Sue Robinson’s long-awaited ruling came down Monday, but that may well only be part of this saga instead of a conclusion. The NFL and NFLPA have 8am CT Thursday to file appeals, via ESPN.com’s Jake Trotter (on Twitter).
While the NFLPA said it would not appeal Robinson’s ruling, it would be unlikely the union stands down in the event the NFL appeals. Roger Goodell or a commissioner appointee will oversee an appeal, as outlined in the 2020 CBA. The NFLPA has been linked to taking this matter to court, should Goodell bump this ban up to a full season.
From the NFL’s side, an appeal is under consideration. Its statement indicated a review of Robinson’s ruling is ongoing (Twitter link). While the NFL did not make its push for a full-season suspension a secret, the NFLPA is still displeased with Robinson’s decision for a six-game ban, per Josina Anderson of CBS Sports (on Twitter). The union “firmly maintain[s]” Watson should not have been suspended for his alleged sexual assault and/or sexual misconduct against more than 20 women.
In her report, Robinson labeled Watson’s pattern of nonviolent sexual conduct as “more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL.” Watson had denied all allegations of wrongdoing, but the report indicates “It is difficult to give weight to a complete denial when weighed against the credible testimony of the investigators who interviewed the therapists and other third parties.” Robinson’s ruling also prohibits Watson from seeing a non-team-approved massage therapist for the rest of his career.
Robinson sided with the NFL by stating Watson violated the personal conduct policy on all three counts (sexual assault, conduct that endangers a person’s well-being and safety, and conduct that undermines the NFL’s integrity), ESPN.com’s Jake Trotter tweets. The gray area of this being deemed nonviolent sexual conduct came into play regarding the six-game suspension, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes Robinson’s findings — including a passage that deems it is more likely than not Watson lied to NFL investigators — could point to Goodell having enough justification to increase the Browns quarterback’s suspension length.
Given the NFL’s push for a full-year ban and its effort to protect against PR backlash, it is not hard to see a scenario in which Goodell follows through with adding games to Watson’s suspension. This would open the door to an NFLPA countermeasure that moves this to court. The CBA and recent precedent would not be on the union’s side in court, but a legal process playing out could delay Watson’s ban. Tom Brady and Ezekiel Elliott were able to play under injunctions; Watson could end up doing the same. Brady and Elliott, however, did end up serving their commissioner-determined suspensions eventually.
I don’t understand why the league and the union make it so hard in their CBA. Agree to a roster of transgressions, their definitions, and what the penalty/consequence is for each one. Then in each disciplinary accusation by the NFL, the two sides present its case before an agreed-upon independent arbiter whose decision is final and binding. It makes no sense to have a system in which the league makes an accusation about a player and then, after an arbiter has ruled, not only can appeal that decision to itself but then ultimately is the final decision-maker as well, as is the current system. The disciplinary system in the NFL is ridiculous and the NFLPA should have stood for better on this issue.
The way they do contracts is pretty ridiculous as well.
I agree that the current system is ridiculous, but I don’t think there’s any way the NFL and PA could have come to an agreement on any number of a list of transgressions that would at least be 15 items long and their respective penalties. Even then, I doubt “coercing masseuses to touch your junk” would have been on the menu.
Your points are well-taken. Yes, it wouldn’t be easy coming up with a list they could agree on. But isn’t that what the VERY high-priced lawyers on each side are paid for? Isn’t that what negotiations are about? And yes, something so specific as “coercing masseuses to touch your junk” would never appear on the roster I suggest, but how about “settling lawsuits regarding unwanted sexual advances” or something like that? I’m not a lawyer, and I know a player could be accused unfairly of something, but those instances are very rare and this would give players further incentive to fight a baseless suit (and stay away from self-imposed difficult circumstances as most of the rest of their teammates do). My point is that not only is this discipline system the most odd and strangely-conceived I’ve heard of, but the list I suggest would provide clarity and proportion to discipline for players instead of this ridiculously uneven system now employed, in which a drug-abuser gets 4 games and a player practicing gross sexual imposition on an unheard-of number of women gets 6 games.
They wouldn’t be able to agree on one of those transgressions, I’m afraid, no matter how long or short that list of transgressions happens to be or what it includes…
That is exactly what they do and that is actually why they got this so wrong.
So busy staring at the trees, they missed an entire forest.
You know maybe the NFL wussed out by trying to go to an arbitrator?
MLB went to an arbitrator with Ryan Braun and they didn’t get what they wanted and Ryan was a cheater and a crook!
