USA TODAY Sports
The news was carefully hidden at low tide from our collective attention in early summer. The day has come. The hearing on the possible punishment of Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson begins today.
The league has proposed discipline. According to several reports, the NFL wants an indefinite one-year suspension. The league hopes to keep it open, in the face of the possibility of more claims being made against Watson. Monday’s lawsuit against the Texans suggests at least six more lawsuits could be filed against Watson. It is unclear how many may be or will be filed against the team.
Retired Judge Sue L. Robinson will preside over the hearing. Before making a decision on a possible punishment, you will need to decide if and to what extent the NFL Players Association will be able to explore the defense based on the idea that any punishment for Watson should be proportionate to discipline. imposed on the owner of Commanders, Daniel. Snyder, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, for possible violations of personal conduct policy. As explained on Monday, if he lets this issue go too far, he could jeopardize his appointment.
If he discovers that Watson should not be disciplined at all (which could also jeopardize his appointment), the case is over. If any discipline is imposed, the case is turned to Commissioner Roger Goodell, who has the final say on the process.
As always.
They have tried to instill a sense of independence in the process, but in the end the commissioner still has his hands behind the wheel. And if your employees currently want an indefinite suspension of at least a year, why wouldn’t you agree if / when the case came around the NFL’s top power?
It is unclear how long all this will take. If the NFLPA is allowed to fully explore defense based on proportional punishment compared to homeowners, it might take a while. And that will not be the fault of the union. He has the right and duty to defend Watson. In the end, their best defense might be rooted in the idea that while the Personal Conduct Policy provides that homeowners will have a higher standard, the truth is they are not. And that players must also stay at that same level.