Deshaun Watson suspension settlement news unsettling

Deshaun Watson reportedly tried to settle on a suspension with the NFL but those talks fell apart, which isn’t a great sign for his hopes of playing in 2022

Settlements have become the theme for Deshaun Watson this week. Earlier, he put 20 of his 24 civil lawsuits behind him when he reached an agreement with those plaintiffs.

Next up for the Cleveland Browns quarterback was the NFL. With a potentially unprecedented ban looming over his head, Watson and his representatives were reportedly trying to settle his league discipline.

However, those talks fell apart and Josina Anderson says the issue is simply the length of time each side is eyeing.

The fact that the two sides are far apart should be unsettling for Watson. With previous suspensions serving as a guide, it would be fair to assume his representatives can expect 6-to-8 games as their starting point.

But if the league isn’t willing to take that, then perhaps they could be looking at something much larger — perhaps even the whole 2022 campaign.

Why would the league consider settlement with Deshaun Watson?

One question to ask in all of this is why the league would even be willing to settle. The answer would be that it finishes the oredeal in their eyes. They could move on and if Watson and his team accepted whatever punishment they agreed upon, there would be no appeal.

Having said that, the idea of a settlement would mean more to Watson. If they came out of these talks knowing what the punishment would be, they would consider that a win. However, Watson has zero leverage.

The league holds all the cards as they not only hand out the suspension but handle the appeals as well. These meetings were clearly more about the league trying to put the situation in the rearview, rather than trying to truly negotiate.

And with Watson’s camp unhappy with the length of suspension, it could truly put his 2022 season in doubt.