DESHAME — The Weekly Opine

As is customary, the NFL put the ball on the ground (fumbled) when faced with another opportunity to mete out real discipline. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

NFL misses wide wrong

They say money can’t buy love or happiness. Maybe that is true but as we see time and again, money can buy freedom. The situation involving Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is the latest example of wealth leaving justice coughing in the dust, while guilt eases by with hardly a scratch.

This week, when Disciplinary Officer Susan L. Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the NFL and NFL Players Association, recommended a 6-game suspension for Watson, disgust was audible across the sports world and beyond. It was particularly upsetting that a woman with authority went easy on a man who obviously, on some level, abused dozens of relatively powerless women while receiving massage therapy. Robinson agreed that Watson broke the NFL’s personal conduct policy (uh, yes, in a big way) but nonetheless let Cleveland’s new QB slide.

How could a man who has been credibly accused of sexual misconduct by 30 women be given such a light “sentence” by any authority, particularly by a woman? Especially considering Watson as much as admitted guilt, having agreed to make financial payments to 23 of the 24 women who filed civil lawsuits. It’s anyone’s guess, but the other six women who have not filed civil lawsuits may be holding out to seek criminal charges.

However, earlier this year, two Texas grand juries decided not to pursue criminal charges against Watson, who continues to unconvincingly claim his innocence. (I’ll say it again. When 20+ women accuse you of sexual misconduct you are, in my opinion, guilty regardless if you are a presidential candidate or pro football quarterback.)

Texas’ refusal to criminally pursue Watson sits in stark contrast with the Lone Star State’s fervor in seeking criminal charges against anyone – doctors and patients – who participates in an abortion.

A goofy process

As ESPN’s Steven A. Smith pointed out it is unsettling, the degree to which the NFL inserted themselves into a process that was ripe for law enforcement to handle. Instead, the League figured heavily into the proceedings that netted Watson a veritable tap on the wrist.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has a PhD in dealing with PR nightmares. (Photo credit Sportico)

Now that Watson’s fate has been announced, both the NFL and the players union have the right to appeal former federal judge Robinson’s disciplinary recommendation. Yesterday, the league announced it will appeal Watson’s comfy 6-game suspension. So far, the union has said it will not challenge the ruling, which might be indicative of what his peers think about Watson’s behavior.

The general consensus was that Watson would be suspended for the entire 2022 season. The NFL asked for at least a one-year suspension after which Watson would have to petition the NFL for reinstatement. (After being shamed by the accusations of more than two dozen women, accusing him of sexual misconduct, Watson sat out the entire 2021 season.)

According to reporting, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will decide who will hear the NFL’s appeal or, get this, Goodell can review the appeal himself or appoint someone to do so on his behalf. Hmmm…

The players union seems to recognize two things. First, Watson easily could, and should, have been criminally prosecuted. Therefore, the union may not muster the justification to appeal a paltry 6-game suspension, with the goal of shortening the suspension. And second, a union that nearly always, reflexively defends its members (like wayward police unions reflexively defend murderous, thug cops) apparently cannot justify going to bat for Watson, whose conduct sure resembles that of a predatory creep.

The NFL, which has an ongoing problem of high profile, well-paid, football-playing employees abusing women, once again finds itself mired in controversy. Commissioner Goodell might spend more time than any CEO in America huddling with public relations crisis managers.

Deshaun Watson is a lucky man. A very lucky man. (Photo credit The Sporting News)

Another mistake by the lake

If you are wondering why the Cleveland Browns would roll the dice and take the risk of obtaining Watson from the Houston Texans, here’s why: The Browns have become one of sports most desperate franchises, never having won or even appeared in a Super Bowl. Cleveland’s last NFL championship came in 1964, before the Super Bowl was invented in 1967.

Sinking into their own LIV Golf-like moment, the Browns agreed to pay the deeply tainted Watson $230 million guaranteed over five years, plus a $44.9 million signing bonus. However, what the Browns did is the opposite of sportswashing (whereby countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia involve themselves in sports to distract from, or wash over, notorious human rights atrocities in an attempt to salvage tarnished reputations).

What the Cleveland Browns have done is defile their own franchise. Perennially losing, or barely making the playoffs, as has been the case with the Cleveland Browns, led team executives to stoop and do things they likely never thought they would do.

As it stands, we barely finished applauding the Cleveland baseball team, for finally changing its offensive nickname – to the Guardians – before the football team, in a reckless mistake of desperation, signed on with a man possessing considerable on-field talent but sorely lacking off-the-field character and dignity.

Pathetic. Truly, pathetic.

Note: It’s vacay time! Among other things, I will do a fabulous staycation with my significant significant other, celebrate my 65th, host a weekend with visiting family and friends, and raise my garden-tending to the next level as summer winds down.

The Weekly Opine returns Thursday, September 1.