2021-2022 NFL Season (1 Viewer)

[Winston T. Boogie]

Reggie W

Not true, I just posted it here. Which makes me not a source.

 

[Jeffrey D]

So, now we know why the suspension was so light, and it is pretty sad. The NFL was totally involved in this deal and here is how they did it. Instead of sending Ms. Robinson, the woman deciding the case, all of the info on what Watson had done, they sent over info on just 5 of the accusations. Not sure which 5 they were but she was not deciding the suspension based upon the 26 or so cases against him, nor looking at the evidence that he hired at least 66 different women in 17 months to "massage" him.

So, the suspension, at the NFL's own doing, is based upon 5 selected cases they chose for Robinson to look at to determine a punishment. Pathetic? Yes. Sneaky? Yes. Does the NFL look bad? Yes. Will they appeal? Who knows, they did it the way they did to hopefully land Watson the lightest possible punishment.

Well, that worked but it seems a bad idea to have done it that way.

Easy to guess why possible manipulation was used by the league to get Watson on the field- the league wants the QBs on the field, to the point of altering the rules so there’s a smaller chance of their getting injured. I don’t know how true it is that the ratings are affected by which QBs are playing, but we’ve been told this by the media. The league, if true about handing the judge selective cases, has given itself a black eye, but Goodell and the owners are too arrogant to admit to mistakes or wrongdoing.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Easy to guess why possible manipulation was used by the league to get Watson on the field- the league wants the QBs on the field, to the point of altering the rules so there’s a smaller chance of their getting injured. I don’t know how true it is that the ratings are affected by which QBs are playing, but we’ve been told this by the media. The league, if true about handing the judge selective cases, has given itself a black eye, but Goodell and the owners are too arrogant to admit to mistakes or wrongdoing.

I think it is far better for the league if the big name QBs play. The way they agreed to do these things now is with an outside arbiter which is why this woman was deciding the penalty. The NFL acts as the prosecutor and the NFLPA acts as the defense. In this case the "defense" said they would not challenge what the arbiter decides...ha and they should not because all he got was 6 games. It is a dream come true for the NFLPA. Brady got 4 games for balls supposedly being slightly deflated which he played worse with than the balls that were properly inflated. It is kind of a hilarious joke. Where is the common sense? If you get 4 games for playing with your balls and 6 games for molesting at least 30 women...how does that make sense?

I mean, I am not upset by this because, hey, kind of expect the league to do something ridiculous. If he plays, he plays. If he doesn't he doesn't. The women appear to have been paid off and there may be more payoffs.

I just think the league should be upfront and just say "We don't care what these guys do off the field and will rely on the law to punish them not us."

I mean Bob Kraft got caught going to a "massage" place for sex. No punishment and he was on video. The league said so what! So, why would they care what Watson did? He is just in the club. If you have the money, molest all the women you want and we will reward you with a quarter of a billion so you can molest more women. This is how it works.

 

[Jeffrey D]

I think it is far better for the league if the big name QBs play. The way they agreed to do these things now is with an outside arbiter which is why this woman was deciding the penalty. The NFL acts as the prosecutor and the NFLPA acts as the defense. In this case the "defense" said they would not challenge what the arbiter decides...ha and they should not because all he got was 6 games. It is a dream come true for the NFLPA. Brady got 4 games for balls supposedly being slightly deflated which he played worse with than the balls that were properly inflated. It is kind of a hilarious joke. Where is the common sense? If you get 4 games for playing with your balls and 6 games for molesting at least 30 women...how does that make sense?

I mean, I am not upset by this because, hey, kind of expect the league to do something ridiculous. If he plays, he plays. If he doesn't he doesn't. The women appear to have been paid off and there may be more payoffs.

I just think the league should be upfront and just say "We don't care what these guys do off the field and will rely on the law to punish them not us."

I mean Bob Kraft got caught going to a "massage" place for sex. No punishment and he was on video. The league said so what! So, why would they care what Watson did? He is just in the club. If you have the money, molest all the women you want and we will reward you with a quarter of a billion so you can molest more women. This is how it works.

The league can’t get away with having an attitude of “anything goes”. That would be a terrible look, and a damaging image problem. I do agree with your comment that a double standard exists (Kraft vs. Watson).

 

[Malcolm R]

It is kind of a hilarious joke. Where is the common sense? If you get 4 games for playing with your balls and 6 games for molesting at least 30 women...how does that make sense?

