Judge Recommends Suspension of 6 Games for Deshaun Watson

[HaroldSeattle]

Per the ruling, the NFL was only able to interview 12, and of those 12 only presented four cases.

With Watson throwing money at victims to settle suits, I image many were not in a position to testify.

 

[dtgold88]

Yet he gave reason and facts.

FU

Fair point he did (about his contract, sitting out, etc)....until he started talking about the case. Then he was all emotion. Do you offer the possibility the person who has made decisions like this for a living might be better at it than him?

 

[Maximus Rex]

These are the most intriguing to me.

#2 what happened to the other cases? That's a huge amount of information to exclude from the hearing

It seems like the NFL did a really half-assed job putting on its case. Whether that was due to incompetence or was done by design is an interesting question.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Fair point he did (about his contract, sitting out, etc)....until he started talking about the case. Then he was all emotion. Do you offer the possibility the person who has made decisions like this for a living might be better at it than him?

Do you think it's OK to expect sex from those below you in the pecking order?

 

[Stakesarehigh]

Why? Because he has it coming, that's why. The guy has lead a charmed life thus far, refuse to play on the field , yet still receives million of dollars, then get his already large contract redone for an even bigger record setting contract. Using your status to pressure women into sex is wrong and plenty of folks like Roger Ailes have lose their position for doing so. I understand everyone wants to have the stars play, but there needs to be some accountability and that is why the personal conduct clause came about.

I'm not sure why you keep comparing Deshaun Watson to Roger Ailes. The sports world works on a different plane.

Its always been that way

I'm certainly not excusing his actions, but it's clear based on every bit of evidence and testimony what he did do was more in line wirh creepy/weirdo behavior than sexual predator.

Else he would be behind bars.

 

[PDay8810]

Do you offer the possibility the person who has made decisions like this for a living might be better at it than him?

Sure...they might be, but they might not be as well. Another strong well thought out point by you. Stop showing off.

 

[dtgold88]

Do you think it's OK to expect sex from those below you in the pecking order?

no

do you think the person with no agenda who makes these decisions for a living might be better at it than you?

 

[PDay8810]

It seems like the NFL did a really half-assed job putting on its case. Whether that was due to incompetence or was done by design is an interesting question.

Design seems by design

 

[dtgold88]

Sure...they might be, but they might not be as well. Another strong well thought out point by you. Stop showing off.

oh, the irony.

I'm shocked you answered so at least you surprised me there. The former federal judge with no agenda "might" be better than an emotional fan at making decisions?

Ya gotta love this forum.

 

[jarntt]

I think criminality is important when assigning appropriate punishment. I'm not arguing he shouldn't be suspended at all but rather it's very difficult to exceed 6 games when nothing criminal took place and it's personal conduct that doesn't effect the integrity of the game.

If the argument is that he sexually assaulted dozens of women but criminal charges aren't being pressed then we have an issue bigger than Watson, the Browns or the NFL

Something "criminal" did take place and she stated that it did in her opinion as per a preponderance of the evidence. Conviction and taking place are two different things. The guy clearly committed crimes or maybe he just felt like paying 30 different women to drop their cases because he's a swell guy

 

[HaroldSeattle]

no

do you think the person with no agenda who makes these decisions for a living might be better at it than you?

I don't make those decisions, but NFL has the right to safe guard their image and the arbiter doesn't consider the ramifications to the league image and blowback from bad PR over a players action, which why the NFL has Goodell be able to change the punishment. Watson expected sex because he's a star and has money, he needs to made to realize that's not acceptable. 6 games is slap on the wrist.

 

[jarntt]

Well, lets see if Goodell goes back on his word and appeals it, which means this womans ruling means nothing and Goodell can do whatever he wants.

I must have missed something. How would appealing be going back on his word?

 

[jarntt]

I'm aware of this. He has in fact been suspended. The question is the length of suspension you can enact as punishment for a player who had no prior history of off the field misconduct and who wasn't charged criminally. To me, 6 games is about right.

Did Ridley have prior issues? He wasn't charged with a crime and unlike Watson didn't even do anything illegal

 

[futballiscool]

Something "criminal" did take place and she stated that it did in her opinion as per a preponderance of the evidence. Conviction and taking place are two different things. The guy clearly committed crimes or maybe he just felt like paying 30 different women to drop their cases because he's a swell guy

Why did almost all of the victims take a payout? Not one or two but dozens. There was clearly sexual misconduct. It was clearly inappropriate. It also didn't cross the line into physical assault . Again if this was criminal there are biggest issues than Watson and the NFL and the difference between a 6 or a 10 game suspension is irrelevant

 

[futballiscool]

Did Ridley have prior issues? He wasn't charged with a crime and unlike Watson didn't even do anything illegal

Gambling directly effects the integrity of the game. It's completely different

 

[wilwhite]

I don't see this as he said/she said but rather he said/(30 times) they said.
That should be enough if this crossed into criminal behavior.
While I do generally support the me too movement I do think it's created an oversimplification on these types of allegations. There's no nuance, there's no gray area etc. What he did was wrong and the victims should be supported and compensated but I also don't think Watson should face an unprecedented punishment

If you don't have a good case, multiplying it by 30 doesn't give you a good case. It gives you 30 bad cases.

Given that Robinson only had four therapists presented to her, given precedent, six games isn't crazy. NFL did a crappy job then, though.

If the NFL appeals it will probably because they think they gave evidence for her to consider more than just the four cases.

 

[wilwhite]

Watson expected sex because he's a star and has money, he needs to made to realize that's not acceptable. 6 games is slap on the wrist.

Can't break the rules to do it, though. If Robinson can only consider the four cases presented, the punishment is pretty much capped at 12 games. NFL conduct policy doesn't seem well thought out.

The rest of society is not obliged to follow the NFL's lead. Watson playing on TV is not going to go over well.

(I think Big Ben and the Steelers would have a tougher time today than they did 12 years ago.)

 

[PDay8810]

The rest of society is not obliged to follow the NFL's lead. Watson playing on TV is not going to go over well.

Not going to lie. This is the only good part about this circus act for me. Small window for pro football players and money drives many. I'D bet Watson laughed his ass off last season. Drove this bus and Cleveland blew is ass away with the contract amount and structure. Hell, I'd be smug ass too. Watson won big time all the way around.

Only good thing, Watson will be dogged, no endorsements...well, outside of Cleveland, and most of all, he'll be defined by the masses as the bad guy. Got all the money, interesting to see how he responds

 

[jarntt]

Gambling directly effects the integrity of the game. It's completely different

That’s not what you said. You said no priors and no criminal conviction

 

[UnrealTerm04]

Not what I expected, I was thinking 10 games.