedented behavior under the CBA. 12 games is twice that. Indefinite may as well be infinite games. The NFL apparently does not feel bound by anything she said or did.

 

[Surge]

Someone else said it in the other thread, but I can't find it.

Is the minimum suspension 6 games now? Like that part is done and we're now only talking about what happens after that?

 

[CBBI]

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Most of these people also assume guilt of all 24 accusers. Ludicrous shit really.

I think you're telling yourself this so it's easier to dismiss those who disagree with you.

What do you even think those people believe he's guilty of doing in 24 cases? I'm sure there are some loonies on Twitter who think it's 24 counts of forceful, PIV penetrative rape--but that isn't representative of the majority of people.

Personally, I believe he was using Instagram to seek massages and then try and turn them sexual. I believe that he sexually harassed 24, if not more, women. I believe that he improperly propositioned them while they were fulfilling professional duties. Every single one of those instances is sexual harassment.

I believe that there were a couple of cases that we've heard about that stand out from the rest. Watson repeatedly removing his towel then touching the masseuse's hand with his cock is one of them. Watson humping the fucking massage table is another.

So, based on roughly two accounts of what I would call "sexual assault" and maybe a couple dozen accounts of what I would put in the "sexual harassment" category, I think six games is woefully insufficient.

I mean, as a selfish Browns fan, I kinda hope it's as few games as possible--but as a human being with a baby daughter, I hope the NFL starts to take a stand against this sort of behavior.

• I hope that Watson admits what he did.
• I hope he dedicates both time and resources to helping others not make the same mistakes he did.
• I hope he brings awareness to the issue
• Above all, I hope he doesn't do anything like this again.

What's done is done--no changing that. Those bullet points are, to me, the best possible outcome moving forward.

 

[Jscc]

Someone else said it in the other thread, but I can't find it.

Is the minimum suspension 6 games now? Like that part is done and we're now only talking about what happens after that?

No, Robinson's ruling was a recommendation and the 6 games is based on her findings. Now that the NFL appealed, we don't know what the actual length is anymore.

 

[Triplethreat]

I think you're telling yourself this so it's easier to dismiss those who disagree with you.

What do you even think those people believe he's guilty of doing in 24 cases?

I fully believe that he sexually harassed 24, if not more, women. I believe that he improperly propositioned them while they were fulfilling professional duties. Every single one of those instances is sexual harassment.

I believe that there were a couple of cases that we've heard about that stand out from the rest. Watson repeatedly removing his towel then touching the masseuse's hand with his cock is one of them. Watson humping the fucking massage table is another.

So, based on roughly two accounts of what I would call "sexual assault" and maybe a couple dozen accounts of what I would put in the "sexual harassment" category, I think six games is woefully insufficient.

I mean, as a selfish Browns fan, I kinda hope it's as few games as possible--but as a human being with a baby daughter, I hope the NFL starts to take a stand against this sort of behavior.

• I hope that Watson admits what he did.
• I hope he dedicates both time and resources to helping others not make the same mistakes he did.
• I hope he brings awareness to the issue
• Above all, I hope he doesn't do anything like this again.

What's done is done--no changing that. Those bullet points are, to me, the best possible outcome moving forward.

Yeah, I don’t think that’s at all what happened in 24 cases and I think there’s a very blatant reason the NFL only presented 5 to the judge.

The mass of the public also seems massively misinformed on the whole situation because a lot of people are essentially accusing Watson of rape when there was no such conduct.

 

[Sebastian]

For what it's worth, I think they'll settle at about 12 games and a record-breaking fine (which will still be less than 5% of Watson's contract).

Settlement hinges on how much the NFL would prefer not to fight a lengthy court battle.

And that hinges on what they think the NFLPA may, or may not, know and the fact that the NFLPA has retained Jeffrey Kessler, the premier sports labor law attorney who has taken major sports leagues to Court and won.

The twist is the request for an indefinite suspension. Of all the possible suspensions, it gives the NFLPA and Kessler the most wriggle room because it is literally unprecedented and is directly contrary to Sue Robinson's very lengthy and direct recommendation; and in this case WHY an indefinite suspension is not only not desirable, but beyond the pale as a punishment.

Courts give a lot of deference to the arbitrator and the NFL will have to explain why her findings are unsatisfactory. Moreover, it contrasts the treatment of randy Owners even more, which also is a point that can be contested given the CBA's language on equal treatment.

 

[Triplethreat]

For what it's worth, I think they'll settle at about 12 games and a record-breaking fine (which will still be less than 5% of Watson's contract).

Settlement hinges on how much the NFL would prefer not to fight a lengthy court battle.

And that hinges on what they think the NFLPA may, or may not, know and the fact that the NFLPA has retained Jeffrey Kessler, the premier sports labor law attorney who has taken major sports leagues to Court and won.

The twist is the request for an indefinite suspension. Of all the possible suspensions, it gives the NFLPA the most wriggle room because it is literally unprecedented.

Watson ain’t settling for double the suspension.

It’s not happening.

If I’m him I’ll take the hefty ass fine but I’m not budging off 6 games that the newly appointed judge and agreed upon CBA landed on.

That’s all the wiggle im giving the corrupt ass NFL or we’re going to court.

 

[2 For The Brew]

The funny thing about numerous people calling this a "clown show" is that a decision to increase the suspension will be universally praised by basically anyone who isn't A. a Browns fan, B. Deshaun Watson, C. the highest ranking members of the NFLPA.

Pretty much everyone else thinks Watson got off way too light with 6 games and is in full throated support of a longer suspension.

Sue Robinson would like a word but she’s already been cancelled after one episode and completely forgotten.

The actual decision that you claim will be “universally praised” was a decision to overrule an impartial expert specifically hired to provide an independent expert opinion.

But in 2022 I’ll concede that people like Florio and John Harbaugh - who aren’t biased at all - get respect and a retired Federal Judge does not.