It’s something that was agreed to in 2020. Long before this case
They also agreed to the appeal process in 2020.
They did extensive interviews including the victims therapists? They were looking for ways to find him innocent…20 women? Come on man!
Season and a half ! Grow some Balls Roger !
Did you read the article? Do you not realize Roger had zero to do with the discipline in this case up to this point?
He means he wants Roger to step up and overrule the ban and make it much, much longer like it should be. Roger has final say.
What a joke the NFL have given more harsh suspensions for use of Marijuana. This guy should be out for at least a season.
After your third or fourth test. NFL gives you plenty of chances in that regard. You get busted 3 or 4 different times after being told by the league multiple times hey you’re gonna get in trouble if you continue that’s really on you lmao.
Josh Gordon doubles down on this…
Dexter Manley would also like to chip in, but he never learned to read or write.
They also know if they have not failed a test know within a few weeks when they are testing. Not sure how long it takes to get out of urine and if you can’t sustain for that long you have a real problem.
I also like to point out the stupidity of the NFL. Roger was doing his pre Super Bowl talk with reporters. He said there are a lot of questions with pot and it’s long term affect. If they want to know the long term affects just look at guys my age.
He says they don’t know the long term affects so they must be worse than the long term affects of Percocet and Vicodin. Because they know those long term effects. Just the stupidity of the league. So this doesn’t surprise me at all.
You need someone to tell you that what Watson did was wrong? You need to someone to tell you that smoking weed while it was banned was wrong? Shouldn’t grown adults know these things? The guy should never play again. Trever Bauer should never play again. People like this can’t be leaders and can’t be clubhouse or locker room leaders. And anyone who looks up to them are clowns. Yes, people deserve second chances when they make a mistake. But 20 possible mistakes under the same circumstances isn’t one mistake. That’s 20.
You sound mad bro. I’d boycott the NFL if I were you
And you’re a loser. Always have been always will be
So. In 2017 Roger suspended Dallas RB Elliott for 6 games. That from an investigation when the player was in college, not even an NFL player? This came shortly after Jerry questioned Rogers autority?
Watson has over 20 woman accusing him as a player on an NFL team? The efforts to show equality and respect to sex and gender just went out the window! A 6 game suspension? Neither player I speak of were charged criminally so this is strictly under the “personal conduct” policy.
Each violated it but clearly an agenda on behalf of Roger not protection of the shield? Maybe you can see why several years back Jerry went after Rogers power? One can debate that has been a Roger vendetta ever since.
He was an NFL player when the accusations were levied. He was accused of domestic violence 3 times. He was accused of being physical.
What are you talking about? They have their first trans cheerleader. Equality achieved.
that’s messed up 6 game suspension isn’t that bad was looking forward seeing deshawn Watson play against Detroit in week1
Considering the Browns don’t play Detroit this year, you may be looking forward a little longer
Cleveland Ohio….
Where the fans play harder than the players do.
I don’t live in Cleveland
Cleveland Browns….
Where the fans play harder than the players do.
Just for you puddin.
Wonder what the penalty is for using a non- team approved massage therapist. And what would stop the Browns from approving all massage therapists in Cleveland?
It also illustrates why this was such a cowardly and just confused ruling…
She hid behind “it’s spelled out in the CBA” to give him such a short suspension BUT then just invented out of whole cloth the power to dictate when and how he gets massages because she knew what a predator he is and likely to repeat his “egregious pattern of behavior”.
Sentencing guidelines have made federal judges into robots, largely.
Goodell’s job is to protect the brand, that’s not her job.
Robinson said: “more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL.”
Yet he only gets 6 games?! That’s pathetic, and the proof is easy to see because the NFLPA isn’t planning to challenge that.
Calvin Ridley will miss more time for gambling, which for all the Watson apologists saying “non-violent! Non-violent”, also isn’t violent. And spare me the it’s spelled out speech. Everything doesn’t need to be spelled out. If Watson didn’t know what he did was wrong, he’s either really stupid or he’s just that big of a piece of trash.
I get your point about a 6 game suspension seeming to be ridiculously light here, but this is exactly why I keep suggesting a list or roster clearly spelling out unacceptable behavior and the consequences for each instance. Regarding Calvin Ridley, while his violation may be “non-violent,” his gambling on games goes right to the issue of the integrity of the game, without which all of this is moot. Ridley seems like a troubled young man and I hope he gets help, but his punishment is appropriate. He could have been kicked out of the league permanently.
