It looks like it will probably be a full season, pending appeals and such.I just have a nagging suspicion that the league let the Browns know prior to a trade what a punishment would look like for Watson. I have such a hard time imagining any team - even the Browns - are committing 5 years and a quarter of a billion to Watson without having some kind of idea what the league was going to do.
The league gives him 8 games, the Browns know that trading and signing a franchise QB for 5 years is worth the 8 games, and everyone wins. Texans get a boatload of picks, league gets another franchise QB to sell tickets, Browns get a franchise QB.
The only losers are the women who were raped.
The league “probably” will seek a suspension of one full season for Watson, a person on Watson’s side of the case said Friday. A person familiar with the league’s view of the case cautioned to be “careful” about specifying a precise length at this point for the suspension the NFL will seek. But that person also said: “Significant would be the proper term.”
When it comes to public relation crises, I believe 0% of what I hear. Sending out feeler reports to gauge public response has become standard practice for the NFL Illuminati.It looks like it will probably be a full season, pending appeals and such.
NFL to seek ‘significant’ suspension of Deshaun Watson - The Washington Post
Yeah, but Watson getting a slap on the wrist is more of a PR disaster than the alternative. The bottom line will be hurt more by a weak suspension because people will rightfully lose their minds.When it comes to public relation crises, I believe 0% of what I hear. Sending out feeler reports to gauge public response has become standard practice for the NFL Illuminati.
Nothing in their history has shown a willingess to prioritize morality of the bottom line.
My recollection is that Big Ben and Elliot (6 games each) are the only two players to be suspended without criminal charges relating to the personal conduct policy. Winston, Hunt, Ward, and a few others were suspended without convictions, but the charges were created and then dropped.Yeah, but Watson getting a slap on the wrist is more of a PR disaster than the alternative. The bottom line will be hurt more by a weak suspension because people will rightfully lose their minds.
What is that last line?My recollection is that Big Ben and Elliot (6 games each) are the only two players to be suspended without criminal charges. Winston, Hunt, Ward, and a few others were suspended without convictions, but the charges were created and then dropped.
Suspending Watson for a full year despite a grand jury declining to indict would be 3x longer than any "comparable" cases, and would be another lengthy legal battle (that the NFL would win) that the league has no interest in.
If he gets a full season, I'd be shocked. Barring any further changes, I'm still guessing 8 games. Gives them the appearance of a hard line - "longest suspension without a criminal indictment!" - and everyone goes on their merry way.
Again. Unless you were fucking raped.
But in the eyes of the legal system, Watson has done nothing illegal. At least not worth indicating him for. The NFL won't care if it's one woman or 100. They can look at him as innocent and proceed accordingly.What is that last line?
Hunt had one incident. Over 20 women have come out against Watson. It's a really significant different. And Ben R was in 2010. And it wasn't 25 people either. Needless to say, the world is a little different about sexual assault in 2010.
Maybe Watson doesn't get a year, I am not sure. But it wouldn't be good for the NFL if it was 8 games, at least in the short term. The press would be angry and rabid and incessant. (rightfully so) But once the games start, people will watch. They always watch.
Pretty big difference between the NFL doing nothing about Tyreek Hill when his victim wants nothing more than for everyone to pretend it didn’t happen, and the NFL doing nothing about Deshawn Watson when two dozen victims are seeking justice in the courts.But in the eyes of the legal system, Watson has done nothing illegal. At least not worth indicating him for. The NFL won't care if it's one woman or 100. They can look at him as innocent and proceed accordingly.
With no smoking gun or criminal charges, I see no reason why the league would make a moral stand now. Yeah, Kareem Hunt was one incident, but he was also undeniably guilty based on the video we all saw of him stomping on a woman's head. There's a non-zero chance that Tyreek Hill ends up killing his fucking wife or kid, and the league couldn't give a shit.
Watson lines their wallets significantly more than either of them.
Well, the victim was a three year old AND his wife, but...When has the NFL ever cared about the victims? Not to relitigate the Hill situation, but he pleaded guilty to choking and hitting his pregnant girlfriend in 2014. The same women claimed he broke his 3 year olds arm. The DA stated that he, "believed a crime occured" but couldn't move forward without harder evidence.Pretty big difference between the NFL doing nothing about Tyreek Hill when his victim wants nothing more than for everyone to pretend it didn’t happen, and the NFL doing nothing about Deshawn Watson when two dozen victims are seeking justice in the courts.
I don’t know what assurances the league office gave the Browns, but if I’m in Goodell’s shoes, Watson doesn’t take the field until his legal issues are substantially behind him.
