Is Deshaun Watson doomed no matter what for the 2022 season?

There’s no doubt that Deshaun Watson has been caught up in a scandal, but it remains to be seen if he broke the law. Either way, the NFL may have to act.

After making one of the biggest trades in the NFL over the last decade, the Cleveland Browns hold their breath to see if Deshaun Watson will be available to play.

Watson has been indicted on zero criminal charges and has settled all but four civil suits. The NFL and Judge Sue Robinson have completed a full investigation, and now we wait on the punishment.

Speculation has been all over the place. At first, it was six games, then eight to 10, then for sure a full season, and now it’s back to possibly no suspension. So, what has changed?

More and more leaks (are they believable?) have come out showing the NFL has no evidence that Watson was ever forceful.

Would Deshaun Watson really get no suspension?

Listen, I’m not an attorney, a judge, and have seen no evidence. I’m a Browns fan who wants to see this team win. But think about this, strictly from a perception standpoint, can the NFL not suspend Watson at all?

Remember, this is a league that has made guys like Calvin Ridley and Josh Gordon miss full seasons for betting on games and not passing a drug test. But guys like Ben Roethlisberger and even our own Kareem Hunt see a six to eight-game suspension for serious sexual or assault accusations?

Now, comparing these crimes is like comparing apples to oranges, but the fact that Roger Goodell has yet to figure out an appropriate disciplinary system is scary. Yes, he has tried to make things better by bringing in a third party like Sue Robinson to help, but at the end of the day, Goodell gets the final call.

My point is, even if the proof isn’t there that Watson didn’t commit a crime, can the NFL completely pass on a suspension? I’m not saying it would be right to suspend an innocent man (or even that he’s innocent), but public perception is going to be a factor.

Should the NFL waive a suspension, they will have some serious questions to answer. But if they handled the investigation properly there should not be any questions they can’t answer. However, it is my opinion that at least a four-game suspension is likely to keep everyone satisfied (right or wrong).