That's what bothers me about these situations. Discipline in the NFL is so random and arbitrary. It would seem like this is a pretty serious situation involving dozens of women, but it's about the same level penalty as Brady's balls? As I'd noted previously, Roethlisberger got the same six-game penalty for allegedly assaulting two women. Watson is allegedly somewhere around 30.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

The league can’t get away with having an attitude of “anything goes”. That would be a terrible look, and a damaging image problem. I do agree with your comment that a double standard exists (Kraft vs. Watson).

Yes, this is the part I do not get, if the league wants to control their image they should do a far better job handling these things. They always do the exact wrong thing to promote a better image. With the Brady thing they turned that into a circus that stretched on forever and made the league look like a joke where everybody is cheating. For what? Basically so they could look like they doled out punishment to their biggest name player. That was all. That was all that was about. So, they looked like they were powerful and tough on the players. If they can suspend Brady, the league figurehead, they can suspend anybody. OK, but wrong fight that made the entire league look bad. That's the case you just throw out based on the fact that the Patriots played bad with deflated balls and destroyed the opponent with supposed properly inflated balls. Easy case. They totally blow it.

You have a bunch of players abusing women, Watson being the latest big name, and instead of going hard on that, you fold. Wow, that's dumb. Where is the thought process is my question? So what if Watson is out for a year or more or never plays again. At least you "protected the shield" and did not make the league look like a joke. I don't really blame Goodell because his job is really just to do what the owners want but wow, do they dress him up like a clown and laugh at him whenever they choose.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

That's what bothers me about these situations. Discipline in the NFL is so random and arbitrary. It would seem like this is a pretty serious situation involving dozens of women, but it's about the same level penalty as Brady's balls? As I'd noted previously, Roethlisberger got the same six-game penalty for allegedly assaulting two women. Watson is allegedly somewhere around 30.

Probably part of why he got 6 games is the precedent set by the league with people like Ray Rice or Big Ben. Or good god, any of the other players that got a wrist slap or they buried the thing. The arbiter has to go by only what the league presents and what the NFLPA presents as a defense. 6 games is likely the standard. As I understand it the league presented 4 of the court filings and 1 case from the newspapers. So, that would be all the arbiter could or should consider. That person is deciding a labor issue at that point and if the league confines itself to 5 examples, she only should be looking at the 5 examples.

End result is a 6 game suspension which is in line with the other suspensions for similar conduct. So, I am thinking the arbiter made the correct decision based on what she had in front of her. She can't judge the guy on the other cases or the 30 the Texans had to settle. She can't think about the 66 women he hired or what else may fall out of his closet over time. Just the 5 examples the league gave, the past precedent for what punishment was, and whatever NFLPA presents as a defense.

 

[Malcolm R]

As I understand it the league presented 4 of the court filings and 1 case from the newspapers. So, that would be all the arbiter could or should consider. That person is deciding a labor issue at that point and if the league confines itself to 5 examples, she only should be looking at the 5 examples.

It just makes the arbiter look foolish once the decision is handed down, as the general public knows there were many more accusations. I'd think she would be upset that the NFL has made her look like an idiot in public.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

It just makes the arbiter look foolish once the decision is handed down, as the general public knows there were many more accusations. I'd think she would be upset that the NFL has made her look like an idiot in public.

Yes, the public will judge on their own but I don't think they should blame her because she just did her job. Looks lousy, smells terrible, but I mean I think that is why they got it out there that she was working off of just the 5 examples. Plus a labor arbiter would have to look at what past punishment was in similar cases. She can't write new rules. She goes by what she is given. So, it would stink for her if the public blames her for this, hopefully they won't. I do think the NFL likes this new agreement with going to an outside arbiter because it takes all the pressure off them deciding what punishments are.

She did put one thing in the decision which was that Watson is not supposed to be hiring massage therapists on his own. She put in there the team has to oversee all of his massage therapy...so basically the Browns are on the hook as well if Watson starts going after more female massage workers.

I think you solve it by just making all of Watson's massage people male. So, the massage thing is not about sex, it is about therapy.

 

[Malcolm R]

I think you solve it by just making all of Watson's massage people male. So, the massage thing is not about sex, it is about therapy.

Yes, but then female therapists would sue claiming gender discrimination, regardless of the possible ramifications on the other end.