I’m certainly not suggesting that the NFL’s reasoning is consistent or morally sound. I’m suggesting that it’s different — perhaps morally, but certainly from a PR standpoint — when there are two dozen victims actively and publicly seeking justice than when the victims are immediate family members who, wisely or not, have chosen the path of reconciliation (or had it chosen for them, in the child’s case).Well, the victim was a three year old AND his wife, but...When has the NFL ever cared about the victims? Not to relitigate the Hill situation, but he pleaded guilty to choking and hitting his pregnant girlfriend in 2014. The same women claimed he broke his 3 year olds arm. The DA stated that he, "believed a crime occured" but couldn't move forward without harder evidence.
Like civil courts, the NFL doesn't need the burden of "beyond a reasonable doubt." They absolutely could have moved forward with punishment.
Instead they issued a mealymouthed response that "based on the evidence presently available" they wouldn't suspend him. Which is their way of saying:
"Remember when we knew Ray Rice knocked his wife out in an elevator and we only suspended him two games? And then the video went public and we pretended we never saw the video? And then a bunch of independent sources said we DID see the video but only suspended him two games because we thought the video was with the police and would never see the light of day? And then we paid a completely impartial investigator named Robert Mueller - yes, that one - to investigate ourselves? And then the guy we paid a boatload of money to somehow found that, no, we actually had never seen the video and there's nothing to see here? What? We did the same thing when we paid "independent" investigators to determine if we were guilty during deflategate? No, not true. We'll even hire an independent firm to research that and tell you so."
Fuck. I got distracted...
Their statement on Hill was to absolve themselves if anything were to go public, like what happened to Rice. They absolutely could have and should have suspended him, and they don't need the permission of his wife to suspend him for snapping his 3 year olds arm. But the NFL doesn't give a shit about women or kids. Like the time they suspended Peterson a year for whipping his kid with a switch - because there were criminal charges - but pretended they didn't see the interview 3 years later when he admitted he still occasionally beats his kid with a fucking belt.
As to if Goodell will suspend Watson...well, I've already made my opinions known.
Depends on how much draft capital they staple to him.FTFY
Look at his numbers. He's had one okay season out of 4. Why on earth would anyone want that? Especially someone who still seems to think they are a "franchise quarterback".
His future is as a clipboard jockey.
I’ve been toying with this idea of “time served” in my head. One problem with that idea is that Watson was still being paid, which kind of defeats the purpose of a suspension. What happens there in this hypothetical scenario?The NFL has a pretty easy out if they want to look tough without actually being tough. They can suspend him something like a year and a half, backdated to when he played his last game. The headline would be that he is suspended a year and a half, but he would only miss 8 games.
Yea Watson wasn’t suspended or on the Commissioner’s Exempt List. He started a holdout for a trade and then all hell broke loose with the lawsuits.The NFL has a pretty easy out if they want to look tough without actually being tough. They can suspend him something like a year and a half, backdated to when he played his last game. The headline would be that he is suspended a year and a half, but he would only miss 8 games.
Also "settling confidentially" sounds different than "losing publicly."This is Watson trying to avoid a truly severe penalty, because 4 lawsuits sounds a lot different than 24 lawsuits.
Was thinking about this couple days ago...Both sides have a big incentive to settle if you figure that Buzbee probably gets nothing if Watson gets charged criminally since you figure Watson doesn't get any of the extension. I bet this settlement is dependent on Watson not getting charged. No idea how much $$$ we could be talking about but I bet the lawyers get most of it.“Today I announce that all cases against Deshaun Watson, with the exception of four, have settled,” plaintiffs attorney Tony Buzbee said in a statement. “We are working through the paperwork related to those settlements. Once we have done so, those particular cases will be dismissed. The terms and amounts of the settlements are confidential. We won’t comment further on the settlements or those cases.”
Again, Bauer's suspension has nothing to do with his case. It's about getting the Dodgers out of paying the remainder of his contract.They’ll also look incredibly weak. MLB really set the standard here.
How can a civil settlement depend on the outcome of criminal prosecution? One has nothing to do with the other. In fact, I imagine having such terms in a civil settlement would come dangerously close to witness tampering.Was thinking about this couple days ago...Both sides have a big incentive to settle if you figure that Buzbee probably gets nothing if Watson gets charged criminally since you figure Watson doesn't get any of the extension. I bet this settlement is dependent on Watson not getting charged. No idea how much $$$ we could be talking about but I bet the lawyers get most of it.
Whether that's true or not, it's now a benchmark for the public.Again, Bauer's suspension has nothing to do with his case. It's about getting the Dodgers out of paying the remainder of his contract.