Don’t think Goody can turn 6 games into a full season without undermining the entire “arbitration” process and setting a dangerous precedent which the NFLPA would absolutely have to challenge, which could easily lead to Watson starting week 1 (which apparently noobody wants)
At best he could squeeze 8 games and maybe the NFLPA accepts it and moves on , most likely they just accept the ruling and if the PR gets too bad blame the “process” .. Let’s not kid ourselves, This league has BEEN surviving it’s players, coaches and owners shameful actions and controversies. This league WILL continue to prosper .. They will survive Watsons drama and Goody will do what’s best for business, MOVE ON …
Nope. Time to take a stand and suspend the NFL if they don’t punish Watson like he deserves. How much longer are stupid fans going to keep supporting a league that employs the worst people in society and not only give them a pass, but cheer them on while they make more money than your families will see in a lifetime?
If you continue to be a fan then you can’t complain. It means you accept sexual predators, murderers, people who drive drunk and kill people, and all the other illegal crap they do.
I think you are going a bit far but that is your opinion and are welcome to it. I also disagree they are the worst. I think the NBA might take the lead. I might be a bit prejudiced though. The Commish and a slimy business man stole the Sonics from Seattle.
Are you still a fan of a team in the NFL? Will you still watch games?
If so, you can kindly butt out of any conversation with me because you support this kind of behavior.
You’re on a Pro Football website. You’re the one complaining about the NFL. Maybe you should get back on TikTok
I will save myself a lot of typing and instead post this excellent Twitter thread that explains why this a terrible ruling…egregious, one might say.
link to twitter.com
I’m confused.
Lots of posts on here shaking their fist at the sky… “He should have got at least a year!”.
Some saying a year AND a half.
Did you all forget he didn’t even practice all last year??… let alone PLAY
You want +1 year suspension… just not LAST year… 2021 doesn’t count.
Bewildering… all with no provable evidence, just hearsay testimony…
He’s done a year, take the 6 this year and call it good.
Get on with your lives, for crying out loud.
They can’t because Watson isn’t their quarterback. If he were, their stance would be different
At least some of the outrage is that he got paid last year to sit. And maybe get more massages.
Why does that bother you? It’s not like it’s tax dollars.
Last year wasn’t a suspension, it was his own choice not to play.
Glad you are okay with sexual assault and a person lying about it to cover it up.
What I’m “ok” with… is the premise of ‘innocent until proven guilty’… as I had hoped ALL Americans would be.
You realize you could make the same allegations against your doctor or dentist, etc? They wouldn’t be able to prove it DIDN’T happen any better than Watson was able to prove with these women.
Maybe it happened, but it’s all just words that could just as easily be false as they could be true.
I don’t know how anyone (who is not just an opposing fan) can say this definitely happened.
I mean, come on, 20+ times?… Yet there’s no biological evidence left on a shirt? or security video of them leaving the room upset?
Heck, I could even be swayed if just ONE of these 20+ women had filed a police report the same day of the incident, or even the same WEEK.
But that didn’t happen. It was all months later, with no proof, just words.
I have no dog in this fight, I’m a Chiefs fan. But I’m also a Bill of Rights ‘fan’.
As an American, you should be too.
Well, it goes to show how much the NFL values the sexual misconduct against women. Great, now that we’ve gotten that settled, let’s go back to talking about equality.
I think the NFL showed that by the lack of punishment for Snyder, Jones and Kraft
It’s convenient to blame the NFL but all the woman in the case were apparently comfortable with sexual misconduct once they realized they could receive a substantial cash settlement.
Both good points. How much is one of those counts worth? $1 million dollars? It’s hard to argue with even if you hate the guy, but it’s going to set a statute for what one can get away with.
Watson apparently refused to settle for 100,000 per accuser early on in the process so I highly doubt the women are getting much more than that
He settled which he wouldn’t have done if he didn’t do anything wrong. Innocent people don’t settle.
Of course they do. Cities do it all the time for police brutality cases, even those where the cops are not charged. I’m guessing Watson only settled to get a more favorable ruling. He probably saved money too. I’m guessing he paid about 3 million dollars in the settlements, but his lawyer fees would have been more than that
He settled because he was guilty
Perhaps, Watson isn’t exactly known for his honesty. What’s said in the press and what in settlement proceedings have nothing in common. Gag orders encompassing the entire thing are however very common. I don’t think he would want it in the public that he shed anything significant to cover this whole dang thing up.
If I’m the attorney I’m going to get as much as I possibly can, and $50,000 against a whale with a brand new 230 million salary wouldn’t really send me.
