QB Deshaun Watson, CLE (6 Viewers)

[menobrown]

He thinks he has done nothing wrong.  As an addict, rock-bottom is a long way away, so no, he is not in treatment.  And even if he was right now, in his current mindset, therapy would do no good.

Sorry but I don't buy any of this and I'd point to my previous post where I asked you how many accusations or massage therapist has he seen since the charges came out? You are referencing the Jenny Vrentas article and those 66 therapist ran from time frame of 2020 to spring of 2021, which means it ended about when the lawsuits got filed.

I don't see him as being an addict in the least, just someone who got his lines blurred between an actual LMT and an escort. The lawsuits, seeing his name dragged and out of the league a year plus is his rock bottom. I have zero concerns of him doing this in the future, that is hiring LMT's and trying to turn it into sex.

 

[TheWinz]

Sorry but I don't buy any of this and I'd point to my previous post where I asked you how many accusations or massage therapist has he seen since the charges came out? You are referencing the Jenny Vrentas article and those 66 therapist ran from time frame of 2020 to spring of 2021, which means it ended about when the lawsuits got filed.

I don't see him as being an addict in the least, just someone who got his lines blurred between an actual LMT and an escort. The lawsuits, seeing his name dragged and out of the league a year plus is his rock bottom. I have zero concerns of him doing this in the future, that is hiring LMT's and trying to turn it into sex.

You think this?  He's just got better at hiding it, that's all.

 

[menobrown]

You think this?  He's just got better at hiding it, that's all.

You don't think Jenny Vrentas or Buzbee would have found them? So yes, I think that with a high degree of certainty.

 

[TheWinz]

Deshaun will be suspended for 2022, and before his suspension is up, more facts will surface, leading to further suspension.  It's painfully obvious at this point.

 

[Obie Wan]

Or they give him an indefinite suspension  of at least a year, require him to have all his cases resolved to return, and then reapply to be able to play again. I am reading the room, which at this point doesn’t seem like Watson will play at all in 2022.

Not everyone thinks settling cases turns thing in Watson’s favor. Plenty of people think that only shows guilt. I don’t think the league wants him to play this year, and they will make that happen. 

if the league didn't want him to play this year

1. they would have made that very clear to the Browns to stop the trade, or stopped it outright

2. would have put him on the exempt list before the trade, or immediately thereafter

3. actually suspended him for 2022, instead of having the media float stories to give the illusion they intend to placate the masses with heavy handed treatment

anyone intending to watch NFL football in 202, will not be stopped if Watson plays or not

 

[Obie Wan]

Oh yeah, and these women were probably wearing Lulu Lemon, just ASKING for it, right??

so no personal accountability  for these new therapists seeking out a massage with a now known creepy guy, who has been accused of these horrible things?

each one must be "special"- and these bad things won't happen to me?

 

[Anarchy99]

if the league didn't want him to play this year

1. they would have made that very clear to the Browns to stop the trade, or stopped it outright

2. would have put him on the exempt list before the trade, or immediately thereafter

3. actually suspended him for 2022, instead of having the media float stories to give the illusion they intend to placate the masses with heavy handed treatment

anyone intending to watch NFL football in 202, will not be stopped if Watson plays or not

1 - Why would the league intervene? The Browns knew the risk and the league's investigation wasn't over. Just like in fantasy, it's not the commissioner's place to block trades. Not Goodell's fault the Browns traded the farm and gave Watson the largest guaranteed contract in league history. One can argue the Browns already knew something was coming, as they only are paying Watson $1 million this season in salary. Sure, teams normally pay players less in their first year, but typically they don't set up contracts at $1M - $46M - $46M - $46M - $46M. A more traditional contract would be $15M - $35M - $40M - $45M - $50M. So, I don't totally buy that CLE had no prior knowledge of the situation.

2 - The exempt list comes into play when there are games to be played. At the time of the trade, there were 6 months until opening day . . . pretty pointless to worry about Watson getting a game check when there wouldn't be one for 6 months. The Trevor Baeur suspension came out after the trade . . . which is going to add more pressure to the NFL to come down hard on Watson.

3 - The league takes forever to investigate players in general, but with so many women involved (and more cases getting prepped), it's taking the league even longer than usual. Their modus operandi is to complete their investigation, and THEN interrogate the player. That way, they have everyone else's side of the story and when players deny wrongdoing, they can hold their feet to the fire.

