OT - The Early DeSean Watson Cleveland Browns NFL Suspension Line

[Northern_Blitz]

I’m hearing that Watson’s lawyers are going to say he’s already missed an entire season so time has already been served. I thought that a crazy stance but they may debate the merits of that.

I'd imagine they will argue this too.

But there was no direct financial penalty. And it's hard to argue that it hurt his market value given the contract he signed.

[feltdizz]

I'd imagine they will argue this too.

But there was no direct financial penalty. And it's hard to argue that it hurt his market value given the contract he signed.

I think its a bit goofy to demand a player sit out a whole year after sitting out a whole year.

I would prefer if they just fined him a ridiculous amount and called it a day.

Seems odd to let a team trade for him and guarantee a whole contract and then step in and recommend punishment.

[hawaiiansteel]

I think its a bit goofy to demand a player sit out a whole year after sitting out a whole year.

I would prefer if they just fined him a ridiculous amount and called it a day.

if the NFL only fines him a ridiculous amount, considering the ridiculous amount of $$$ Watson just signed for do you think that would really make a difference?

[crushedspirit]

I thought there were rumors (?) that the Texans were the ones booking hotels in certain cases.

If true, I wonder if that only happened in the cases that haven't been settled yet.

I heard the same, but there is a slippery slope of what an employer is guilty of. The "overwhelming" evidence for any conviction would have to show the Texans knew some possible "illegal" activities were occurring, and either turned a blind eye, or even covered it up. Booking rooms does not point in that direction.

I'll wait to hear what Buzbee has before making any conclusion of what the Texans were guilty of.

[Northern_Blitz]

I think its a bit goofy to demand a player sit out a whole year after sitting out a whole year.

I would prefer if they just fined him a ridiculous amount and called it a day.

Seems odd to let a team trade for him and guarantee a whole contract and then step in and recommend punishment.

But him sitting out wasn't technically a disciplinary action from the team or the league.

He was not suspended IIRC.

And there is no way he gets out of this without a suspension from the league IMO. Because the PR would be terrible...and PR (and protecting the owners) is what the league optimizes for IMO.

[Northern_Blitz]

I heard the same, but there is a slippery slope of what an employer is guilty of. The "overwhelming" evidence for any conviction would have to show the Texans knew some possible "illegal" activities were occurring, and either turned a blind eye, or even covered it up. Booking rooms does not point in that direction.

I'll wait to hear what Buzbee has before making any conclusion of what the Texans were guilty of.

Me too.

And I absolutely wouldn't be surprised if it's just a scare tactic to get the owners / teams involved in the bad press to increase pressure to up the settlement.

I would prefer that the process was more transparent than it is, but that will never happen. The league will do all it can to keep as much under wraps as it can IMO.

[Oviedo]

I think its a bit goofy to demand a player sit out a whole year after sitting out a whole year.

I would prefer if they just fined him a ridiculous amount and called it a day.

Seems odd to let a team trade for him and guarantee a whole contract and then step in and recommend punishment.

I disagree. He is a sociopath and needs to spend a year in some serious counseling. No way will the NFL let someone who victimized women...maybe 66..play this season.

[feltdizz]

But him sitting out wasn't technically a disciplinary action from the team or the league.

He was not suspended IIRC.

And there is no way he gets out of this without a suspension from the league IMO. Because the PR would be terrible...and PR (and protecting the owners) is what the league optimizes for IMO.

Honestly, I’m over it. Not to sound crude but if Deshaun was fined and played this year I wouldn’t be up in arms like he got off easy since he didn’t play at all last year.

IMO his new contract being fully guaranteed and teams fighting for his services while this was under investigation was the worst PR the NFL could have.

[feltdizz]

I disagree. He is a sociopath and needs to spend a year in some serious counseling. No way will the NFL let someone who victimized women...maybe 66..play this season.

yeah.. dude is skeevy mcskeevy but we have an owner who also likes to get rubbed and tugged.

[Northern_Blitz]

Honestly, I’m over it. Not to sound crude but if Deshaun was fined and played this year I wouldn’t be up in arms like he got off easy since he didn’t play at all last year.

IMO his new contract being fully guaranteed and teams fighting for his services while this was under investigation was the worst PR the NFL could have.

I'm sure that the media reaction would be horribly negative if he never gets suspended by the league.

Especially after the MLB just suspended a guy for 2 years for a violence against women event.

Maybe this would be OK PR wise if it was something like a Ben type suspension and a huge fine (since he hasn't had any financial penalty from this). But I'd guess that the maximum fine is fairly low.

[NorthCoast]

I'm sure that the media reaction would be horribly negative if he never gets suspended by the league.

Especially after the MLB just suspended a guy for 2 years for a violence against women event.

Maybe this would be OK PR wise if it was something like a Ben type suspension and a huge fine (since he hasn't had any financial penalty from this). But I'd guess that the maximum fine is fairly low.

A fine means little. Even if he forfeits the first two years of his salary he's still wealthy beyond imagination.

[Buzz]

A fine means little. Even if he forfeits the first two years of his salary he's still wealthy beyond imagination.

$$$$
If the NFL is serious about making a statement against the kind of behavior Watson was allegedly engaged in, they have to keep his ar$$$e off the field for a significant period of time

and if the Texans knew & even facilitated bad behavior on his part, they need to be docked some draft picks

[feltdizz]

I'm sure that the media reaction would be horribly negative if he never gets suspended by the league.

Especially after the MLB just suspended a guy for 2 years for a violence against women event.

Maybe this would be OK PR wise if it was something like a Ben type suspension and a huge fine (since he hasn't had any financial penalty from this). But I'd guess that the maximum fine is fairly low.

that dude in the MLB beat up a woman he was having sex with and they were into some S&M stuff.

[feltdizz]

A fine means little. Even if he forfeits the first two years of his salary he's still wealthy beyond imagination.

He was already wealthy beyond imagination. I don’t think you can fine him for his net worth. Make him donate a few mill to a woman’s shelter IMO.

Unless people want Deshaun gone for good I doubt there is a fine or punishment that satisfies most people.

[Bawb the Revelator]

He was already wealthy beyond imagination. I don’t think you can fine him for his net worth. Make him donate a few mill to a woman’s shelter IMO.

Unless people want Deshaun gone for good I doubt there is a fine or punishment that satisfies most people.

IMO DeSean is young and dumb and way too rich too soon. Maybe growing the hell up and a few million to a woman's shelter cures him. In Haslam's case you need to revise the U.S. Tax Code before he'll notice. But that's the entire NFL ownership, too.