The NFLPA had two business days to file a brief response to the NFL’s Deshaun Watson appeal. The union, as expected, followed up by filing a brief response ( Twitter link ).
That matter now goes to appellate appointee Peter Harvey, whom Roger Goodell appointed to hear the league’s appeal. Harvey helped the NFL craft its personal conduct policy, and the fact Goodell chose him to hear his appeal of Watson’s six-game suspension suggests the league is confident more games will be added to the Browns quarterback’s suspension .
What’s happening puts the NFLPA in a spot where a legal battle seems likely. With the union not appealing Sue Robinson’s six-game ban, Watson will miss the first six games of this season. However, a legal battle could put him on the field soon after. A preliminary injunction while the courts deal with the matter would put Watson in position to play and — assuming the league’s CBA holds up in court — would serve two separate suspensions. Or the union’s legal efforts fail before this Week 7 and Watson serves a longer suspension that spans most or all of the 2022 season. Tom Brady and Ezekiel Elliott played under suspensions, but each served the penalties imposed by Goodell on -late dates.
The NFL is again seeking a season-long suspension, its goal for the past few weeks. Robinson’s ruling that Watson had violated the league’s personal conduct policy by sexually assaulting him during massage therapy sessions gave Harvey the power to increase his suspension. Short of a season-long suspension, the league wants to significantly increase Watson’s fine. The Browns’ structuring of Watson’s contract, which gave the former Texans Pro Bowler the league minimum salary to minimize his financial penalty in the event of a suspension, did not sit well with the NFL.
Settlement talks between the NFL and the NFLPA have been ongoing and more clarity has emerged as to what each side has been willing to accept. The NFLPA spent weeks arguing that Watson shouldn’t be suspended at all, but ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano reports that the union was willing to accept an eight-game ban. The shortest absence the NFL was willing to allow was 12 games. If the 12-game suspension were to be imposed through a settlement, Graziano added that the NFL also wanted Watson to be fined in the $8 million range.
Watson’s camp was unwilling to go along with the NFL’s push for an indefinite suspension, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, who described that component as a leading driver in the breakdown of settlement talks ( video link ). As it stands, Watson is set to lose less than $500K from his six-game ban. Sitting out the entire season would only cost him $1 million in base salary.
That process, which included 25 civil lawsuits filed against the recently traded quarterback, will be designed to end expeditiously, ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington reports (on Twitter). There are no further hearings, just Harvey’s decision. It can then be taken to court. The Browns will give Jacoby Brissett the starting job during Watson’s absence, with Josh Dobbs and Josh Rosen serving as backup options.
Add Comment