The NFL has decided to appeal a six-game suspension of Deshaun Watson due to sexual misconduct from a designated discipline officer.
As content like Deshaun Watson, the NFLPA and the Browns were with his six-game suspension, the NFL certainly isn’t.
Disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson found that Watson violated the NFL’s personal behavior policy by engaging in unwanted sexual behavior, described the quarterback’s behavior as predatory and prevented him from seeing massage therapists outside of Brown’s organization.
Despite this, it went well below the penalty the league wanted with a six-game ban for Watson.
The NFL is now appealing this decision, According to Ian Rapoport.
Deshaun Watson update: NFL makes the right call when suspended
Make no mistake, the NFL is not on Watson’s side here. Through appeal, the league is rejecting Robinson’s six games with a focus on a more significant penalty.
The NFL and NFLPA brought Robinson as an independent referee for Watson’s disciplinary hearing, but the appeal would return the ball to the league’s court. Commissioner Roger Goodell can hear the appeal himself or designate who he wants to hear instead.
Suffice to say, Watson is unlikely to get away with the six games alone. The question now is how dangerous the NFL is.
There was ambiguity in the league offering a 12-game suspension as a deal for Watson. The NFL could definitely decide to suspend him for an entire season.
The fact that Robinson sided with the NFL over a personal conduct policy violation should give the league ammunition to proceed with their penalty of choice, even though the NFLPA will certainly fight it.
Watson settled twenty civil misconduct lawsuits with masseurs in the Houston area during his time with Texas. He allegedly used his position in power to sexually harass and abuse massage therapists, from making them uncomfortable to pressuring them to commit sexual acts.
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