Watson to meet with teams

[Stewy]

(03-21-2022, 09:49 AM)TecmoBengals Wrote: ESPN radio this morning had one of their radio broadcast/lawyer personalities on. She made an interesting point about how Watson's deal basically means he's paid next to nothing this upcoming season and it is a way for the Browns to cheat the spirit of any NFL punishment coming Watson's way since he won't actually have to pay any significant fines. She mentioned he's being paid only $1,000,000 this upcoming season; the Browns anticipate he'll miss games.

Yes this has already been mentioned in several of the other "Browns suck" post that popped up after the trade was announced.  My guess is this came from Watson's camp and not the Browns.  This is what Watson wanted and the Browns were the team willing to accommodate.  This is 100% about money and nothing else.  Watson liked sitting back getting paid to do nothing.  Though he is a competitor people say.  But let's point the spotlight on a couple details.

- The deal was structured specifically to save Watson fine money, that they know is coming.
- Watson has shown ZERO remorse over the situation other than bemoaning the damage to his image.  It's as if he sees it all as lies and that he's done nothing wrong.
- This has been a massive public stain on the NFL.
- Goodell will not be happy with 1)  The attempt to circumvent the system; 2)  The complete lack of remorse/contrition

My prediction are as follows:
*The NFL will conduct a lengthy investigation, so much so that it will push any punishment into 2023 (thus going around Watson's attempt to not pay heavy fines).  
*Some time during the 2022 season the NFL will say it's investigation has raised enough questions that it will place Watson on the Exempt List (No Play and No Pay), for the rest of 2022.

One does not embarrass the NFL and Goodell, and try to go around the punishment system without consequences.  Thus I believe Watson won't play again until mid-2023 and suspended at least 8-9 games.  Not for just his transgression, but for extra embarrassment to the NFL and trying to go around the punishment system.

Remember Goodell can still do what he wants.  He still has all the power.  He has farmed some of it out and made committees, but in essence the NFLPA hasn't negotiated that power away from him yet.  I think this is going to be very severe, with the original "crime" no where meeting the level of punishment that will be handed out.