What you should really know about the Deshaun Watson situation
ZWF #26: Sunday, August 7, 2022
Earlier this week, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was suspended for six games after an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. That’s the headline, but there’s much more inside of the story that you might be missing.
Inside this edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts, what you should actually be focusing on when looking at the situation surrounding Deshaun Watson, and a look at what Zander’s been reading this past week. Plus, a collection of the top headlines in news and sports from the past week.
Also, go listen to the latest episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast! Episode 72 features a preview of the upcoming European club soccer season. Zander’s Facts soccer analyst Emma Adams joins the pod to predict who will win the top European leagues and rank the top Premier League clubs. Download and listen to the Zander’s Facts podcast, including this week’s ZF Flashback, wherever you get your podcasts!
Zander’s Weekend Facts is here to give you the facts about what has been going on in the world around us this past week. You’ll just have to read these facts, instead of listening to them on the Zander’s Facts podcast.
Here are Zander’s Weekend Facts for Sunday, August 7, 2022:
ZANDER’S ANALYSIS
The Deshaun Watson situation is much worse than you think
The year and a half long drama that has surrounded Deshaun Watson appears to be drawing to a conclusion. Almost 18 months after Watson was first accused of sexual misconduct by several massage therapists, a NFL investigation into Watson’s behavior has wrapped up. The big headline: Deshaun Watson suspended six games. That’s what everyone is focusing on, but there’s a lot more that needs to be addressed.
By the way, Episode 70 of the Zander’s Facts podcast, from a few weeks ago, dove in on the allegations surrounding Deshaun Watson along with Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder. For a full breakdown of the Watson situation, listen to that episode.
For a quick summary of the situation, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been accused by 24 women of sexual misconduct during different massage appointments in 2020 and 2021. Two of those lawsuits included allegations of sexual assault. Since March 2021, when the first lawsuits against Watson were filed, Watson has lost several major endorsement deals and has been traded to the Browns from the Houston Texans. Earlier this year, two grand juries declined to indict Watson on the charges and Watson settled 20 of the 24 cases.
The National Football League conducted a separate independent investigation into the allegations against Watson. The league hired Sue L. Robinson, a retired federal judge, as the arbiter in the case who made a decision as to whether the allegations against Watson were true and what penalty he should receive. On Monday, Robinson concluded her investigation and recommended that Watson be suspended six games for the upcoming NFL season.
The 16-page report that was submitted by Robinson can be read here: ESPN - DECISION PDF
If you’ve been following this story in the media, you’ve probably heard that Watson was suspended six games, and that’s it. ESPN, NFL Network, and others are focusing on what this means for the Cleveland Browns this season. The thing is, that’s not what we should be focusing on right now.
What we should be focusing on is what exactly was inside the report. What exactly was found in the investigation.
Most notably, Robinson found that Watson did violate the NFL’s personal conduct policy on three counts. Those three counts being Conduct that Qualifies as a 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.
Yes, Robinson found that the allegations against Watson were true. It was found that Deshaun Watson did participate in conduct that qualifies as sexual assault, and he did it on more than one occasion. Remember, while Watson only had 24 lawsuits filed against him, a The New York Times investigation found that from 2019 through 2021, Watson had booked massage appointments with 66 different women.
Going more in depth, Robinson found that Watson had a “sexual purpose – not just a therapeutic purpose” in making the massage appointments. Robinson found that Watson continuously took actions that instigated the ability of his “erect penis” to come into contact with the therapists. Robinson noted that while Watson did participate in the investigation, he denied those claims which have been found to be true. Robinson also found that Watson’s conduct during these appointments “posed a genuine danger to the safety and well-being of another person.”
Additionally, Robinson states in the report, “I, therefore, find that the NFL has carried its burden to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that Mr. Watson engaged in sexual assault.”
So, why did Robinson recommend only a six game suspension for Watson, despite the conclusions she reached? Robinson notes that she found the behavior from Watson should be considered “non-violent sexual assault,” which even so, why is there such a massive disparity in discipline for violent and non-violent instances when it can be argued that non-violent cases are just as egregious.
However, in order to come to her conclusion, Robinson outlines the various NFL policies and past procedures relating to discipline. She also critiques how the NFL has punished in the past, and for having a very lenient and dynamic system for discipline. Robinson came to the six-game decision because she notes it would be the “most significant punishment ever imposed on an NFL player for allegations of non-violent sexual conduct,” and also notes that “Mr. Watson’s pattern of conduct is more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL.” In the report, she criticizes the NFL for recommending an indefinite suspension because it would go against past league discipline precedent.