3A - The majority of posters here are men. Plenty of women are football fans (heck, the women I know buy way more NFL merchandise then men do). And there are plenty of sponsors that provide the league millions of dollars. Just like with Adrian Peterson, if sponsors threaten to back out, the league becomes forced to react and do something. Sure, the average male fan won't tune out, but plenty of other people may get uppity.

I have seen several places / people mention that the guidelines for a player suspension are outlined in the CBA as being 6 games. The problem with that is, those folks are simply lumping all the allegations together. IMO, the league can look at each allegation as a separate act and multiply the suspension times the number of allegations if they wanted (which I doubt they will do).

Additionally, the league has the reputation as being way too soft on their players for any number of infractions. This is their chance to reset how people look at them, establish a new normal for punishment, and show they have adapted to the new paradigm and culture we live in. The people I have been discussing things with (men and women) feel like a season-long suspension is too light.

If the league fully intended for Watson to play this year, it would have been very easy and straightforward to have agreed and settled on a negotiated suspension last week. All parties involved were said to have met and effectively got nowhere. The league could easily have set the bar at 6 or 8 games, but all the reports that have come from that are that the league is intent on a year (or longer) or indefinite suspension. If the league was only posturing to make themselves "look tough," then caving and only handing down a 6-8 game suspension would make them look 10 times worse than if they just determined a 6-8 game suspension initially. The other comparison I have heard from people is there is no way Ridley should get suspended for longer than Watson.

At this point, anyone's guess is as good as anyone else's. But IMO, I think the issue for the league is they are concerned there is a lot more that can come out involving Watson (in court, more filings, or criminal charges at some point) that they haven't figured out how best to incorporate that into a suspension.

 

[Gopher State]

So hearings start on Tuesday. Lots of talk/rumors of life time suspension.  Don’t know about that, but I will be amazed if it’s not at least one year.  Be interesting to know what they settled those 20 cases for.

 

[menobrown]

Lots of talk/rumors of life time suspension. 

Who? I've heard that zero and would guess if anyone is saying that either are not credible and making stuff up or confusing indefinite with life time.

 

[Obie Wan]

Who? I've heard that zero and would guess if anyone is saying that either are not credible and making stuff up or confusing indefinite with life time.

Media has its instructions to talk up maximum penalty.

The NFL can use them as the dupes they are to say we tried for the max- just read Twitter

but we can't suspend in 2022 -"because"

see ya next year when the trial is concluded 

 

[Ministry of Pain]

B/R-NFL Pushing for IS

"Indefinite Suspension"

"Disturbing pattern of behavior"

-NFL

 

[Obie Wan]

66 different women in less than a year and a half?  He can't stop on his own.

yeah

it makes it more difficult for him to stop with a seemingly endless supply of naive and gullible "therapist" jumping at the chance to massage

 

[Faust]

The Wall Street Journal's Andrew Beaton reports that the NFL will push for "an indefinite suspension that would last no shorter than one year" for Deshaun Watson.

Watson's hearing with the NFL will begin on Tuesday, and ultimate clarity may finally be coming for how we should proceed as fantasy managers with Browns players this season. All of the recent reporting we've seen has pointed to the NFL wanting Watson to be gone for at least a year. It sure sounds like the NFLPA is ready to fight a Watson suspension of any real length, so appeals seem likely no matter the initial decision. The momentum at this time definitely seems to be leading to an enormous personal conduct policy suspension for Watson. 

SOURCE: Pro Football Talk on NBCSports.com

Jun 26, 2022, 1:28 PM ET

 

[GregR]

Probably a key bit of info here from Faust's link. They were discussing it on the radio too:

The league’s case, per Beaton, will focus on five of the women who have sued Watson. Those cases have corroboration from text messages and other evidence. “League officials believe those allegations in particular are objectively provable and establish a clear and disturbing pattern of behavior from Watson,” Beaton writes.

 

[massraider]

Probably a key bit of info here from Faust's link. They were discussing it on the radio too:

Yep. 

