Last week, the NFL formally appealed Deshaun Watson‘s six-game suspension, seeking stricter punishment for the Cleveland Browns quarterback in response to 24 sexual misconduct lawsuits. Now, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has revealed the punishment he finds appropriate for Watson’s transgressions.
At a league meeting on Tuesday afternoon, Goodell said the NFL is seeking a suspension of at least a year for the Browns quarterback, citing “egregious” and “predatory” behavior.
“We’ve seen the evidence, she was very clear about the evidence, she reinforced the evidence,” Goodell said according to ESPN. “There were multiple violations that were egregious and it was predatory behavior.”
Under the latest collective bargaining agreement, Goodell had the option to consider the appeal himself or to appoint somebody else to hear the appeal. Ultimately, Goodell and the NFL decided to appoint Peter C. Harvey, a former New Jersey attorney general, to hear the NFL’s appeal of Watson’s six-game suspension. However, Goodell said on Tuesday that he did not know when Harvey would make a ruling.
If Watson’s initial six-game suspension is upheld, he will be eligible to return to the Browns for the team’s Week 7 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. However, the appeal could lead to a longer suspension fro the Cleveland quarterback.
When the next ruling is made, it will be final and binding to all parties.
[ESPN]
