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NFL appealing Watson's six-game suspension
The NFL said commissioner Roger Goodell will determine who will hear the appeal. Under the CBA, Goodell has the option to consider the appeal himself or can appoint a designee to do so.
appealed.
There own conduct policy saying owners and management will be treated more harshly than players and they did nothing about Bob Kraft using a literally sexually trafficked women at a "massage parlour" will at least make it interesting. Consdiering they did nothing at all about him.The statement Robinson made in the initial findings that Watson's "pattern of conduct is more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL" gives the NFL plenty of cover to add pretty much whatever they want to the suspension. The factual findings were largely in the NFL's favor. Watson is not going to win in court.
Robinson's finding that Watson's "pattern of conduct is more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL" cannot be disputed, and it allows plenty of cover for the NFL to say that previous precedent shouldn't apply since they were all, by Robinson's own words, not as bad in sum than Watson's behavior in sum.NFL’s past behavior put them on a terrible situation vs Watson.
They won the case but past acts/current laws didn’t really allow a full year suspension
Kraft's crime was solicitation of a prostitute (something that's legal in many first world countries). Nothing more, nothing less. The rest is on the massage parlor. And that's nowhere close to the level of Watson's repeatedThere own conduct policy saying owners and management will be treated more harshly than players and they did nothing about Bob Kraft using a literally sexually trafficked women at a "massage parlour" will at least make it interesting. Consdiering they did nothing at all about him.
A women can't consent if she is being sexually trafficked.Robinson's finding that Watson's "pattern of conduct is more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL" cannot be disputed, and it allows plenty of cover for the NFL to say that previous precedent shouldn't apply since they were all, by Robinson's own words, not as bad in sum than Watson's behavior in sum.
Kraft's crime was solicitation of a prostitute (something that's legal in many first world countries). Nothing more, nothing less. The rest is on the massage parlor. And that's nowhere close to the level of Watson's repeated behaviors.
First, do you have a source for the idea that the women were sexually trafficked? All I can find is that the employees were fined and put on probation for prostitution, and the owner was charged with "soliciting another to commit prostitution"A women can't consent if she is being sexually trafficked.
Robinson's finding that Watson's "pattern of conduct is more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL" cannot be disputed, and it allows plenty of cover for the NFL to say that previous precedent shouldn't apply since they were all, by Robinson's own words, not as bad in sum than Watson's behavior in sum.
Kraft's crime was solicitation of a prostitute (something that's legal in many first world countries). Nothing more, nothing less. The rest is on the massage parlor. And that's nowhere close to the level of Watson's repeated
behaviors.
As an aside - I'm not sure it'd be wise of Watson to go scorched earth on NFL owners given I think he has very little chance of winning in court. That's not something the fraternity of owners is going to look kindly on.
Which would get maximized out of his contract if he’s not suspended until next year.I found the answer. There are caps for how much players can be fined for things happening related to games (big hits, uniform violations, etc.), but there is no limit for fines falling under the personal conduct policy. So the league could try to slap Watson with a huge fine.
I guess I confused the original story, with what later came out. But, either way. It's suspect as hell for a "message parlor" to have a bunch of women on temporary work visas, and if we are going off what the law determined, Watson was cleared (although he def deserves punishment).First, do you have a source for the idea that the women were sexually trafficked? All I can find is that the employees were fined and put on probation for prostitution, and the owner was charged with "soliciting another to commit prostitution"
In fact, the article I found said there was no evidence uncovered of the women being sexually trafficked, although that's what they were first investigating. Here's the quote: "Aronberg would tell a judge in Kraft’s case that investigators had found no evidence of human trafficking." Washington Post (Aronberg being the state DA for Florida)
Regardless, if Kraft didn't have knowledge of that, it's still one case vs. 4 (or realistically, 30, but we'll go with what the NFL presented to Robinson), creating the difference of a pattern of behavoir vs one incident.
Don't confuse "criminally cleared" with "no evidence of" - especially with the news coming out after the fact about the Houston DA's illicit communication with the Texans and Watson's lawyer. DA's control how grand jury cases go to a large extent and it was obviously in the Texans best interest not to have him indicted.I guess I confused the original story, with what later came out. But, either way. It's suspect as hell for a "message parlor" to have a bunch of women on temporary work visas, and if we are going off what the law determined, Watson was cleared (although he def deserves punishment).
Given his base salary is only $1 mill the nfl is probably going to fine him a few million. If he was making a base of even $15 mill he’d have lost out on almost $6 mill for his 6 games. This a fine probably would not be super heavy. But with the structure of the contract protecting Watson’s money for this season the nfl is going to issue him a large fine.I found the answer. There are caps for how much players can be fined for things happening related to games (big hits, uniform violations, etc.), but there is no limit for fines falling under the personal conduct policy. So the league could try to slap Watson with a huge fine.
Police certainly believed there was evidence of trafficking in that case though and its stated in the original charging documents, if we are going to undermine DA's.Don't confuse "criminally cleared" with "no evidence of" - especially with the news coming out after the fact about the Houston DA's illicit communication with the Texans and Watson's lawyer. DA's control how grand jury cases go to a large extent and it was obviously in the Texans best interest not to have him indicted.
Especially since he civilly settled with 26 girls.
I think the last time he picked someone, it was Tagliabue during the Saints bounty stuff and it still wasn’t a favorable ruling.Police certainly believed there was evidence of trafficking in that case though and its stated in the original charging documents, if we are going to undermine DA's.
Either way, this is going to get ugly even if Watson loses out in federal court. Will be interesting to see who the arbitrator is if Goodell is actually choosing someone else, and what the final punishment ends up being.
I guess I confused the original story, with what later came out. But, either way. It's suspect as hell for a "message parlor" to have a bunch of women on temporary work visas, and if we are going off what the law determined, Watson was cleared (although he def deserves punishment).
Police certainly believed there was evidence of trafficking in that case though and its stated in the original charging documents, if we are going to undermine DA's.
Either way, this is going to get ugly even if Watson loses out in federal court. Will be interesting to see who the arbitrator is if Goodell is actually choosing someone else, and what the final punishment ends up being.
Excuse me what?
And this isn't even spin. He's reporting what Watson is thinking.Schefter spins whatever narrative the agents and GMs tell him too.
Schefter spins whatever narrative the agents and GMs tell him too.