It's the text messages. That's what's gonna nail him with the NFL

 

[Catbird]

Okay, so I'm a skeptic, but I think the League, NFLPA, Maybe CLE and Watson's team, after meeting last week have decided (whether in confidential agreement or more likely just by each seeing the logic of it) to come away saying they are miles apart, and that for publicity the league has to be publicly hardline and request indefinite and no less than a year. The union has to say make it as light on our guy aa possible and we'll appeal when the season or so is implemented. Watson and CLE will strenuously argue for the least. The likely year or year plus indefinite penalty will get imposed, then get reduced through the appeal/arbitration steps and the league can say we care about women and fought tooth and nail for greater punishment, but now we are ordered to let him play.. The union can't really be faulted for fighting for their member and Watson loudly professes his innocence. I'll guess it ends up, appeals exhausted, at 10 games in '22. I don't think any of those 4 entities wants this to still be a raging controversy in 2023 or thereafter. The remaining 4 masseuses and any who might yet come forward could have a significant say in that.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Okay, so I'm a skeptic, but I think the League, NFLPA, Maybe CLE and Watson's team, after meeting last week have decided (whether in confidential agreement or more likely just by each seeing the logic of it) to come away saying they are miles apart, and that for publicity the league has to be publicly hardline and request indefinite and no less than a year. The union has to say make it as light on our guy aa possible and we'll appeal when the season or so is implemented. Watson and CLE will strenuously argue for the least. The likely year or year plus indefinite penalty will get imposed, then get reduced through the appeal/arbitration steps and the league can say we care about women and fought tooth and nail for greater punishment, but now we are ordered to let him play.. The union can't really be faulted for fighting for their member and Watson loudly professes his innocence. I'll guess it ends up, appeals exhausted, at 10 games in '22. I don't think any of those 4 entities wants this to still be a raging controversy in 2023 or thereafter. The remaining 4 masseuses and any who might yet come forward could have a significant say in that.

I’m deeply skeptical of this.

IMO, the league will offer Watson a full year suspension.

I believe they’ll come out with a suggestion of “indefinite, but at minimum a year” and the Browns & Watson will negotiate it down to a year. 

I don’t believe for a second there is collusion between the league & Watson, or the league & the Browns. 

Listening to Ben Mallar on the drive home tonight, he is certain of it based on what he’s heard around the league.

Based on everything I’ve read lately, I completely agree. that we know these details means someone leaked them, likely as a trial balloon to gauge public reaction.

i don’t think Watson plays a single snap in 2022. It’s the Jacoby Brissett show, unless the Browns can woo Baker Mayfield back in the least likely and most awkward scenario. 

 

[TheWinz]

unless the Browns can woo Baker Mayfield back in the least likely and most awkward scenario.

Here's me if I am Baker Mayfield getting wooed back by the Browns...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adh_8pva10k

 

[Obie Wan]

cool

the WSJ now breaking NFL news

but only about max penalty claims 

 

[-OZ-]

I’m deeply skeptical of this.

IMO, the league will offer Watson a full year suspension.

I believe they’ll come out with a suggestion of “indefinite, but at minimum a year” and the Browns & Watson will negotiate it down to a year. 

I don’t believe for a second there is collusion between the league & Watson, or the league & the Browns. 

Listening to Ben Mallar on the drive home tonight, he is certain of it based on what he’s heard around the league.

Based on everything I’ve read lately, I completely agree. that we know these details means someone leaked them, likely as a trial balloon to gauge public reaction.

i don’t think Watson plays a single snap in 2022. It’s the Jacoby Brissett show, unless the Browns can woo Baker Mayfield back in the least likely and most awkward scenario. 

That’s the speculation elsewhere too. Makes sense from a PR perspective and the practice seems to becoming common but it’s still irritating to see Intentional leaks. 

If I’m Baker, I’m playing if given the chance. Look good before FA. But I’d still want to be traded before the season. 

 

[jm192]

Those arguing Watson won't get hammered:  How many dynasty shares of Watson do you have?

It seems like a foregone conclusion this is going to be an absolutely massive suspension.  There is absolutely a road to him never playing again.  

 

[geneyus]

Can you imagine someone thinking this was a good idea to buy for their girl?

****'s Sporting Goods Sales

I left a review, we'll see how long it lasts.

 

[JohnnyU]

Those arguing Watson won't get hammered:  How many dynasty shares of Watson do you have?

It seems like a foregone conclusion this is going to be an absolutely massive suspension.  There is absolutely a road to him never playing again.  

Even though I don't agree that he will never play again, you are right that it will be a massive suspension.  I don't have much doubt about that.  Worst case scenario is an indefinite suspension and it's starting to look like the best case is just a one year suspension.  Those hoping for a 6 game suspension are probably in denial. 

 

[jm192]

Even though I don't agree that he will never play again, you are right that it will be a massive suspension.  I don't have much doubt about that.  Worst case scenario is an indefinite suspension and it's starting to look like the best case is just a one year suspension.  Those hoping for a 6 game suspension are probably in denial. 

I'm not predicting a lifetime suspension.  But there's a pathway to it.

