The NFL has put itself in an unwinnable position when it comes to personal conduct suspensions, writes ZacharyFaria.
Watson has settled all but one of the 24 sexual misconduct lawsuits against him. The NFL had sought to suspend him indefinitely, allowing him to apply for reinstatement after the 2022 season, but retired judge Sue Robinson opted to stick with the league’s precedent for sexual misconduct. Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was suspended six games in 2010 after he was accused of sexual assault.
The most notable example of the NFL’s inconsistency came in 2014. Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was accused of domestic violence. The league’s previous precedent was no more than two games, which is what Rice received. “I believe that you are sincere in your desire to learn from this matter and move forward toward a healthy relationship and successful career,” Goodell said in a letter accompanying the suspension.
Since then, the NFL’s personal conduct suspensions have been an inscrutable hodgepodge. In 2018, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks was suspended eight games for insider trading. In 2020, Antonio Brown was suspended for eight games after pleading no contest to burglary and battery charges. Some domestic violence cases got the proposed six-game suspension , while others got four games.
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