4 Reasons Cleveland Browns fans are being set up for disappointment in 2022
By Greg Newland
Cleveland Browns Reason for Disappointment No. 2 – Looming Watson Suspension
I’m not here to be the judge or jury over the Deshaun Watson legal situation, but we can’t ignore that a suspension for at least a portion of the 2022 season isn’t a possibility. As more and more information comes out, I’m starting to read more and more that a full-year suspension could still be in the cards.
Remember, Roger Goodell is no longer in control of this discipline, this is coming from a third party who is overseeing the NFL investigation. Goodell has been criticized for years for his punishments, so this could be a chance for the NFL to really harshen punishments.
In the past, we have seen guys like Josh Gordon who can’t pass a drug test get all but kicked out of the league, yet guys like Ben Roethlisberger, Tyreek Hill, and even Kareem Hunt have seen minor suspensions for domestic violence issues.
Again, I’m not making judgments, nor am I qualified to, but I do think there’s a really good chance that Watson is suspended for half of the 2022 season even though he won’t see the inside of a courtroom until after this year.
Strictly from a football standpoint, a six-game suspension at the start of the 2022 season wouldn’t be the worst thing. The schedule is fairly friendly and there is only one divisional game.
However, if it were an eight-game suspension, Jacoby Brissett would have to start half the season and the Browns would be without their star quarterback for three divisional games. They could be so far out of the hunt that by the time Watson returned it wouldn’t even matter.