1 year suspension, things keep getting dragged out, new cases pop up.  Maybe some other bad PR incident happens.  The NFL may decide it's easier to just not let him back.  I don't think it'll happen.  But I'm not touching the guy in dynasty, redraft, best ball or any other league for sure.

 

[Faust]

If Deshaun Watson's suspension lasts into 2023, how does it change the calculus for Cleveland?

 

[Faust]

By leaking 1-year suspension target for Deshaun Watson, NFL is already applying pressure to case's arbitrator

 

[Anarchy99]

Texans named as a defendant for the first time in a Watson civil suit today. More expected. 

 

[massraider]

That’s the speculation elsewhere too. Makes sense from a PR perspective and the practice seems to becoming common but it’s still irritating to see Intentional leaks. 

If I’m Baker, I’m playing if given the chance. Look good before FA. But I’d still want to be traded before the season. 

Yea, as much as Baker might like to burn them, the best thing for his career is to negotiate no franchise tag, and try and help them win. He gets to audition behind the best line in the game, with a strong running game. 

 

[-OZ-]

Those arguing Watson won't get hammered:  How many dynasty shares of Watson do you have?

It seems like a foregone conclusion this is going to be an absolutely massive suspension.  There is absolutely a road to him never playing again.  

I made the mistake of rejecting an offer of 1.11 and a late 23 1st for him a month ago. Super flex. I don’t think he plays this year but he’ll be back in 23 most likely. 

 

[menobrown]

Those arguing Watson won't get hammered:  How many dynasty shares of Watson do you have?

It seems like a foregone conclusion this is going to be an absolutely massive suspension.  There is absolutely a road to him never playing again.  

I have him on 3 dynasty teams, out of 9. One of those teams I picked him up last year for 2.10 in last years draft, the other two I've had him since his rookie season.

I had been ballparking his suspension at 6-10 games after the Browns made the trade but so much more trickling of negative news since and most of all multiple reports the league is going to recommend a year can't be ignored. I have for the last few weeks been operating as if he's not available for the 2022 season and for sure think that's what the league will do. Saying that I do think he has a shot to get it lowered, not a great one but a shot. Might depend on how much dirt Jeffery Kessler can get on Snyder, Jones and Kraft and how motivated the league is to not let that dirty laundry get aired in public.

I do however continue to say this talk of him not playing again is so far fetched as to be of zero concern.

 

[Obie Wan]

By leaking 1-year suspension target for Deshaun Watson, NFL is already applying pressure to case's arbitrator

what could go wrong in trying to manipulate a judge

clearly the league has been priming the pump with talk of maximum penalties

Judge may not be pleased with the NFL's tactics and decide no discipline at this time, until the trials conclude

 

[jm192]

I have him on 3 dynasty teams, out of 9. One of those teams I picked him up last year for 2.10 in last years draft, the other two I've had him since his rookie season.

I had been ballparking his suspension at 6-10 games after the Browns made the trade but so much more trickling of negative news since and most of all multiple reports the league is going to recommend a year can't be ignored. I have for the last few weeks been operating as if he's not available for the 2022 season and for sure think that's what the league will do. Saying that I do think he has a shot to get it lowered, not a great one but a shot. Might depend on how much dirt Jeffery Kessler can get on Snyder, Jones and Kraft and how motivated the league is to not let that dirty laundry get aired in public.

I do however continue to say this talk of him not playing again is so far fetched as to be of zero concern.

I don't mean to predict he won't ever play again.  

If someone gave me a million dollars to be on one or the other--I'd bet he plays again.

But I do think there's a non-zero chance skeletons keep popping out of the closet until the NFL decides life is easier without him.

 

[GregR]

I've been pondering what would happen at work if I had the same set of lawsuits and criminal investigations filed against me.

I'm 99% sure I'd be fired.

If the lawsuits generated hundreds and hundreds of articles, and thousands of TV and radio segments, and in all of them it was clear I was connected to my employer, that final 1% would get dunked on ferociously.

 

[menobrown]

I don't mean to predict he won't ever play again.  

If someone gave me a million dollars to be on one or the other--I'd bet he plays again.

Judge may not be pleased with the NFL's tactics and decide no discipline at this time, until the trials conclude

These are basically the two polar extreme opposites for how this could play out for him this year.

Both seem remote but using the bet example if I had to put my money on either him never playing again or the judge recommending no suspension I'd for sure put my money on no suspension.

 

[menobrown]

I've been pondering what would happen at work if I had the same set of lawsuits and criminal investigations filed against me.

