One of the biggest women’s organizations in the country is furious over Deshaun Watson’s 11-game suspension and fine.
The National Organization For Women has been following the case for the Cleveland Browns quarterback as they previously stated the 6-game suspension former Judge Sue L. Robinson handed down was “insulting, and dangerous.”
The NFL appealed Robinson’s decision and reached a settlement this week for an 11-game suspension and a $5 million fine. The National Organization for Women criticized the 11-game suspension and $5 million, saying it’s “nowhere near enough.”
“That $5 million represents 2.1739 percent of Watson’s new $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns, which was negotiated after more than two dozen women had accused the star athlete of sexual misconduct,” the advocacy group said in a statement. “NOW is pleased to see behavioral evaluation and treatment recognized as best practices by the NFL, but they have a lot to learn about math.”
The NFL originally wanted a one-year ban of Watson, who was accused of sexual assault and sexual misconduct by 25 different women in civil lawsuits filed against him.
For NOW, their decision fell extremely short.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
“Women need more than empty words and half-measures. The culture of toxic masculinity within the NFL must change—NOW,” its statement read. “Deshaun Watson’s career and wealth won’t be damaged by this decision—unlike the dozens of women he has irreparably harmed. No, this isn’t good enough.”
Watson has since settled 23 of the 25 lawsuits against him, and one has been dropped. Two separate grand juries in Texas also declined to pursue criminal charges.
In March, he was traded to the Browns and signed a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract.
