Twenty-two accusers. No, that’s straight in, make that 23. Wait, it’s 24 now.
Should the NFL suspend Deshaun Watson, the quarterback who got a $230 million deal from the Cleveland Browns despite being accused of molestation and assault by a growing list of female massage therapists?
Sure, the league could do that, and given the volume of allegations, it wouldn’t be surprising if it did. But should it?
If you go to Brown’s message boards, scroll through Twitter, or just talk to some women, many people are arguing that Watson, the former Houston Texans quarterback, should never throw an NFL pass again.
A ban for a certain number of games in the coming season is not enough, according to her. It’s also no or even two seasons out. If America’s most popular sports league is to live up to its promise to stand behind women and abuse victims, Watson must be disfellowshipped.
Watson “shouldn’t be playing in the league at all,” says Brenda Tracy, a prominent victims’ rights advocate who travels the country advising colleges and professional athletes on how to stand up against harassment and abuse. “It’s ridiculous. I don’t understand how far these leagues will go to protect these men. He has to go.”
Sure, such a move would be unprecedented. Watson has vigorously maintained his innocence, especially now that two Texas grand juries have decided not to press criminal charges — although this is not uncommon in cases involving women alleging sexual harassment.
If he were banned, he would certainly press the league for reinstatement. Maybe even sue. let him try
A signal would have been sent: The NFL is no longer willing to put the games and the myth and the money above absolutely everything.
I’m writing this with a queasy stomach. I’m still digesting the latest revelations about Watson, unearthed by The New York Times’ Jenny Vrentas, whose report this week showed the 26-year-old quarterback exhibited more questionable behavior than anyone thought.
As we now know, Watson visited at least 66 massage therapists over a 17-month period, from fall 2019 to spring 2021. Among them were strangers he tracked down on Instagram and women working at a spa on the side of a freeway.
Aware that their bodies are their lifeblood, the best NFL players can usually find no more than a few experts to provide limb-relaxing massages.
Having 66 massage therapists isn’t a crime, but it’s actually a galaxy away from the norm.
Of the 66, some have championed Watson and said publicly that he had done nothing wrong. But last week, two more women filed lawsuits in civil courts, bringing the current accusers to 24. Some women who massaged Watson didn’t call a lawyer or the police afterwards, but even they told the Times that Watson appeared to be looking for more than relief from pain. The sheer numbers are staggering, and the displays of Watson’s aggression and entitlement are chilling.
The woman who filed the latest lawsuit claimed Watson masturbated during a massage, which ended in a way that satisfied him and demeaned her.
A woman who chose not to sue or complain to police told Vrentas that Watson repeatedly asked for sexual acts during the massage, including “begging” to put her mouth on his penis.
“I had to specifically say, ‘No, I can’t,'” the woman said.
Watson and his well-connected legal team have consistently denied any wrongdoing. They admit that they had sex three times, but only after the massages and always at the instigation of the women. “I understand the seriousness of the allegations,” Watson said at a news conference in March. “I’ve never attacked a single woman. I have never disrespected a woman.”
His claims of innocence were given a boost when the Browns, a once-proud team now so desperate for a championship they have lost all dignity, made him a better offer than those of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson: 230 million each Dollar penny supposedly guaranteed.
Meanwhile, NFL investigators are investigating the allegations, and Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to soon rule on Watson’s possible punishment. The history is not encouraging.
In 2014, Goodell admitted under pressure after video evidence was released that he mishandled Ray Rice’s domestic violence case and vowed to do better. But what has changed other than empty promises and marketing campaigns aimed at wooing female fans?
Understand the NFL’s recent controversies
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A wave of testing. The most popular sports league in America has faced criticism and legal issues on multiple fronts, ranging from discrimination to athlete injuries. Here’s a look at some of the recent controversies facing the NFL, its leaders and teams:
allegations of possible fraud. A former Washington Commanders team leader claimed that the team siphoned off ticket sales intended to be shared with the rest of the NFL and withheld deposits from fans. The franchise has submitted 102 pages of documents refuting the claims to the Federal Trade Commission.
Allegations of sexual harassment. Commanders owner Daniel Snyder is the subject of an NFL investigation after allegations of sexual harassment were made against him by former employees. In July, the league fined the franchise $10 million after an investigation into allegations of harassment at the team’s front office.
A demoralizing culture for women. After the 2014 Ray Rice scandal, the NFL increased its efforts to hire and promote women. But more than 30 former employees interviewed by The Times described a suffocating corporate culture that leaves many women feeling sidelined. Six attorneys general warned the league to address the issues or investigations could be launched.
In 2018, Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt, then one of football’s most promising running backs, was videotaped pushing a woman to the ground and kicking her. The NFL suspended Hunt for eight games despite the woman not filing a complaint. Guess who signed Hunt next after Kansas City sent him packing.
The Cleveland Browns did. Obviously mid-season suspensions don’t really send a message.
It’s hard to understand how anyone could take the NFL seriously when they say they care about women and the behavior of everyone associated with the league. Not after his mild reactions to Rice and Hunt. Not after that, Antonio left Brown to play for Tampa Bay and star in the 2021 Super Bowl when he faced allegations of sexual molestation and a lawsuit alleging rape. Not unless the league appropriately punishes the Washington Commanders, a team riddled with harassment complaints that have even trapped team owner Daniel Snyder.
The league needs to send the strongest message that sexual misconduct will not be tolerated.
I know that banishment may sound like radical, overly harsh punishment to some. A significant portion of the NFL fanbase says Watson shouldn’t be penalized at all. Innocent until proven guilty, say these apologists, part of the club that cares more about bread-and-circus entertainment than doing the right thing.
But the NFL can do whatever it wants.
Imagine Watson ran a car dealership. Imagine if his bosses found out he was facing 24 civil sexual misconduct lawsuits. How long would he have a job?
Imagine Watson being an NFL practice player few have ever heard of. Would he get second chances from teams and the league? no Journeymen don’t get a second chance. It’s different with stars (unless you’re a star kneeling during the national anthem and leading the protest against police abuse of black people).
If you really want to visualize something, imagine you are a massage therapist who trusted a wealthy, famous client you had never met and ended up being so hurt and humiliated that you stopped the work for good, eh one of Watson’s accusers did. Maybe that’s all you need to imagine.