"They were able to prove that Deshaun Watson engaged in acts of sexual assault" - NFL analyst claims league has enough ammo to hand out huge punishment to Brown QB

It appears that Deshaun Watson will be receiving a steeper penalty than the initial six-game suspension handed out to him for violating the league's personal conduct policy. With the NFL's appeal underway, many expect the scope of the penalty to rise considerably.

On the Ringer NFL show, analyst Lindsay Jones outlined how the league already has the building blocks necessary to dole out a severe punishment.

"What they're bound to right now is the information that was presented in that hearing. But my sense of how they're structuring this appeal and why they're appealing is that Judge Robinson, in her 16 page report that she issued earlier this week, basically found that the NFL proved its case."

She went on to explain how the league will be able to prove damage to their brand as a result of Watson's actions.

"In every facet, they said they were able to prove that Deshaun Watson engaged in acts of sexual assault, that he damaged the shield by failing to live up to the standard of an NFL player."

She added that the impending punishment will be as close to a criminal charge as the quarterback would get.

"It was a pretty damning document when it came to what Deshaun Watson did, and is probably as close as anything as we'll actually get, because there were no actual criminal charges."

Deshaun Watson's drastic rise and fall

Cleveland Browns Mandatory Minicamp

While the last 18 months of the quarterback's life have been marked by court cases, the years leading up to the suspension showed just how talented he really is on the field.

He was drafted by the Houston Texans with the 12th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, he threw for 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in seven games. In 2018, he threw for 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions and went 11-5. The team made the playoffs but lost early.

In 2019, he threw for 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while going 10-5. In 2020, he threw for a career-best 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions. That said, he struggled to win games and went 4-12. This was the last look at him on the football field as the onslaught of accusations and lawsuits began.

At just 26 years old, the quarterback has solid numbers and could be around for another decade. Of course, with a massive suspension looming, that window could shrink. Will Watson miss the entire 2022-23 season? Only time will tell.

If any of the above quotes are used, please credit the NFL Ringer Show and H/T Sportskeeda.