It is made clear that the decision to suspend Watson for six games is not solely based on his actions, but also from past precedence of the NFL.
Obviously, six games is not enough, nowhere near enough, especially considering Watson was found to have sexually assaulted several women. But the blame for the slap-on-the-wrist-like discipline should not be focused on the arbiter in this case, Sue L. Robinson. The blame should be focused squarely on the NFL.
It is clear that Watson deserves a much more significant and harsh penalty, and by reading Robinson’s report, you even get the sense that she thinks so too. However, the only reason that hasn’t been handed down is because of the NFL.
The NFL, which to their credit does want an indefinite suspension of Watson, has an extremely poor history in the area of discipline. In 2014, Ray Rice was originally suspended a measly two games for violent domestic assault. A later indefinite suspension was then overturned by a federal judge because the NFL had no new facts to increase the original suspension. The league has indefinitely suspended several players, including Josh Gordon, for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Just this year, the league suspended Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley one year for legally betting on NFL games, while he was away from the team.
The NFL’s procedure for discipline has shown absolutely no consistency in the past and has actually appeared to give players accused of sexual and domestic assault shorter suspensions than those accused of gambling or taking various drugs. Robinson acknowledges this in the report and takes aim at the NFL for it.
What the NFL has done, specifically over the past several years, is take charge in penalizing players for violating league rules, but done so in an extremely inconsistent manner. When looking at NFL policies and past precedent, it becomes clear that the league disciplines gambling more than assault and violence.
Now, it is the truth that in this case, the NFL does appear to be on the right side and wants a much harsher penalty for Watson. But there is no doubt that the reason we are in this debacle is because of the past recklessness on the NFL’s part. Remember, this is a league that still allows Daniel Snyder to own a football organization and allowed Ben Roethlisberger to come away unscathed after being accused of sexual assault in 2008.
In response to the report from Robinson, the NFL has announced that it will be appealing the ruling and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has appointed former New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey as the individual who will hear the NFL’s appeal. The NFL is hoping for an indefinite suspension with a one-year minimum and a monetary fine, which was not handed down by Robinson.
In conclusion, if you take one thing away from this entire situation, let it be this. Deshaun Watson was accussed of sexual misconduct and sexual assault and was found to be have behaved in those manners, several times against several women. In the time since the allegations became public, nearly 18 months ago, he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and not released any apology or expressed any regret for his actions. Despite what his other good work in the community might say, Deshaun Watson is a monster who should never see the football field again. Looking at what the sports media is saying may not have you thinking this, but this situation is so much worse than it would appear.
And despite the NFL publicly wanting an indefinite suspension for him, it was reported this week that they offered him a settlement earlier this year that would have only resulted in a 12 game suspension.
It is clear that the NFL just wants this to go away, as they do with any matter that may hurt the reputation of the shield (and there are a lot these days.) However, sexual misconduct and assault is no joking matter and should not be accepted under any circumstances. Despite the league’s brave face, that doesn’t appear to be their internal stance. As Robinson put it in her report’s conclusion, “The NFL may be a “forward-facing” organization, but it is not necessarily a forward-looking one.”
With this horrible situation adding on to the plethora of on and off the field issues that football is facing, it is becoming harder and harder by the day to remain a fan of the NFL and the sport of American football.
What Zander’s been reading this week
This week’s featured article takes a look at antibiotics and how the Coronavirus pandemic has worsened an already dangerous situation. Antibiotics have been a breakthrough in the century since they have been developed in order for the human race to fight various diseases and infections. However, we may be entering a “post-antibiotic era” in which we may have less immunity towards common infections.
Read this week’s featured article in Vox - How the pandemic screwed up our antibiotics
Zander’s Facts Sporting Club
Here are the top sports stories from the past week in Zander’s Facts Sporting Club:
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has been suspended by the NFL following an investigation into whether the organization violated league rules. The Dolphins were accused by former head coach Brian Flores of attempting to lose games in order to receive higher draft picks, along with the accusation that the Dolphins violated tampering rules while talking to former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady while they were under contract with other teams. The investigation found that the Dolphins did have “impermissible communications” with representatives of Brady and Payton, but did not find that the organization intentionally lost games during the 2019 season. The NFL also took away the Dolphins’ first-round draft pick in 2023 and third-round pick in 2024.
