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Deshaun Watson has taken nonstop heat over the last 18 months for his actions with dozens of female massage therapists. After facing 24 civil lawsuits for sexual harassment, Watson settled all of the but one. He later received a six-game suspension. One NFL analyst slammed the quarterback and claimed that everyone, except Browns fans, wants him gone from the league for good.
On Pro Football Talk, NFL analyst Mike Florio said he conducted a poll to gauge how fans felt about Watson. Florio revealed that most fans wanted the quarterback to be suspended for, at least, a full season.
"I mean, look, you've got Browns fans that are screaming, 'This is unfair. This is rigged. This is this.' And everybody else is like, 'Throw the guy out for a year.' We had a poll on Twitter last week of four different options of 'how long he should be suspended: six, eight, 12 and full season' of those four options."
He went on to reveal the poll results:
"Which one do you prefer? And full season was 71%, 71%. So you get Browns fans out of the picture, and everybody else is saying, 'What are we even talking about? Nonviolent sexual assault. He was preying upon these massage therapists. He was using his status.'"
Deshaun Watson's journey
At the end of the 2020 NFL season, the Texans were 4-12, but many fans were lauding Watson for his 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions. However, the tone of public opinion shifted immediately, following the onslaught of roughly two dozen accusations of sexual misconduct.
For the next year, the question of Watson's freedom was at stake. Watson eventually escaped legal purgatory, but still found himself in trouble, since each of the criminal cases had a civil case, as well. For most of 2022, the quarterback spent time whittling down the civil cases by settling out of court.
As the summer ran on, the NFL began the process of assessing a punishment for the quarterback. The suspension handed down was for six games, but the NFL appealed the decision, pushing for more.
Even if Watson does play this coming season, there are questions over his ability to perform at the same level as he did with the Houston Texans. Will the quarterback resemble his old self on the field if and when he eventually returns? Only time will tell.
If any of the above quotes are used, please credit Pro Football Talk and H/T Sportskeeda.