I would be arguing on their behalf that on-field penalties can cost more.
You gotta ask for what you can get. A lot of the plaintiffs continued to see him after the initial visit. That’s not exactly getting you a million dollars
Totally, I hear you. My layman’s guess is it won’t be millions. Each plantiff is going to ask for in between $250,000-500,000 to settle out of court depending on the claim.
The attorney will argue pain and suffering, lose of wages, and that these women are now too traumatized to go back to the profession they love and now need to choose an alternate way of life while the defendent freely gets to go live his dreams.
You always ask for more than you can get. That way you can make meet in the middle and be happy.
@Brownsbacker9 / I’m not sure the dollar amount is even relevant. If a woman tolerates sexual misconduct for profit she isn’t a victim…she’s known by another word.
NFL very serious bout everything that players must learn from mistakes are part of life and they have to face there own actions i think 6 games suspension is unfair to deshaun Watson now every team and coaches told players to avoid off field situations
Wouldn’t delaying the final decision on yhe ban be counterproductive to how his contract was structured to avoid losing substantial game checks?
Browns structure all their contracts like that. See Njoku and Denzel Wards extensions for reference, also Myles Garrett’s which is pre-Deshaun.
I hope the league appeals. If for nothing else, it’ll upset all those Clowns fans who showed up to slobber on the predator and beg for his sweaty sticky towels after practice.
You’re just mad because he didn’t want to play for your team. If the league appeals and Goodell gives a longer sentence, expect a discrimination lawsuit from Watson. The league doesn’t want that.
How the hell did you jump all the way to discrimination? This is not a black white thing it is good bad or moral immoral. At least you are entertaining. A real moron but entertaining.
Because white owners that were involved in sexual accusations were not punished one bit. No fine. No suspension. No loss of draft picks
Now you’re making it a race issue. You can’t keep your story straight. First he won’t get suspended. Now it’s a race issue. You’re a fool kid. When you take off your diapers you can join the adults again.
Your team doesn’t want to play in your city
This guy is a joke. Amazing how he can and eventually will be able to just walk into a locker room, be a captain of the team, and start telling other players what they should be doing or not doing. How could any decent person in that locker room, coach, player, cleaner, massage therapist, or anyone take this clown seriously and take his words to heart. The guy is a loser, classless, and anyone who supports him is a loser too. The browns are a joke, an embarrassment to the league and to professional sports. I guess this is the one spot a joke and an embarrassment to all professional athletes would be welcomed in….oh, and let’s watch him take a knee for injustices served against him and his people. What a waste of everything he is!
Wow. Take a breath or you’re going to have a heart attack. You seem really mad
Not at all. Don’t even watch football much anymore. Just stating some facts. Baseball deadline day. Shouldn’t even be over on this side anyway.
But funny your comment is about me and still not about the browns or this clown face or anything related to the article and story.
I’m fine with the Watson trade. Cleveland finally has a quarterback. I liked Mayfield but he is not as good as Watson. Watson has a career 104.5 QBR and Mayfield has a 87.8 QBR. Happy now?
He did until he came to the browns. They make everyone worse. Not to mention 3 first round picks to get him, PR nightmare, huge cap hit next few years…yikes. Def a haslam deal.
That is better. Thanks!
And that’s a lot of draft picks for a guy who the locker room won’t respect, who hasn’t played in a year. Is two years older since he last played, and is missing at least 6 games this year while causing turmoil with mayfield. Browns are a disaster.
Haha. He’s 26 years old. Real old man there. That’s the stupidest comment of the day. The roster is already stacked so missing 2 more draft picks probably in the 20’s won’t hurt at all
Brown’s roster is garbage
You are an interesting soul
Since Watson can only receive massages from employees of the Browns organization, the team has initiated a search to hire a “qualified” personal masseuse for Watson. Fortunately, that search has started with a list of 24 female individuals who are already familiar with Watson’s special needs.
Brownsbacker9 also knows the clients special requests and is more than willing and able to fulfill them for the sake of the team.
You do love talking gay stuff more than anyone on here. I think I know why. The Polish do love their sausage
I wonder if ‘settling’ with accusers had an impact or did NFLPA and DW ‘settle’ with arbitrator also.
If there isn’t flack from nfl office then league validates “money buys’ anything/everyone!
Brownsbacker9 sucked off Watson last night
Will be rooting for a career-ending injury on behalf of the 66 masseuses. It’s a much better plan than wearing a pink ribbon…
Haha. Not with that offensive line.