I'm 99% sure I'd be fired.

If the lawsuits generated hundreds and hundreds of articles, and thousands of TV and radio segments, and in all of them it was clear I was connected to my employer, that final 1% would get dunked on ferociously.

Are you one of the handful of best 5-8 people in the world at your job?

 

[Anarchy99]

what could go wrong in trying to manipulate a judge

clearly the league has been priming the pump with talk of maximum penalties

Judge may not be pleased with the NFL's tactics and decide no discipline at this time, until the trials conclude

Since this is the first time this process has advanced this far, many people felt the league would formally announce publicly what they were asking the arbitrator for in terms of a punishment. That part of the process was a little murky. Whatever the judge recommends, Goodell still has autonomy to do whatever he sees fit. He can hand down whatever suspension he feels is appropriate.

I still think in the negotiating phase the league went to Watson, et al, and said we won't agree to less than a full season, and as long as there are outstanding cases then we will make the suspension indefinite. The league doesn't want more stuff coming out and then handing out discipline that could be considered too light. The other thing not being discussed much is Watson could still face a fine well beyond what he is making in salary this season.

I saw a couple of people (not here) suggest that Watson could legally appeal through the court system to temporarily avoid suspension. If he went the route that Brady went, he might be able to keep things in the courts for the entire 2022 season. However, that probably wouldn't be in his best interest, as then he would face getting suspended in 2023 when he would lose $46 million in salary vs. only $1 million this year (if he faced a season long suspension). I don't see much chance of him winning in court . . . we saw what happened with Brady. The players don't have much to hang their hat on as the CBA has been shown to give the league and the commissioner carte blanche to rule however they see fit.

 

[GregR]

Are you one of the handful of best 5-8 people in the world at your job?

Nope. Though that wouldn't make a difference. The best 5-8 people in the world at my job would also 100% be fired.

 

[ffmail4me]

so now texans are being sued? this is crazy...

A lawsuit filed against the Texans alleges "individuals within the Texans organization knew or should have known of Deshaun Watson's conduct."

Watson just settled all but four of the lawsuits filed against him. This new lawsuit claims the Texans enabled his behavior by providing "rooms set up for him at the Houstonian Hotel, massage tables provided to him for private massage sessions, and a NDA provided to him from the head of Texans' security." The lawsuit paints a truly disgusting situation in an even worse light by accusing the Texans, an NFL franchise worth billions of dollars, of supporting Watson amidst his alleged instances of sexual misconduct. Watson's disciplinary hearing began on Tuesday. Many reports have indicated that the NFL will push for a suspension no shorter than a year. 

 

[GregR]

I would think someone who had a career as a judge would be pretty used to parties making public statements about cases.

Granted, I've personally only seen a small portion of one real  trial in my life so mostly have to go with the movies and TV. I just don't recall a judge saying, "Prosecutor, you tried to manipulate me by telling the press you were going for a maximum sentence! You ####ed around, now you find out!!!"

 

[Obie Wan]

I would think someone who had a career as a judge would be pretty used to parties making public statements about cases.

Granted, I've personally only seen a small portion of one real  trial in my life so mostly have to go with the movies and TV. I just don't recall a judge saying, "Prosecutor, you tried to manipulate me by telling the press you were going for a maximum sentence! You ####ed around, now you find out!!!"

The NFL specifically changed the CBA to fix a fairness problem that they were forced to act.

They did it by specifically adding an "independent" trained judge and specifically paid her to be the "independent" arbitrator.

and now the league is going to play games in the media to stack the deck and manipulate the outcome, on top of controlling the investigation and evidence presented.

Likely that any judge not bought and paid for, will be extremely pissed they have been played.

but then again, that could be the NFL's plan all along, as a few have said the NFL don't want to suspend him, but need cover from the Twitter bots (real football fans don't care)

this is how they defer it till next year

 

[Obie Wan]

 Whatever the judge recommends, Goodell still has autonomy to do whatever he sees fit. He can hand down whatever suspension he feels is appropriate.

 However, that probably wouldn't be in his best interest, as then he would face getting suspended in 2023 when he would lose $46 million in salary vs. only $1 million this year (if he faced a season long suspension). 

1. if arbitrator says no penalty, case can't be appealed and Goodell is shut out.

2. if he's suspended for all of 2022, reports are that his contract tolls and is pushed back a year. He wouldn't play or get paid, but he wouldn't lose any money, unless additional suspension time is added in future.

