TW: SA, Domestic Violence

Barring any setbacks, Deshaun Watson will play his first NFL game in nearly two years on December 4th. He’s taken a hiatus, desiring a trade and a new contract. During trade talks between Houston, his former team, and Cleveland, Watson kept himself in controversy and even legal trouble. With over 20 sexual assault allegations, multiple lawsuits, and concerning evidence found in an investigation over the summer, there was suspicion that Watson would be suspended for one or more years. How long was he actually suspended? 12 weeks.

Deshaun’s allegations consisted of eerily similar details, consisting of harassing certain massage therapists. Many NFL fans were on Waston’s side, claiming the victims had little proof. A recent New York Times investigation found that Watson had signed NDAs with Houston, allowing him to further seek out massage therapists who aren’t associated with the Houston Texans. They also gathered DM’s connecting Deshaun to these women who were, apparently, “liars” or “in it for the money”. This evidence awarded Watson an “appropriate” 12-week suspension, giving him the opportunity to return to the NFL, “conveniently” making his first game back against (you guessed it) the Houston Texans.

The NFL has an extensive history with its abusive colleagues. A lot of these athletes continue their careers; they continue to spend their million-dollar checks. Need allegations swept under the rug? That’s doable; ask Peyton Manning. Domestic abuse? A couple of weeks is fine. Ray Rice was caught on tape physically abusing his partner; he was suspended for two weeks. As the NFL continues to advertise progressiveness and inclusivity, its poor treatment of victims of domestic and sexual violence shows its hypocrisy. They see these victims’ abusers as profitable and useful for advertising, as Deshaun Watson, Tyreek Hill, and Ezekiel Elliot are some of the highest-paid players in the league.

Watson is gonna have his “revenge game”, get national coverage on ESPN, sell jerseys, and make over 200 million dollars over the next couple of years. You can watch Deshaun Watson play professional football on Sundays. You’ll have to wait to see the newest Jacksonville Jaguar, Calvin Ridley, though. He’s still suspended, for one year to be exact. “Why was he suspended longer?”, you may ask. He was betting on games. This organization’s morals are mind-boggling.

Sources

Vrentas, Jenny. “How the Texans and a Spa Enabled Deshaun Watson’s Troubling Behavior.” The New York Times, 7 June 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/07/sports/football/deshaun-watson.html. Accessed 2 December 2022.