The never-ending Deshaun Watson suspension saga has continued all throughout the summer, though it has definitely been exasperated by his trade to the Cleveland Browns and subsequent 5-year, $230M fully guaranteed contract from the team. Yet, with Waston’s camp and the NFLPA making it clear that they will take the NFL to court if the QB is suspended for a full year, the NFL now has a difficult decision to make: how long do they suspend Watson?
This has been the story of the summer for the NFL, though not in a good way. One of the star QBs in the league has been accused by over 30 women (masseuses, to be precise) of misconduct while they performed massage therapies on the quarterback. And Watson’s $230M new contract, in the middle of these legal disputes, has riled up everyone.
Despite whether you think Watson is guilty or innocent, it is just a terrible look for the NFL.
Not only does it seem as though these 32 NFL franchises (and their owners) not care about these serious misconduct allegations, but it also appears that they are willing to reward accused (key word here) predators with hundreds of millions of dollars. The NFL is supposed to be a family-orientated brand, where every generation can sit down and enjoy a football game together.
Deshaun Watson and his image (as of this moment) makes a mockery of that. What parent/guardian wants to have their kids watch a Cleveland Browns game (I really should just end the sentence here) when the teams’ starting QB is accused of such heinous actions by so many women?
But as I said, nothing has been proven thus far. Yes, Watson has settled some of the cases I have mentioned, but that does not necessarily mean he is admitting his guilt. In fact, I would say that he is doing the opposite by settling. He clearly wants these accusations (whether they are true or false) behind him and forgotten.
Yet, a lengthy suspension by the NFL would do just the opposite. That is why Watson and the NFLPA are ready to fight any lengthy suspension with a long, drawn-out court battle. Does the NFL and Commissioner Rodger Goodell really want another lengthy, highly publicized legal battle with one of the league’s star QBs again?
The last lawsuit versus a star quarterback was Deflategate. That circus wrongfully (in my opinion, but we all know it’s true) asserted that Tom Brady intentionally deflated the game balls against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 Divisional Round Game. That was such a farce of a suspension that the NFL should be trying to avoid another situation like that at all cost.
Clearly, this Watson case is far more serious and complicated than deflated game balls. Yet, nothing has been proven or disproven in court as of today. So, can the NFL legitimately suspend a man who is innocent in the eyes of the law (as of today)?
I think it would be the best course, until the matter is resolved. But clearly Deshan Watson and the NFLPA do not agree.
What we can all agree on is that this situation is yet another mess the NFL has to resolve.
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