Yep. It's their choice to do what they want but god damn another rich dude pays his way out of a mess. Disgusting.These women deserve to settle their cases however they want, but I do wish that at least one of them desires to see things through trial. Watson deserves lengthy, public humiliation and dissemination of information rather than getting out of trouble by writing a check for some small fraction of his record, guaranteed contract.
It was never going to end any other wayYep. It's their choice to do what they want but god damn another rich dude pays his way out of a mess. Disgusting.
Most? Probably 25-40%, as are most contingency fees.No idea how much $$$ we could be talking about but I bet the lawyers get most of it.
And odds are that the remainder (even after taxes) is life-changing money to many of the victims, without having to relive everything in an extremely-public trial.Most? Probably 25-40%, as are most contingency fees.
And it’s now out there that Watson plausibly assaulted them, and he’s not gonna shake that perception completely for the rest of his life.And odds are that the remainder (even after taxes) is life-changing money to many of the victims, without having to relive everything in an extremely-public trial.
I don't know about that. Some uber-talented guys who have paid off victims -- and never get in trouble again -- have no problem being revered. Kobe and Ben come to mind.And it’s now out there that Watson plausibly assaulted them, and he’s not gonna shake that perception completely for the rest of his life.
That’s true, but 24 women?I don't know about that. Some uber-talented guys who have paid off victims -- and never get in trouble again -- have no problem being revered. Kobe and Ben come to mind.
Kobe is a good example, but Ben isn’t, IMO. Because it’s one of the first things people still mention when they bring up Roethlisberger.I don't know about that. Some uber-talented guys who have paid off victims -- and never get in trouble again -- have no problem being revered. Kobe and Ben come to mind.
While true, I think there are two potential differences that could keep this on Watson's shoulders while he remains in the NFL: 1. the amount of victims 2. the timing - 2021/22 is a world of difference between what happened in 2003/2010 WRT to social media and just how long stories like this might follow him. Or maybe (likely) I'm just hopeful that these kinds of actions prevent reverence going forward.I don't know about that. Some uber-talented guys who have paid off victims -- and never get in trouble again -- have no problem being revered. Kobe and Ben come to mind.
I mean, I'll always think of that first when his name comes up. But the national perspective has a way of changing, and Watson's young enough that by the time he retires the view of him could change.That’s true, but 24 women?
Sure. Right after his SB wins and his future induction into Canton.Kobe is a good example, but Ben isn’t, IMO. Because it’s one of the first things people still mention when they bring up Roethlisberger.
Watson will have this attached to his name forever. He’s paying to make it go away so he can resume his lifestyle of no consequences and sexually assaulting masseuses.
I’m sure he’ll find almost ¼ of a billion ways to forget about people’s perception of him, but he went full Cosby. Publicly revered good guy to complete snake overnight.
He'll be getting paid hundreds of millions and cheered everytime he throws a TD. The amount of women doesn't matter. The media will talk about it the same way they talk about Tyreek Hill or Jameis Winston. Briefly and quietly. Fans will call him a rapist when they see him on the TV, but it'll impact him and his life as much as any other insult a rival fan might shout at their television.While true, I think there are two potential differences that could keep this on Watson's shoulders while he remains in the NFL: 1. the amount of victims 2. the timing - 2021/22 is a world of difference between what happened in 2003/2010 WRT to social media and just how long stories like this might follow him. Or maybe (likely) I'm just hopeful that these kinds of actions prevent reverence going forward.
yeah I think your response to my comment makes a lot of sense. Worth noting I do know four Browns fans, all of whom have sworn off spending money on the team (though will watch) while Watson remains on the team. For now I'll naively cling to this anecdote.Sure. Right after his SB wins and his future induction into Canton.
People may bring it up, but it seems to matter very little.
He'll be getting paid hundreds of millions and cheered everytime he throws a TD. The amount of women doesn't matter. The media will talk about it the same way they talk about Tyreek Hill or Jameis Winston. Briefly and quietly. Fans will call him a rapist when they see him on the TV, but it'll impact him and his life as much as any other insult a rival fan might shout at their television.
The biggest impact is that he most likely loses money from sponsors. Everything else? Basically the same.
When Kobe received his Oscar, the bulk of the audience gave him a standing ovation. When he passed the row where Jane Fonda was seated near the end, she said something to the effect of "i thought we stopped giving these out to rapists."I do wonder what his life outside of football is like compared to Ben or Kobe? My point about social media was that my gut tells me exponentially more people know about what Watson did than the other two. We know & followed those stories because we are sports fans, did large swaths of non sports fans follow those stories closely?
