Thread by @michaelkasdan

THREAD 🧵

We are now at the sickening part of the DeShaun Watson story where the serial sexual abuser gets a woefully short suspension, after signing a contract that makes him the highest paid QB in NFL history. And he is supported by his team and their fans.

A thread. /1

Here are 10 Tweets on this mess. Because it says a lot about our culture and society, none of it good.

I wrote about the history of this up through the point that Watson was traded to the Browns and signed his monster contract here for @GoodMenProject:

goodmenproject.com/featured-conte…

/2

Now former Federal Judge Sue Robinson (who I spent part of my D Del clerkship with!) has handed down a written decision and issued a 6 game suspension for Watson. (The @NFL was seeking a year suspension. It is not yet known if the League will appeal.

beaconjournal.com/story/sports/p…

/3

The suspension - objectively speaking - is woefully short. Especially considering Judge Robinsons findings that Watsons acts met the civil standard for sexual assault & showed such an egregious pattern of misconduct that she effectively banned him from getting private massages
/4

A summary:

/5

https://twitter.com/BrunoReagan/status/1554151200613928965

Despite this and despite the Judge’s finding that Watson showed no remorse, the Browns press release says they’re sure he is remorseful! And fans are saying they “have Watson’s back.”

Like he’s the victim and this is some fun comeback story. This ain’t Rocky.

/6

https://twitter.com/michaelkasdan/status/1554343726708887552

Watson has *never* expressed remorse - in fact Judge Robinson found he was not remorseful.

And those individuals weren’t “triggered.” They were sexually harassed/assaulted.

😡

/7

One huge problem - and we can say the same about social justice and our criminal justice system - in terms of the punishment: Judge Robinson is applying the precedent from the NFLs own history. She says this is longest suspension ever for non violent conduct. And that is true.
/8

Is the NFLs own history of suspensions - which have themselves been woefully short for off the field conduct - really be the measuring stick in 2022 if we are trying to get this right?

/9

The other issue that jumps out is our media - STILL treating this as a “woman’s issue”. Can we please stop with this nonsense?

/10
/END

https://twitter.com/michaelkasdan/status/1554429897828958210

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PS This was FIVE YEARS AGO:

goodmenproject.com/become-a-premi… via @GoodMenProject by @michaelkasdan

PPS This was THIS YEAR. It is not a football issue. It's an US issue. #MeToo goodmenproject.com/featured-conte… via @GoodMenProject by @michaelkasdan