Roger Goodell calls for full-year suspension after appealing Deshaun Watson decision

The suspension of Deshaun Watson is now in the hands of the NFL. After NFL disciplinary officer Sue. L Robinson gave the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback six games, the league has appealed the suspension and is more than likely going to extend it for Watson.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is certainly in favor of lengthening Watson’s suspension, calling what he did “predatory behavior.” He thinks there’s enough evidence to prevent Watson from playing games for the entire 2022 season.

“We’ve seen the evidence, she was very clear about the evidence, she reinforced the evidence,” Goodell said via ESPN. “There were multiple violations that were egregious and it was predatory behavior.”

Watson has faced 24 accusations of sexual assault, with 20 being settled out of court. He has also not been fined throughout the entire progress, with the suspension being the only punishment being handed down by Robinson.

There is no timetable as to when the final ruling will be made for Watson. Cleveland gets their preseason kicked off Friday night, before a Sept. 11 season opener against the Carolina Panthers. If things were to somehow stand, Watson would be eligible to return on Oct. 23 against the Baltimore Ravens.

However, Goodell is attempting to make sure that doesn’t happen. If the NFL commissioner gets his wish, Watson will not see a football field until the 2023 season. It would mark the second consecutive year without game time, after not playing in 2022 for the Houston Texans.

Adam Schefter explains why NFL is appealing Deshaun Watson suspension

ESPN’s Adam Schefter explained why the NFL is appealing the Watson suspension, even though he received six games from Robinson. He said the league does not view just over a third of the season as enough, saying the NFL was “very, very disturbed” by the decision.

“Six games is not enough in the [NFL’s] eyes,” Schefter said. “The NFLPA will have plenty to say about this, as well. It has two days to respond to the NFL’s appeal of this decision, and again, this now is just beginning. … I want to reiterate. In the NFL’s eye, six games was not enough. It was not near enough. The NFL is seeking an indefinite suspension. It was not happy about six games. In fact, I was told, it was very, very disturbed about the judge’s decision. And now, the NFL will seek to impose, once again, its own form of justice.”