I think the contrast between Kobe and Deshaun is extremely stark.When Kobe received his Oscar, the bulk of the audience gave him a standing ovation. When he passed the row where Jane Fonda was seated near the end, she said something to the effect of "i thought we stopped giving these out to rapists."
I think it comes down to what has always been the case: The rich and famous always will be perceived differently.
Didn't Kobe's team release the victim's name and trash her? I still haven't received MY huge diamond ring in exchange for his acceptance.I think the contrast between Kobe and Deshaun is extremely stark.
Kobe had one incident, apologized publicly, and to my knowledge, walked the straight and narrow as a husband and father eventually.
Deshaun claims he never did anything wrong, apologized to the Cleveland Browns for being a distraction, and just cut about 20 7-figure checks to make his problem go away. He has shown not a single ounce of contrition.
Oh, I don’t mean to defend Kobe or his actions, but I just wanted to point out that he at least showed some contrition and apologized.Didn't Kobe's team release the victim's name and trash her? I still haven't received MY huge diamond ring in exchange for his acceptance.
Also, I don't really want to get into comparing degrees of sexual assault, but what Kobe was accused of doing was pretty violent in nature.
Is there really that much difference? Neither of them is ever going to apologize for rape/assault. They've both only apologized around the edges. Kobe didn't pay off his accuser because he didn't have to.Oh, I don’t mean to defend Kobe or his actions, but I just wanted to point out that he at least showed some contrition and apologized.
While Watson’s accusations may be of a less violent nature, the sheer volume of women filing complaints and his complete lack of contrition make him look like a far more sinister dude.
There was a settlement. L.A. Times estimated from sources that it was $2.5MKobe didn't pay off his accuser because he didn't have to.
Well, there you go. Not much difference then.There was a settlement. L.A. Times estimated from sources that it was $2.5M
Kobe's apology boiled down to, "I'm sorry you feel like I raped you." He didn't issue the apology until after the charges were dropped (which is completely justifiable - just pointing out the timeline) and he didn't issue the apology until he received an assurance it wouldn't be used against him should there be a future civil suit. The apology was the start of a PR campaign to turn around his image which really amounted to him changing his number, embracing the mamba/NBA badboy image, adopting a me vs. the world attitude. Basically, a complete heel turn and it worked. It's an interesting approach to take after being accused of sexual assault but I guess leaves a roadmap that Watson could follow. Embrace the hate until they love you for it.Oh, I don’t mean to defend Kobe or his actions, but I just wanted to point out that he at least showed some contrition and apologized.
While Watson’s accusations may be of a less violent nature, the sheer volume of women filing complaints and his complete lack of contrition make him look like a far more sinister dude.
Might work in LA. Won't for the Browns.Kobe's apology boiled down to, "I'm sorry you feel like I raped you." He didn't issue the apology until after the charges were dropped (which is completely justifiable - just pointing out the timeline) and he didn't issue the apology until he received an assurance it wouldn't be used against him should there be a future civil suit. The apology was the start of a PR campaign to turn around his image which really amounted to him changing his number, embracing the mamba/NBA badboy image, adopting a me vs. the world attitude. Basically, a complete heel turn and it worked. It's an interesting approach to take after being accused of sexual assault but I guess leaves a roadmap that Watson could follow. Embrace the hate until they love you for it.
LOL ... I don't have espn insider, so I don't have access to the story, but I thought it was funnyDid I miss a report that the Niners would want him?
https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/06/21/browns-could-pursue-quarterback-trade-jimmy-garoppolo-deshaun-watson-suspensionAccording to ESPN’s Jake Trotter, Cleveland could continue looking outside the organization for quarterback help. He suggested that a Baker Mayfield-for-Jimmy Garoppolo trade could be a viable option.
He did initially apologize, though it's reasonable to assume that it was a term of the settlement. And over the years his story changed and "the incident in Colorado" became a trial he had to overcome, and essentially cast himself as a victim.Oh, I don’t mean to defend Kobe or his actions, but I just wanted to point out that he at least showed some contrition and apologized.
Happened after the criminal charges were dropped and before the settlement (after he was assured the apologize wouldn’t be used against him in the settlement).He did initially apologize, though it's reasonable to assume that it was a term of the settlement. And over the years his story changed and "the incident in Colorado" became a trial he had to overcome, and essentially cast himself as a victim.
This just needs to be seen again.Happened after the criminal charges were dropped and before the settlement (after he was assured the apologize wouldn’t be used against him in the settlement).
