The ongoing Deshaun Watson situation recently reached an important milestone, with the hearing during which the NFL and NFLPA presented their arguments for and against suspension taking place. A report from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio sheds light on some of the allegations Watson faced, and their absence from the NFL’s case made against the Browns QB. 
[RELATED: No Settlement Talks On Watson Suspension Length]
“It was recently reported that none of the five cases presented by the NFL involved violence, coercion or force,” plaintiff’s attorney Tony Buzbee detailed in a letter. That was to be expected, however, since, as he further writes, the two women who made that particular accusation have settled their cases with Watson, as have 18 others. More to the point, neither member of the pair spoke with the NFL during its independent investigation into Watson.
“The majority of the civil cases we filed instead alleged indecent exposure and assault; that is, touching without consent,” the letter clarifies. The scale of Watson’s actions during his time with the Texans have been well-documented this offseason, to the point where the first suit related to his alleged sexual misconduct has been filed against the franchise. Buzbee’s communication confirms that his legal team is “preparing to file” further litigation against the Texans, as expected.
With respect to the details of the NFL’s argument made during the three-day hearing, Buzbee writes that his team is not currently “privy to what was presented… but we expect we will know soon enough.” While the specifics of the league’s case will be critical to Watson’s on-the-field future, the report recalls the important fact that it is separate from the remaining civil litigation Watson faces. The court cases determining the outcome of the outstanding civil suits are scheduled to take place after the season.
While it will be a matter of months before Watson learns his fate on that front, the ruling on his behavior relative to the league’s Personal Conduct Policy should be handed down much sooner, marking another chapter in the top NFL story of the offseason.
COMMENTS OPEN……….this time
That’s handy
You’re wrong for that…lol
Correct, I believe Winona meant “handsy.”
Good job explaining the joke to everyone
My man
Leave the comments section open! If you can’t handle reading criticism about the situation or know how to handle debates, then don’t even go to the comment section!!
You might as well be telling people not to go to the site of a train wreck or four alarm fire…few can resist.
On a side note though, I’m going to create a fantasy football league on leaguesafe if anyone is down to join lol
If Ezekiel Elliott was suspended 6 games for his transgressions, Deshaun Watson should get as much at a MINIMUM, and probably much more. My guess is a year-long suspension at the end of which, he’ll have to apply for reinstatement.
He may not get any suspension. It’s not up to Goodell. It’s up to a judge and judges like evidence
And yet you continue responding with false information.
“The latest CBA, finalized in March 2020, incorporates a Disciplinary Officer who makes the threshold decision as to whether a player will be suspended, and for how long. The Disciplinary Officer is jointly hired and compensated by the league and the NFLPA, a key change to the prior protocol that was run completely by the Commissioner and/or those who report to him.
The process begins with the league notifying the player of the potential violation for which discipline may be imposed. And while it’s not spelled out expressly in the policy, the league undoubtedly will recommend or request a specific duration of suspension. The Disciplinary Officer then proceeds to evaluate the situation. The process can, but is not required to, culminate in a full-blown evidentiary hearing.
Things get interesting once the Disciplinary Officer issues a decision. The Commissioner, or his hand-picked designee, continues to have full authority over the appeal. Based on the language of the policy, the Commissioner has broad powers when it comes to reviewing, revising, or reversing the Disciplinary Officer’s decision: “The decision of the Commissioner or his designee, which may overturn, reduce, modify or increase the discipline previously issued, will be final and binding on all parties.”
There’s an important caveat. While the Commissioner has the power to “overturn, reduce, modify or increase the discipline previously issued,” the Commissioner cannot alter a decision to not discipline the player at all. The league office has indeed confirmed that, if the Disciplinary Officer finds that there should be no discipline at all, the case is over.
That said, if any discipline whatsoever is imposed by the Disciplinary Officer (including, presumably, even a fine), the Commissioner has the power to “modify or increase” the punishment to whatever he wants it to be.
Thus, the Commissioner continues to have full and final say over all discipline under the Personal Conduct Policy. The Commissioner’s powers become short-circuited only if/when the Disciplinary Officer concludes that the player should experience no discipline. If any discipline is imposed, the Commissioner can change it in any way that he wants. With no appeal rights beyond that.
The changes to the policy would have been much more meaningful if the Commissioner made the first decision and then independent appeal rights activated. The policy as revised simply cuts the Commissioner out of the middle of the process, putting the bulk of the work on the Disciplinary Officer before the Commissioner (or his designee) swoops in with full and complete power to do whatever he wants, unless the Disciplinary Officer decides that the player should not be punished in any way.
