While the NFLPA has said it will not appeal Robinson’s decision, it would be unlikely the union would walk away if the NFL does appeal. Roger Goodell or an appointed commissioner will oversee the appeal, as outlined in the 2020 CBA. The NFLPA has been linked with taking this matter to court if Goodell lifts this ban for up to a full season. On the NFL side, an appeal is being considered. His statement said a review of Robinson’s decision is ongoing (Twitter link). While the NFL has made no secret of its push for a full-season suspension, the NFLPA remains unhappy with Robinson’s six-game suspension, according to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson (on Twitter). The union “keeps steady[s]Watson should not have been suspended because of his alleged sexual assault and/or sexual misconduct against more than 20 women. In her report, Robinson called Watson’s pattern of nonviolent sexual behavior “more egregious than any previously assessed by the NFL.” Watson had denied all allegations of wrongdoing, but the report said “it is difficult to give weight to a complete denial when compared to the credible testimony of investigators who interviewed the therapists and other third parties.” Robinson’s decision also prohibits Watson from seeing a non-team-approved massage therapist for the rest of his career. Robinson sided with the NFL stating that Watson violated the personal conduct policy on all three counts (sexual assault, conduct endangering the welfare and safety of an individual, and conduct that undermines the integrity of the NFL), Jake tweets Trotter of ESPN.com. The gray area of this supposedly non-violent sexual behavior came into play regarding the six-game suspension, but Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes Robinson’s findings — including a passage that he thinks makes it more likely that Watson lied to NFL investigators. to Goodell having enough justification to increase the length of the Browns quarterback’s suspension. Given the NFL’s push for a full-year suspension and its attempt to protect against public relations backlash, it’s not hard to see a scenario in which Goodell would follow through by adding games to Watson’s suspension. That would open the door to an NFLPA countermeasure that would take it to court. The CBA and recent precedent would not side with the union in court, but a legal process could delay Watson’s ban. Tom Brady and Ezekiel Elliott were able to play with orders. Watson could end up doing the same. Brady and Elliott, however, ended up serving the suspensions the Commissioner ultimately imposed.