 

[GregR]

The NFL specifically changed the CBA to fix a fairness problem that they were forced to act.

They did it by specifically adding an "independent" trained judge and specifically paid her to be the "independent" arbitrator.

and now the league is going to play games in the media to stack the deck and manipulate the outcome, on top of controlling the investigation and evidence presented.

Likely that any judge not bought and paid for, will be extremely pissed they have been played.

but then again, that could be the NFL's plan all along, as a few have said the NFL don't want to suspend him, but need cover from the Twitter bots (real football fans don't care)

this is how they defer it till next year

I think that's wrong. I think an experienced arbitrator would realize the NFL was doing PR for their own sake. Just like Watson's team has been doing PR all along.

A judge doesn't have the job to make the popular decision, they have the job to make the fair decision according to the law. That doesn't change with this being an arbitrator role. 

That shouldn't change the outcome of their decision. 

 

[Obie Wan]

so now texans are being sued? this is crazy...

A lawsuit filed against the Texans alleges "individuals within the Texans organization knew or should have known of Deshaun Watson's conduct."

Watson just settled all but four of the lawsuits filed against him. This new lawsuit claims the Texans enabled his behavior by providing "rooms set up for him at the Houstonian Hotel, massage tables provided to him for private massage sessions, and a NDA provided to him from the head of Texans' security." The lawsuit paints a truly disgusting situation in an even worse light by accusing the Texans, an NFL franchise worth billions of dollars, of supporting Watson amidst his alleged instances of sexual misconduct. Watson's disciplinary hearing began on Tuesday. Many reports have indicated that the NFL will push for a suspension no shorter than a year. 

could be that the McNair family is reneging on that backroom deal with Buzbee to organize and orchestrate the massage circus against Watson.  

on top of Buzbee getting paid only made a fraction of what he expected from his 35% of the vastly reduce settlement amounts.

 

[massraider]

could be that the McNair family is reneging on that backroom deal with Buzbee to organize and orchestrate the massage circus against Watson.  

on top of Buzbee getting paid only made a fraction of what he expected from his 35% of the vastly reduce settlement amounts.

Yeah, everything is just breaking Watson's way, you can tell. 

 

[Beef Ravioli]

so now texans are being sued? this is crazy...

You are really surprised by this? Buzbee will probably sue the NFL next -  a bit of hyperbole, but I would not be shocked.
 

Although Watson is guilty of something for sure, this has always been about how much $ Buzbee can milk from as many people, teams and potentially leagues he can milk. If anyone ever thought he was standing up for some poor helpless women, you were deceived. 

 

[-OZ-]

You are really surprised by this? Buzbee will probably sue the NFL next -  a bit of hyperbole, but I would not be shocked.
 

Although Watson is guilty of something for sure, this has always been about how much $ Buzbee can milk from as many people, teams and potentially leagues he can milk. If anyone ever thought he was standing up for some poor helpless women, you were deceived. 

If there’s truth to the allegations, the only surprising thing is how long it took to add the Texans. 

 

[ghostguy123]

I do however continue to say this talk of him not playing again is so far fetched as to be of zero concern.

I do not agree.

Based on what we know right now, sure, he obviously plays again.

However, more could come to light, not to mention the very real potential for something else to happen in the future that puts him in jeopardy.  It won't take 26 cases next time.  Let's fast-forward to next off-season,  if something else like this happened with ONE lady and there was any sort of proof at all, he never plays again.

 

[Gopher State]

Are you one of the handful of best 5-8 people in the world at your job?

Depends how much your company cares about it’s public image.  The NFL does care about its image and if they don’t suspend him for at least one year their will be an outrage by NFL fans a large number of which will be women.  With the Texans now being dragged through the mud in this PR nightmare everyone in the NFL upper circle will be onboard for a major penalty for Watson.  Some people act like Watson is bigger then the NFL, but in reality he is a very small part of the NFL, and will quickly be forgotten.  As the say NFL stands for not for long when it comes to players.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

what could go wrong in trying to manipulate a judge

clearly the league has been priming the pump with talk of maximum penalties

Judge may not be pleased with the NFL's tactics and decide no discipline at this time, until the trials conclude

This is an absolute fantasy. 

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I think that's wrong. I think an experienced arbitrator would realize the NFL was doing PR for their own sake. Just like Watson's team has been doing PR all along.

A judge doesn't have the job to make the popular decision, they have the job to make the fair decision according to the law. That doesn't change with this being an arbitrator role. 

That shouldn't change the outcome of their decision. 

Exactly.