For Watson, the good news is that if he can persuade the Disciplinary Officer that no violation occurred, the Commissioner can’t do anything about it. If the Disciplinary Officer disagrees and imposes any discipline at all, the Commissioner can rip up the decision and replace it with his own. And Watson will have no recourse.”
It’s already been stated that this arbiter will decide, but if the league wants to appeal, it goes to their lapdog, Goodell.
Not if she decides on no punishment
There will absolutely be punishment. You’re living in a dream world if you think there’s any chance he skates. The NFLPA may get it reduced, but he’s gonna miss at the very least, 12 games.
You can wish that but it’s not happening. The NFL has already offered 12 games in a deal and Watson has turned it down. Florio says he wouldn’t be surprised if no punishment at all. Honestly, it’s looking better for Watson than it was a few weeks ago
Cope
You and Floria the guy is a hack that got lucky and he got some guy drunk and signed him to a contract. You are delusional. It is your right to hold the stance you have. You have doggedly let your delusion belief be known. Are you going to crawl into your doggie house and snuggle into your flea infested doggie blanket on your flea infested doggie bed? I have absolutely no respect for your stance but I do respect your sticking to your stance though.
Sing it girl
Inappropriate touching seems to be the worst thing he’s done. I can guarantee you that everyone on here that has had sex with a woman before (which is probably a 1/3 of you) has done inappropriate touching before. If a woman ever stopped you, that means it was inappropriate
And I can guarantee you’ll continue to post nonsense in defense of a sexual deviant that has done more egregious acts than the fanboy in you wants to believe. You’re the one kid whose growth and development stunted years ago and is still holding out hope Santa Claus read your Christmas list and Desean reads your comments in between searches for the massage parlors in Berea.
You have no clue as to what he has or hasn’t been “offered”. Florio saying it has does not make it so. Til the judge hands it down and the inevitable appeal is complete, this is all conjecture.
I’m just reporting stuff that was written. Funny how you want to believe certain things and not others. I believe that because Watson’s team hasn’t negotiated a compromise means that they have a solid case. He will definitely play this year, which is what I’ve been saying all along. Did he do some things that he shouldn’t have? Yes I believe he did but I don’t believe it equals a huge suspension. Honestly if Watson wasn’t the rich athlete, I doubt this would even been reported. Seems minor to me
Lol imagine how someone who says and believes the stuff you say will feel in a couple years when he’s washed up cracked out bye bye. Theyll blush when people talk about the deshaun watson era and pretend they didn’t support it. Pretty hilarious actually
Cracked out? Because he inappropriately touched some massage therapists? You can wish and hope for it to happen but Watson will be a Brown for a very long time. Come back Pot Roast when he gets 0-8 games.
Pot roast?
I thought that was your username. I knew it was roast something. You must be a cook
I love food that’s for sure
The league should have it bargained with the union so there is no appeal and what is handed down is served. It is common as you know a game or 2 will be dropped off. They should also not be able to game the situation to get suspended a couple of games down the road that they feel is easier.
Hopefully it is appealed and Goodell ups the sanctions.
Goodell will make a half hearted appeal to save face if there is no suspension but we’re taking about a guy who re-instated Josh Gordon six (or was it seven?) times. He won’t be playing hardball to prolong this mess. He wants it in the rearview mirror so he can get back to his pet project of expanding the NFL beyond America.
Like I said elsewhere, I think this time he would rule with a heavier sanction. He was called out by the committee regarding Snyder and responded his hands were tied on an owner. I have to believe he doesn’t want to deal with the backlash on this one if it’s deemed soft and/or he re-offends.
The committee are a bunch of tax wasting, grandstanding clowns who weren’t elected to meddle in NFL issues. I think Goodell will escape most of the backlash since it is a league outsider, Linda Robinson, making the ruling.
There’s a vast difference between marijuana use and sexual assault though
Valid point but the big knock on Goodell is that there has never been any consistency to his disciplinary decisions or actions.
I hope as part of Watson’s punishment the league makes Brownsbacker9 his personal masseuse and the ONLY one he allowed to use regardless of the situation. (Even if Watson is into that, the rest of us win by it keeping BB9’s hands too busy for anything else.)
That is really stupid
No stupider than your comments or soliciting dozens of masseuses on instagram (young females only I might add) when you’re a professional athlete who has access to team medical staff, trainers, and … masseuses.
My comments are all true. I’d been saying that Watson will get at most, an 8 game suspension. He may not even get that. Did you read the article? He exposed himself and had unwanted touching. Hardly rape like everyone was accusing him of.
Still sexual assault just take the “aggravated ” moniker out
Very minor
Nobody has said rape please. Now you are the martyr here. That is funny.
