The unholy mess Deshaun Watson made for himself now has an end date. We learned, in a settlement announced Thursday between the NFL and its players association, when Watson’s increased league suspension would be finished.
We still don’t know if his punishment will ever truly be over.
The settlement was a compromise that can’t truly satisfy either side, as settlements are. It quite literally means both sides are “settling” for a conclusion neither finds ideal.
Watson originally was suspended only six games, with no fine, on Aug. 1 by NFL chief disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson. It was outrageous lenience by the retired federal judge, considering her own findings were that a “preponderance of evidence” had “engaged in sexual assault” during massage sessions.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell quickly appealed, his right under the collective bargaining agreement. He wanted a suspension of at least one full season, a fine reported to be in the $8 million range and a requirement Watson undergo therapy. This enabled Goodell to come out the winner in all of this, maybe the only one, as the pro-women, tough-guy commish.
Former New Jersey state attorney general Peter C. Harvey was the arbiter appointed to hear Goodell’s appeal for a harsher penalty, but before he could rule, the sides agreed on an 11-game suspension without pay, a $5 million fine, and a requirement he undergo a mandatory exam by behavioral experts and follow their suggested treatment. (The $5 million fine will go to charity — hopefully women’s rights among the causes).
The increased penalty still feels too lenient for sexual misconduct alleged by more than two dozen women, misconduct Goodell rightly called “predatory” and "egregious.”
This by the man who represents the NFL and the city of Cleveland as one of its marquee quarterbacks. The man whose career with the Browns, who traded for him in March and gave him a $230 million guaranteed contact, is now able to begin in Week 13, on Dec. 4 in Houston against his former team.
The added games Watson will miss, in the increased ban from six to 11 games, includes the Browns’ Nov. 13 game in Miami.
That will increase the Dolphins’ odds of winning that week but will certainly decrease the drama in anticipation of the game.
It is the “greeting” Watson can expect in opposing stadiums across the NFL that I had in mind in earlier wondering aloud if Watson’s punishment will ever truly be over.
Based on the reaction he got in Jacksonville last week, Watson might be advised to include earplugs as part of his game uniform. His suspension starts with the regular season and does not include exhibition games so in playing three series last week Watson heard constant booing from Jaguars fans and at least two chants — one of them too crude to repeat here.
This is what the disgraced quarterback can expect moving forward. Vitriol, condemnation and ridicule from opposing fans. And a civil trial next spring in the one lawsuit against him that never settled.
Watson had steadfastly insisted on his complete innocence, expressing zero remorse or regret, in essence calling two dozen women liars, until finally he at least said, “I’m truly sorry to all the women I’ve impacted,” in a brief video put out through the team.
It was not an acknowledgment of guilt. It was token contrition that fell short. In fact Thursday, Watson reiterated, “I’ll continue to stand on my innocence” — despite the NFL findings, the allegations of two dozen accusers and the resulting punishment.
Deshaun Watson now knows when his career can restart, but he also knows things may never again be the same for him.
His suspension will end in 3 1/2 months.
But his punishment won’t.