Article at NBC News explaining how the NFL really doesn't want to suspend anyone, ever, but has been forced to do so by the modern social media PR machine:

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opini...s-deshaun-watson-six-games-nice-try-rcna41056

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Yes, but then female therapists would sue claiming gender discrimination, regardless of the possible ramifications on the other end.

Article at NBC News explaining how the NFL really doesn't want to suspend anyone, ever, but has been forced to do so by the modern social media PR machine:

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opini...s-deshaun-watson-six-games-nice-try-rcna41056

I don't think they want to suspend anybody. I don't think they want to be involved with punishment. I think the only time I have ever seen them act like they really wanted to suspend and punish someone it was Brady due to his supposed illegal ball handling. This they made a huge deal over, could not wait to get it media coverage again and again and again, and were tripping over each other to talk about it. It was, on the whole, hilarious. They dragged that on for a ridiculous amount of time over something that could have and should have been settled in 30 seconds. Why? Well, because it was fun, the other owners were enjoying it, the fans of other teams loved it, the media loves to talk about Brady...it was just too much of a blast to pass up. Plus the league got to look like tough guys. They loved that one.

Everything else, they would prefer to take a pass, not mention, totally ignore. They love to leak stories that make them look like they are serious. They were leaking all about how they want Watson suspended a year and maybe indefinitely. OK, they leaked that while on the inside they tried to contain the damage and assure Watson only got 6 games.

Hey, I gotta be honest here, the Browns will be more fun to watch with Watson on the field. Without him, well, Browns games are games to miss. Except maybe the one game where they play Mayfield and the Panthers. That will be fun. Other than that, here's to them going on an epic losing streak and looking to dump Watson by next season and remaining stuck with him. At this point they deserve each other.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

I have to think the big winner in this whole thing is Mayfield. A guy a lot of people did not like or were annoyed with but now, I think more people will be cheering for him to destroy the Browns than ever cheered for him before. So, the boost he gets from this, plus getting off of that Browns team is huge. Hopefully, he learns something from it and becomes a better person and player.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

I should say, that this looks like it will be the most exciting NFL season in a long time. Particularly if you like watching the AFC, which is basically stacked. The AFC West should be a barnburner to decide. The Bills look pretty damn good. The Bengals and Ravens should put on a show in the North. The Titans and Colts could fight it out in the South. The Dolphins look improved, if maybe having horrible ownership, and Bill Belichick says Mac Jones has taken a huge leap forward.

The Rams will defend, Brady is back with the Buccs, the Cowboys look like they should take the East, with the Eagles and Redskins maybe nipping at their heels, and the Packers should cruise to a division win and into the playoffs, barring a surprise. We get to see if Mayfield can improve the Panthers, if Murray can play well for an entire season, if Wentz helps the Redskins, how Lance does as the starter for the 49ers, and if Winston can stay healthy and do something with the Saints.

Overall, a pretty damn exciting season to look forward to despite how dumb the league can be.

 

[Malcolm R]

I have to think the big winner in this whole thing is Mayfield. A guy a lot of people did not like or were annoyed with but now, I think more people will be cheering for him to destroy the Browns than ever cheered for him before. So, the boost he gets from this, plus getting off of that Browns team is huge. Hopefully, he learns something from it and becomes a better person and player.

Yes, and I think the Browns will get a rude welcome (well, ruder than usual) in any away stadium. Recent news has seemed to indicate Browns fans have minimal issues with Watson based on a recent practice open to the public, but it'll give fans of other teams another reason to amp up the abuse on the Browns.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Yes, and I think the Browns will get a rude welcome (well, ruder than usual) in any away stadium. Recent news has seemed to indicate Browns fans have minimal issues with Watson based on a recent practice open to the public, but it'll give fans of other teams another reason to amp up the abuse on the Browns.

Well, lousy spot for a Browns fan to be. Best QB you have had in a long, long time and he is a serial sexual assault guy. If the Browns were good, basically Watson is the Darth Vader of the league. You can root against him all season long. Basically, it is hard to know at the moment what Watson will be as a player. He's been off for a while, but when he was playing he is a very talented player and if he plays at the level he could, the Browns should compete with the Bengals and Ravens. As it stands now, the Browns either finish third or last in their division this season, I think. The Steelers feel that Trubisky probably gives them a chance to contend. I don't know, but Trubisky is better than Ben was last year and the Steelers made the playoffs and really just a half game behind the Bengals. So, it is possible they contend if Trubisky can do what they think he can do. It will be a new offense for the Steelers and so we will see what happens.