A judge threw it out for zero evidence of any sexual assault . He didn’t sexually assault anyone
Outhouse….Apparently it wasn’t assault according to 2 Grand Juries. You should have come forward sooner with your evidence that it was
R Kelly avoided sexual assault and child pornography charges for nearly 30 years for lack of evidence. Doesn’t make him innocent or less of a creep
You can’t compare Watson to R Kelly. Give me a break. You can’t even compare him to Trump or Clinton. He is accused of unwanted touching.
R Kelly is very much the twisted pervert Deshaun Watson is, I could very easily imagine these two hanging out together looking for teenage masseuses. They’re destined to be cellmates and intramural teammates down the road.
I upvote this.
Who cares?
You do. Or you wouldn’t have responded.
Huh? You’re not making any sense brother
Of course he responds, he feels compelled to respond to any comment regarding his beloved Brownie. Once a comment is posted a bell rings in his moms basement and he feels he must reply immediately.
I hope we have an article every week about this perv just to read BBS replies. I love a good laugh.
Hi might already have the job.
You probably play fantasy football
Oooh. Burn.
Wow..good one..that hurt..lol.
Well, that does make you a geek
Once again you assume things and have no idea about anybody or anything. If I did play fantasy football..be better than fantasy watson.
Oh, there’s no doubt about it. You play fantasy football.
At least he’s not a joke.
And I’m going to guess that at least 90% of the people that use this site/app play or have played fantasy football. There’s really nothing “geeky” about it. All it requires is having friends … or maybe a job? I mean yes, you can take it too far… but you can also take defending a sexual predator too far. Get a life man, and maybe stay away from women. You’re clearly no where near their side.
I’m on the side of innocent until proven guilty. Ever heard of that?. Open up your eyes and read material other than football stat books. Get educated man.
He is guilty and you know it. You just don’t want to say it because your a browns fan… that is funny. Saying someone is a browns fan haha… if he wasn’t guilty he wouldn’t have paid those other 20 girls off. Just pointing out the facts of the case.
Guilty of what? Were you there? I do believe he exposed himself and asked for sex. He even touched some without consent. That’s not much
If he wasn’t guilty he would have went to court instead of settling with 20 of the 24 ladies. Plus it’s against the law to expose yourself too. Sexual assault for touching the ones that didn’t want to be touched as well. If you want to go the legal counsel path.
Have you ever touch a woman who told you to stop? That’s what Watson did. These women didn’t realize anything happened until a lawyer told them
No, I have respect for women and I understand what NO means. That stupid SOB doesn’t understand stand simple English I guess. But what I am reading you are saying it’s totally okay to do this to women…
He stopped when they said no. Educate yourself on what happened before you comment
Right!!! Exposure and unwanted touching is stopping-you might want to educate your self before commenting.
Were you hiding in the closet? You perv you. The NFL never proved coercion, force, threat or violence. Those are the 4 things needed for assault. You really need to go to the authorities with your proof.
If you weren’t a browns fan you would be says different things about this guy. He is wrong and you know it.
I wouldn’t have said anything about him. Never complained about Roethlisberger when he did his years ago
Fantasy football is for geeks? You know not only do guys play for large amounts of money. There are also free or pay to play leagues. Get this though I bet your perv friend plays it because many players do from all sports. Better check in with Big Daddy Watson if he plays before you smack talk others.
So because people win prizes, it doesn’t mean it’s geeky? People win money for best Star War costumes too. Isn’t that geeky?
very curious why the PA suddenly cares about the cases still being pending. they haven’t seemed to care in the past.
Where does it say that in the article?
Um, it said in a previous article the PA reccomended no punishment until there was an outcome in the cases.
They’re still recommending no punishment
Although the NFL hears from limited victims, ignoring public perception and the remaining victims would be disastrous for the league. Watson being made a example of is the league’s only option.
For exposing himself during massages?
For sexual assault you clown. We know you want his wiener all over you, but some people don’t.
He’s innocent. Go back to your basement
A poster in their basement is less sad than a man in his late 60s ignoring his family to play white knight for an accused sex offender.
Early 60’s and I’m a white knight for for justice. Watson has been through the investigation and the Grand Juries agreed that there is not enough evidence to bring to trial. The NFL didn’t prove anything either, according to reports. But everyone on here must have been hiding in the closet and watching because they have evidence Watson did something so horrible as to ask women for sex. Free Deshaun Watson.
A white knight for a skid mark/shyt stain of the league, I bet you believe OJ is innocent too.
Where is the justice for the ladies for a speedy trial ? Just because he is a football player he get special attention and rights and the ladies don’t get justice in a timely manner? BS NFL should have already put him on the CE List.