Should the NFL suspend Deshaun Watson, the general who got a $ 230 million deal from the Cleveland Browns, despite being accused of harassment and attack by a steadily growing list of female massage therapists? Sure, the league could do that, and given the number of claims, it would not be surprising if it did. But you have to; Whether you go to the Browns billboards, scroll to Twitter, or just talk to some women, many people argue that Watson, the former Houston Texans general, should never throw an NFL card again. A break for a set number of games next season, as they think, is not enough. Not a season, or even two, is out of order. If America’s most popular sports championship wants to honor its commitment to stand behind women and victims of abuse, Watson must be ruled out. Watson “should not play in the league at all,” says Brenda Tracy, a leading victim rights activist who travels to the country counseling college and professional athletes to resist harassment and abuse. “It’s ridiculous. I do not understand how long these tournaments will take to protect these men. He has to leave.” Surely, such a move would be unprecedented. Watson has vigorously declared his innocence, especially now that two Texas jurors have decided not to prosecute – although this is not uncommon in cases where women make allegations of sexual harassment. If he was eliminated, he would definitely push the league for a return. Maybe even sue. Let him try. A message would have been sent: The NFL is no longer willing to put games and legend and money above everything else. I write it with a tired stomach. I’m still digesting the latest revelations about Watson made by the New York Times’ Jenny Vrentas, whose report this week showed that the 26-year-old general had more questionable behavior than anyone understood. Watson, we now know, hired at least 66 female massage therapists over a 17-month period, from the fall of 2019 to the spring of 2021. Among them were strangers he spotted on Instagram and women working at a spa on a freeway. Aware that their body is their soul, top NFL players usually find no more than a few specialists to massage their relaxed limbs. Having 66 massage therapists is not a crime, but it is actually a galaxy far from the norm. Of the 66, some sided with Watson, saying publicly that he had done nothing wrong. But last week, two more women filed lawsuits in the civil court, bringing the number of defendants today to 24. Some women who massaged Watson did not call a lawyer or police after, but even they told the Times that Watson appeared to be seeks more than a pain relief. The huge numbers are staggering and the depictions of Watson’s aggression and entitlement are creepy. The woman who filed the most recent lawsuit claimed that Watson masturbated during a massage, ending up in a way that pleased him and humiliated her. A woman who decided not to sue or complain to police told Vrentas that Watson made repeated requests for sexual intercourse during the massage, including her “begging” to put her mouth in his penis. “I had to say specifically, ‘No, I can not do that,’” the woman said. Watson and his well-connected legal team consistently deny any wrongdoing. They admit that sex took place on three occasions, but only after massages, and always at the instigation of women. “I understand the seriousness of the allegations,” Watson told a news conference in March. “I have never attacked a woman. “I have never disrespected any woman.” His claims of innocence were strengthened when the Browns, a once-proud team now so desperate for a league that has lost all dignity, gave him a better deal than Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson: $ 230 million each. penny is said to be guaranteed. Meanwhile, NFL investigators are examining the allegations and Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to decide soon on the possible punishment of Watson. The story is not encouraging. In 2014, Goodell, under pressure after the release of evidence videos, admitted that he mishandled Ray Rice’s domestic abuse case and promised to do better. But what has changed besides empty promises and marketing campaigns aimed at attracting female fans?
Understand the NFL’s recent controversy
Card 1 of 8 A wave of control. The most popular sports league in America faces criticism and legal issues on many fronts, ranging from discrimination to athlete injuries. Here’s a look at some of the recent controversy facing the NFL, its executives and teams: Allegations of possible fraud. A former Washington Commanders team member claimed that the team earned revenue from ticket sales intended to be shared with the rest of the NFL and withheld security deposits from fans. The franchise has sent 102 pages of contradictory documents to the Federal Trade Commission. Allegations of sexual harassment. Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Commanders, is being investigated by the NFL following allegations of sexual harassment against him by former employees. In July, the league fined the franchise $ 10 million following an investigation into allegations of harassment at the team’s front office. A discouraging culture for women. Following the Ray Rice scandal in 2014, the NFL stepped up its efforts to recruit and promote women. But more than 30 former staff members interviewed by the Times described a suffocating corporate culture that has made many women feel marginalized. Six attorneys general have warned the league to tackle the problems otherwise it may face investigation. In 2018, Kansem City’s Kareem Hunt, then one of the most promising backs in football, was videotaped pushing a woman to the ground and kicking her. The NFL suspended Hunt for eight games, although the woman did not file charges. Guess who signed with Hunt after Kansas City sent him the suitcases. The Cleveland Browns did it. Clearly, half-season suspensions do not send a real message. It’s hard to understand how one can take the NFL seriously when he says he cares about women and the behavior of everyone involved in the league. Not after his mild answers to Rice and Hunt. Not long after, he let Antonio Brown play for Tampa Bay and star in the 2021 Super Bowl as he faced charges of sexual harassment and a lawsuit accusing him of rape. Not when the league fails to properly punish the Washington Governors, a team full of harassment allegations that have trapped even team owner Daniel Snyder. The league must send the strongest message it can that sexual misconduct will not be tolerated. I know that exile may sound to some like a radical, overly harsh punishment. A significant portion of NFL fans say Watson should not be punished at all. Innocent until he is found guilty, say these apologists, members of the club who are more interested in having fun with bread and circus than in doing the right thing. But the NFL can do whatever it wants. Imagine Watson running a car dealership. Imagine that his bosses discovered that he was facing 24 civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct. How long would he have a job? Imagine Watson being a skilled NFL player that few had ever heard of. Would he get second chances from teams and the league? No. Travelers have no second chance. It’s different for the stars (unless you are a star who kneels during the national anthem and leads the protest against police brutality against blacks). If you really want to imagine something, imagine that you are a massage therapist who trusted a wealthy, famous client you had never met and ended up so hurt and humiliated that you quit your job forever, as one of Watson’s accusers did. Maybe this is all you have to imagine.
