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ABSURD: NFL slammed after Deshaun Watson gets ONLY 6-game ban for sexual misconduct

Disciplinary official Sue Robinson's 15-page conclusion stated that although Watson violated the personal conduct policy, there was not enough evidence to justify an indefinite suspension

Deshaun Watson, the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, has been given a six-game suspension for breaking the NFL's personal-conduct rules, according to disciplinary official Sue L Robinson's decision on August 1, Monday. No further fine will be imposed in addition to the ban, according to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero. In March 2022, quarterback Watson left the Houston Texans on a deal worth an NFL-record of $230 million (£174.4 million), BBC stated.

The NFL "carried its burden to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that Mr Watson violated the (personal-conduct) policy by engaging in sexual assault conduct that poses a genuine danger to the safety and well-being of another person; and conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity of the NFL," according to Robinson's 16-page report. 

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The NFL recommended Watson be suspended for at least the 2022 season, Former US district judge Sue L Robinson said she was "constrained by criteria of fairness and consistency of treatment among players similarly situated" in her judgment. 

"Although I have found Mr Watson to have violated the Policy, I have done so using the NFL's posthoc definitions of the prohibited conduct at issue," Robinson wrote. "Defining prohibited conduct plays a critical role in the rule of law, enabling people to predict the consequences of their behavior. It is inherently unfair to identify conduct as prohibited only after the conduct has been committed, just as it is inherently unjust to change the penalties for such conduct after the fact. As I've noted above, the NFL is a private organization and can operate as it deems fit, but the post-hoc determination of what constitutes the prohibited conduct here cannot genuinely satisfy the 'fairness' prong of the standard of review or justify the imposition of the unprecedented sanction requested by the NFL." On August 1, Monday, the NFL issued a statement thanking Robinson for her "diligence and professionalism," adding that it is "reviewing" her decision.

Watson's suspension followed a three-day hearing in Delaware before Robinson, who was chosen jointly by the NFL and NFLPA. On June 30, the disciplinary hearing was concluded. On June 21, it was revealed that Watson had reached confidential settlements with 20 of the 24 women who had brought civil lawsuits against him for allegedly committing sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. Attorney Tony Buzbee stated on Monday that three of Watson's four pending civil lawsuits had been settled, according to NFL. 

Watson, 26, has denied any misconduct and insisted that any sex he had with the women was consensual. In Texas, two grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal allegations submitted by ten women. "No, like I said, I never assaulted anyone," Watson said on June 14. "I never harassed anyone. I never disrespected anyone. I never forced anyone to do anything," NFL reported.

Twitterati slammed NFL 

NFL was slammed for Deshaun Watson getting only a 6-game ban for sexual misconduct. NFL fans and sports personalities voiced their opinions on Twitter. One user tweeted, "24 women accuse Deshaun Watson of sexual assault and this dude gets a 6-game ban and a record contract from the Cleveland Browns."

Another wrote, "Deshaun Watson just got a slap on the wrists 6-week suspension for alleged sexual assault and harassment of 24 women which has already led to 23 settlements. That is absurd."

One Twitter user wrote, "Josh Gordon 4 year suspension for weed Calvin Ridley year suspension for gambling Watson 6 games for 20+ sexual assault cases. He had more cases than weeks suspended." 

"NFL suspensions: Calvin Ridley: 17 games, betting Vontaze Burfict: 12 games, targeting DeAndre Hopkins: 6 games, PED Martavis Bryant: Indefinitely, Weed Josh Gordon: 25+ games, Weed Darren Waller: 16 games, substance abuse DeShaun Watson: 6 games, 25 SV accusations." Tweeted another. 

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