WNBA star Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in Russian prison this week. Griner was arrested in Russia back in February after she was found to have possessed cannabis. The conclusion of the trial is expected to accelerate negotiations between the U.S. and Russian governments on a potential prisoner swap that would bring Griner back to the United States.
The 2022-2023 Premier League season kicked off this weekend. This weekend marks the beginning of a new European club soccer season, as the biggest leagues in Europe begin their seasons over the next few weeks. Manchester City is seeking to win the league title for the third season in a row, while Liverpool is looking to return to the top of the league after falling one point short last year. The beginning of August marks an earlier return to the season due to the World Cup being help in Qatar in November and December. The Premier League kicks off this weekend and continues until the season ends in May 2023 and can be watched in the U.S. on NBC, USA, Peacock, and Universo.
The United States Women’s National Team has scheduled a friendly with the England women’s soccer team. The friendly, which was scheduled just days after the England women won their first European championships, will take place on Friday October 7 at Wembley Stadium in London. Just one day after tickets went on sale earlier this week, England announced that the match had been sold out. This will be the first match between the U.S. and England since the 2019 World Cup semifinals, when the U.S. won 2-1 and eventually won the tournament. The U.S. men will also be facing England later this year in the men’s World Cup.
The NFL began their preseason with the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night. The annual game opens play for the preseason each year and is played in Canton, Ohio, the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In the game, the Las Vegas Raiders defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-11. On Saturday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted their next class of Hall of Famers. Among the eight individuals inducted included Tony Boselli and Cliff Branch.
Rapid-fire Facts
Here are the tops headlines from past week in rapid-fire fashion:
Voters in Kansas voted to protect abortion access in the first public referendum on the issue since the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. The referendum asked whether an amendment be added to the Kansas Constitution that would state that the right to an abortion is not protected in the document. It would have also allowed the Republican-led Kansas legislature to pass a bill restricting access to abortion in the state. However, since the “No” votes prevailed in the election, abortion access will continue in the state. “No” votes won by 18%, garnering 59% of the vote. In 2020, former President Donald Trump won the state in that year’s U.S. presidential election by almost 15%.
al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed by a U.S. drone strike earlier this week. Zawahiri was killed when he stepped out onto the balcony of his safe house in Kabul, Afghanistan. U.S. President Joe Biden announced the killing, saying that he authorized the strike and that no one else was killed. Zawahiri became the leader of the terrorist group after Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) visited Taiwan this week, despite aggressive warnings from China denouncing the move. The island of Taiwan is a self-governing democracy, but China claims the country and has vowed to take the territory back. Pelosi became the highest-profile American lawmaker to visit the island since former House Speaker Newt Gingrich visited in 1997. In the days after, China has suspended talks and cooperation on several issues with the U.S. and planned several military exercises around Taiwan.
Congress has passed the PACT Act, which provides health care and benefits to millions of U.S. military veterans who were injured having been exposed to toxins. The legislation originally passed the Senate in June, but a technical error required another vote on the bill. The bill again made news last week after several Senate Republicans switch their votes and blocked the bill, sparking fury from supporters including comedian Jon Stewart, who has spent several years promoting legislation to assist veterans. The Senate ultimately passed the bill on Wednesday with a 86-11 vote. The bill now goes to President Biden, where it is expected to be signed.
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was ordered to pay over $45 million in punitive damages to the family of a Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victim. A Texas jury also ordered that Jones pay $4.1 million in compensatory damages. Jones has spread misinformation ever since the 2012 school shooting at Sandy Hook on his Infowars program, saying that the event was staged by the government. Jones has also helped spread conspiracy theories on a host of other topics, including the 2020 presidential election, going so far as to join the rioters at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Wrapping up the Facts
Before this edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts wraps up, here’s another reminder to check out the latest episodes of the Zander’s Facts podcast. Download and listen to Episode 72 and the latest ZF Flashback, along with every episode of Zander’s Facts, wherever you get your podcasts. Check out Zander’s Facts’ Linktree page for more on anything Zander’s Facts related: Zander's Facts on Linktree
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That’s a wrap on this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts. The Facts in print return next Sunday, August 14, 2022.