Mina Chaims has not retracted Deshaun Watson’s ruling, describing the referee’s decision to suspend six matches as “completely incoherent”.
If you thought Deshaun Watson came off lightly with a six-game ban from disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson, Mina Kimes is with you.
ESPN character Robinson took it to task in her decision on the length of the Browns quarterback’s suspension despite his conclusion that he committed sexual assault. And she wasn’t the only one.
Robinson, a former judge, released a 16-page report determining that Watson violated the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy. Chaims says the punishment is not commensurate with the findings in that report.
Mina Kimes explodes with Deshaun Watson’s lenient comment for six matches
“When I first saw the six matches, I was surprised. It seemed rather low given the size… and the seriousness of the allegations,” said Caimes. “I wanted to read the report, and after reading it… I find her judgment quite incoherent and frankly confusing.
“First, I identified the allegations, of which we know a lot. The NFL accuses Watson of going to these sessions with sexual intent, bringing a towel she couldn’t cover, and slandering women…
“What’s more important to me is my findings… Basically I found that the NFL had proven his condition, that Watson had engaged in unwanted touching, that he knew it was unwanted, and that the NFL had met Burden of a civil lawsuit to prove the sexual assault took place, describing his behavior as “predatory” and saying he can only work with in-house massage therapists from now on.
“I find it very difficult to reconcile with her final conclusion, which was based on Preston, but also her own interpretation that what happened was not violent.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines sexual violence as sexual activity where consent is not freely given. I don’t understand how you felt that the behavior you outlined in painstaking detail did not meet this standard.
“I suspect that many people who know victims of sexual violence, who were victims themselves, and survivors probably feel the same way today.”
The NFL is reviewing the decision and may appeal with a focus on obtaining a longer suspension for Watson. Meanwhile, Brown and the NFLPA are prepared to respect Robinson’s decision.
The way Kimes presents her arguments, the idea of suspending six matches seems incredibly lax. If Robinson finds that Watson has committed sexual assault of any kind, even if you decide to call it “nonviolent,” the six games are essentially only one quarter missing from every sexual assault allegation on his record.
The NFL proved that Watson was out of line. He deserves a much closer penalty than the NFL requested, which was at least 12 games.
So much for the idea of unprecedented punishment that comes the way for Watson.
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