Deshaun Watson’s Six-Game Suspension Sets a Bad Precedent for the NFL – Opinion

On Monday, disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson ruled that Cleveland Browns star quarterback Deshaun Watson has been suspended for the first six games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, but he will not be fined.

Watson was sued by 25 different women. Twenty-three of these lawsuits were settled. Watson was accused by 25 women of sexual misconduct. He received a suspension for six games.

Robinson’s 16-page report concluded with the following:

“Although this is the most significant punishment ever imposed on an NFL player for allegations of nonviolent sexual conduct, Mr. Watson’s pattern of conduct is more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL,”

Let’s take a look at some of the previous NFL suspensions.

Antonio Brown was banned in 2020 after sending harassing text messages to a female accuser of sexual misconduct. Brown refuted the claim of sexual misconduct. He was sentenced for two years probation after pleading no contest to battery and burglary charges. Brown was suspended for eight games.

Calvin Ridley (Atlant Falcons wide receiver) was fired last season for placing bets in NFL games. Ridley claimed that he had gambled $1500 on NFL parlays and was suspended for one-year. Ridley was working in mental health corner and gambling took place while he was absent from the team.

Darren Waller, then-Baltimore Ravens and now-Las Vegas Raiders tight end, violated substance abuse policies in 2017. He was banned for one year. In 2016, he was also suspended four times for the same offense. In 2018, he was reinstated.

In 2017, Dallas Cowboys star-running back Ezekiel Elliot was suspended for six games after the NFL’s investigation into domestic violence allegations. Elliot’s ex-girlfriend accused him of assaulting her five times during his college days at Ohio State.

After the scandal of the deflategate, the former-New England Patriots quarterback was expelled for four games by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Indianapolis Colts had accused Brady and the Patriots with deflating footballs in order to gain an advantage.

In 2019, following a four-month investigation, wide receiver Tyreek Hill was not suspended for allegedly breaking his three-year-old son’s arm. In an audio recording, Hill’s girlfriend said his son is afraid of him; Hill responded by saying: “You should be afraid of me too.”

Recently, in May, Arizona Cardinals star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was suspended six games after he violated the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

That’s to name a few NFL players who previously received a suspension. 24 women never accused these players of any sexual misconduct.

NFL suspends players
Calvin Ridley: 17 betting games
Vontaze Burfict: 12 games, targeting
DeAndre Hopkins: 6 games, PED
Martavis Bryant: Indefinitely, Weed
Josh Gordon: Weed, 25+ Games
Darren Waller: 16 video games and substance abuse

DeShaun – 6 games, 25 SSV accusations

— Tristen Kuhn (@KuhnTristen) August 1, 2022

Calvin Ridley was banned for his $1500 gambling on NFL parlays. Deshaun Watson was suspended for gambling $1500 on NFL parlays. He received six games in exchange for the accusations of 30 women against him.

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) August 1, 2022

Tony Buzbee (the attorney representing the women in civil lawsuits) said:

“This case started because one woman had the fortitude to step forward and make her voice heard … Her courage inspired many others with the same experience. Without that brave voice, none of this would have happened. One person can make a difference.”

Buzbee spoke out about the suspension.

“We don’t know what was presented to Judge Robinson by the NFL‘s lawyers. We don’t know how the NFL’s case was presented … only a small fraction of those women that we represent were ever spoken to by the NFL’s lawyers. Beyond that we can’t speculate and have no comment on the decision.”

Watson’s six-game suspension is nowhere near enough; if Ezekiel Elliot and DeAndre Hopkins received a six-game suspension, and Ridley received a suspension for one year, Watson should be suspended for one year.

Watson was not accused by one woman, nor two, but twenty-four women. The NFL is setting a bad precedent for not pushing for a more prolonged suspension. Watson won’t be penalized, as mentioned previously.

Many claim that Watson was wrongfully accused. But, some other players mentioned in this article were also charged with assaulting and sexual misconduct. The NFL still suspended them for 6-8 games. Watson was accused by 24 women, but the NFL granted Watson a pass, with a suspension of six games and no fine.