Dude, the only cases that exist from an NFL decision making standpoint are the ones that agreed to testify or be interviewed. Of those 12 only 5 were deemed credible. So there are 5.
Accusations in the media that don't agree to give evidence don't exist.
The report from the arbitrator is available now via the NY Times. She said the suspensions were NOT about Covid as I speculated they were about the sexual assaults. He was considered to have broken 3 rules of conduct, conduct that qualifies as Sexual assault, conduct that poses a threat or danger to another person, conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity of the NFL.
In the first one she ruled that despite his denials he probably did commit sexual assault using the definition the NFL used. They had contact with him, the contact was intentional and the contact was unwanted, that's the definition the NFL used for sexual assault. So that was a violation of NFL policy.
On the 2nd part she ruled that because they felt threatened and uncomfortable and in some cases it was still impacting them and their careers, that he violated that rule too.
The third was also a violation because he used his status as an NFL player as part of the method to get the massages.
It's actually a fascinating read she says the NFL equated the assaults with violent assaults not because they're the same but because what he did was so unprecedented they literally had nothing else to compare it to, that's why they wanted a full year when precedent was much lower, they didn't believe there was any actual precedent. She also cited Watson's complete lack of empathy or remorse and that he was tardy in reporting the first lawsuit filed. her conclusion is she can't do a whole year because the NFL can't change their policy without prior notice given to the players that the policy is being changed, so 6 games was the most she could give him.
FYI this says it was 4 not 5 women and it says nothing in there that I see about deeming the others not credible it just says they selected 4 women. 12 of the original 24 agreed to be interviewed and of those 12 they selected 4 to use in the case. it doesn't explain why. FYI the way I read it she references the number of overall women who complained multiple times so while she only has testimony from 4, she clearly took into account the totality of it she uses the word totality several times.
The way I read it she wanted to give him a longer suspsension but couldn't because she was bound by the NFL not having notified the players and the association in the past they were changing the policy so that non violent offenses could get longer suspensions too.
Sue L. Robinson, a retired federal judge, ruled that Deshaun Watson be suspended for six games for violating the N.F.L.’s personal conduct policy. Watson has been accused by more than two dozen women of sexual misconduct.
www.nytimes.com