So, assuming Watson steps on the field in game 7 against the Bengals, and their record at that point is not 0-6 or close to it...well, the Browns could make noise in the division, if Watson plays fantastic out of the gate.

After a home game in week 7 against the Bengals, he would go on the road to play Miami, then the Bills, both should be tough, and then come back home to face Brady and the Buccs. That could be an 0-4 start for Watson which may not have Browns fans cheering.

He then would go on the road to play his old team the Texans, stay on the road to play the Bengals again, and then finish out with home games against the Ravens and Saints. Looking at that, the only maybe easy win is the game at Houston, which may be emotional and hard for him. So, when Watson does hit the field this season, he could really stink it up.

 

[Jeffrey D]

Dolphins owner Ross has been suspended and fined, and the team forfeits next year’s first round pick, and 2024’s third round pick, due to improper talks between the team and Tom Brady, and Sean Payton.

 

[Jeffrey D]

Well, lousy spot for a Browns fan to be. Best QB you have had in a long, long time and he is a serial sexual assault guy. If the Browns were good, basically Watson is the Darth Vader of the league. You can root against him all season long. Basically, it is hard to know at the moment what Watson will be as a player. He's been off for a while, but when he was playing he is a very talented player and if he plays at the level he could, the Browns should compete with the Bengals and Ravens. As it stands now, the Browns either finish third or last in their division this season, I think. The Steelers feel that Trubisky probably gives them a chance to contend. I don't know, but Trubisky is better than Ben was last year and the Steelers made the playoffs and really just a half game behind the Bengals. So, it is possible they contend if Trubisky can do what they think he can do. It will be a new offense for the Steelers and so we will see what happens.

So, assuming Watson steps on the field in game 7 against the Bengals, and their record at that point is not 0-6 or close to it...well, the Browns could make noise in the division, if Watson plays fantastic out of the gate.

After a home game in week 7 against the Bengals, he would go on the road to play Miami, then the Bills, both should be tough, and then come back home to face Brady and the Buccs. That could be an 0-4 start for Watson which may not have Browns fans cheering.

He then would go on the road to play his old team the Texans, stay on the road to play the Bengals again, and then finish out with home games against the Ravens and Saints. Looking at that, the only maybe easy win is the game at Houston, which may be emotional and hard for him. So, when Watson does hit the field this season, he could really stink it up.

Watson had better not stink- he and the Browns are going to be under enormous pressure to win immediately. It’s not going to be easy for him or the team- having to get past the Bengals and a Ravens team that’s going to be under pressure to improve, not to mention all the other good teams in the AFC.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Dolphins owner Ross has been suspended and fined, and the team forfeits next year’s first round pick, and 2024’s third round pick, due to improper talks between the team and Tom Brady, and Sean Payton.

This never smelled right. The Boston media were all over this when Brady "retired" and they said he was actually working on something to play for the Dolphins with Sean Peyton coming in to coach. When whatever happened that the two of them could not join the Dolphins then Brady suddenly came out of retirement and rejoined the Buccaneers, but began angling for a trade to the Dolphins. One Boston sports writer was basically throwing out a guarantee that Brady was going to be traded to the Dolphins.

Ross is a big Michigan guy, loves Brady, and apparently had been working on this for a while. The NFL usually does nothing about "tampering" but in this case it must have been a case where they warned Ross more than once and he just kept at it.

The rumor was that Brady would play out his final season with the Buccs and then join the Dolphins next season for, maybe, his last year. Knowing Tom he is probably looking to stick it to the Patriots by playing in the division.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Watson had better not stink- he and the Browns are going to be under enormous pressure to win immediately. It’s not going to be easy for him or the team- having to get past the Bengals and a Ravens team that’s going to be under pressure to improve, not to mention all the other good teams in the AFC.

I think it will be bad if he comes out on a losing streak starting in week 7. If the team starts bad without him and then stays bad when he joins them, it likely will get unpleasant in a hurry. Being a sexual assaulter is one thing, being a loser as well...that won't fly. He will need to knock the rust off when he gets back to game action and i don't think teams like the Bengals, Bills, Ravens, and Buccaneers are great teams to do that against.

 

[Robert Crawford]

NFL appeals Watson suspension! It should be interesting going forward.