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As an aside, and not trying to add any credulity to either situation, but getting a sexual assault victim to file a criminal report is very difficult in general. It’s something they come to on their own or with a lot of prodding from an outcry friend or family member. Most criminal jurisdictions have little interest in pursuing delayed reports because it makes the cases harder to prove (no SANE report, no DNA, lack of injuries observed ! - even with extensive injuries observed in the SANE of Kobe’s victim) Also, the prevailing thought is that real victims report immediately. Why would they wait? A good victim goes to the cops immediately and subjects herself to an invasive SANE. Do you know what a SANE entails? She surrenders her clothes and poses naked for photos, hops in the stirrups, and agrees to have her genitalia photographed in great detail by a complete stranger. Swabbing intimate areas for the possibility of semen or other DNA like saliva. Swabbing the mons pubis area, labia, then speculum insertion and then vaginal swabs, cervical swabs. And she gets to leave in hospital clothing. I’m giving you the highlights of a 4-6+ hour exam because it’s a lot more than that. An exam Kobe’s accuser went through. If anyone ever says a SANE is like an annual gynecological exam, they have no idea what it’s like. Reporting a rape “the right way” is incredibly difficult. Imagine your wife or daughter going through that and then questions being raised about her relationship to the accused or her motive to fabricate (she was probably drunk and stepped out on you and lied about it to cover it up).
Meanwhile, if my wallet were stolen, I’d call the cops, report the description of my wallet to include contents and be automatically deemed a legit reporter and not questioned on why I was where I was or how much I had to drink. They would seek out they person I claimed stole my wallet. They would not ask me to surrender my clothing or swab by body. They wouldn’t even care if I was having dinner with my mistress
Unfortunately, rape myths permeate our criminal justice system and culture at large. Failure to report immediately means it’s not true. Not fully complying with law enforcement means it’s not true. Trying to get money when you’re told it’s likely there will be no conviction means it’s not true. So many similar parallels to domestic violence cases here. The old power and control wheel at play again. I’m sorry for the tangent. There’s a lot of people out there telling the truth but you’re second guessing because they didn’t act the way you expected them to act.
Perhaps the best non-baseball post I’ve seen on SoSH ever, and I’m one of those who in the early days of the Cosby downfall questioned the legitimacy of claims from a few women who “waited so long”. He had so much more power and prestige than just about anyone ever accused of rape/sexual assault on top of the demeaning and humiliating process of undergoing a SANE test. The process for these women to “prove” their claims is about equal to the trauma of the incident itself in many respects.Happened after the criminal charges were dropped and before the settlement (after he was assured the apologize wouldn’t be used against him in the settlement).
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As an aside, and not trying to add any credulity to either situation, but getting a sexual assault victim to file a criminal report is very difficult in general. It’s something they come to on their own or with a lot of prodding from an outcry friend or family member. Most criminal jurisdictions have little interest in pursuing delayed reports because it makes the cases harder to prove (no SANE report, no DNA, lack of injuries observed ! - even with extensive injuries observed in the SANE of Kobe’s victim) Also, the prevailing thought is that real victims report immediately. Why would they wait? A good victim goes to the cops immediately and subjects herself to an invasive SANE. Do you know what a SANE entails? She surrenders her clothes and poses naked for photos, hops in the stirrups, and agrees to have her genitalia photographed in great detail by a complete stranger. Swabbing intimate areas for the possibility of semen or other DNA like saliva. Swabbing the mons pubis area, labia, then speculum insertion and then vaginal swabs, cervical swabs. And she gets to leave in hospital clothing. I’m giving you the highlights of a 4-6+ hour exam because it’s a lot more than that. An exam Kobe’s accuser went through. If anyone ever says a SANE is like an annual gynecological exam, they have no idea what it’s like. Reporting a rape “the right way” is incredibly difficult. Imagine your wife or daughter going through that and then questions being raised about her relationship to the accused or her motive to fabricate (she was probably drunk and stepped out on you and lied about it to cover it up).
Meanwhile, if my wallet were stolen, I’d call the cops, report the description of my wallet to include contents and be automatically deemed a legit reporter and not questioned on why I was where I was or how much I had to drink. They would seek out they person I claimed stole my wallet. They would not ask me to surrender my clothing or swab by body. They wouldn’t even care if I was having dinner with my mistress
Unfortunately, rape myths permeate our criminal justice system and culture at large. Failure to report immediately means it’s not true. Not fully complying with law enforcement means it’s not true. Trying to get money when you’re told it’s likely there will be no conviction means it’s not true. So many similar parallels to domestic violence cases here. The old power and control wheel at play again. I’m sorry for the tangent. There’s a lot of people out there telling the truth but you’re second guessing because they didn’t act the way you expected them to act.