NFL
By: Zachary Draves
The NFL has proven once again that they are not on the right side of history and it is abundantly clear that they couldn’t care less.
You would think after all the public pressure after the infamous Ray Rice case in 2014 and various other high profile cases of players engaging in violent behaviors toward women and girls that they would have cleaned up their act, but alas they have not and most likely never will.
The latest case of their indifference is the signing of quarterback DeShaun Watson by the Cleveland Browns.
He has signed a record $230 million guaranteed contract for the next five years.
This all comes after 23 women have come forward saying that Watson sexually assaulted them.
Prosecutors chose not to indict Watson but twenty two of the women, many of whom were massage therapists, have pending lawsuits against him for acts of sexual violence and misconduct during massage appointments whereas one of them told sports journaist Jenny Ventras her story but did not file suit against him.
Nevertheless, the NFL has chosen to stay quiet on the matter since the case came to light in early 2021 when Watson was still with the Houston Texans nor have they even considered suspending him.
It once again proves that winning football games and making money is apparently more important than giving sexual assault survivors long overdue justice.
“He wasn’t indicted in criminal court, but we have a civil system for a reason and it is part of the legal system at large” says sports journalist Jessica Luther.
“That a team would guarantee 10 million per woman who reported, a historic amount of guaranteed money for a player, well, that says everything about priorities.”
If this were any average person with this history, they wouldn’t get an interview for cashier at McDonald’s let alone as starting quarterback in the NFL.
Hell these days you could be elected President of the United States with that history, just ask the former occupant of the White House.
Speaking of quarterbacks, remember Colin Kaepernick?
He has been working out again lately showing that he has the capacity and capability to be an effective quarterback which is something he has always sought out since he was blackballed from the league in 2016 for his now iconic kneeling protest against racial injustice and police brutality.
The saga still continues as no team has as of yet is looking at him.
“I think Kaep will forever show that the NFL and its teams can effectively blackball a player if they decide his behavior is unacceptable” says Luther.
“That the league decided that speaking up against racial injustice and police brutality was worthy of ostracism and 22 pending sexual harassment and assault lawsuits were not is very telling.”
The NFL is a morally bankrupt entity that has not shown any ounce of consistency and engages in regular lip service as their public relations strategy.
A long documented history of violence against women and girls is somehow of forgivable offense but protesting against racial injustice and police brutality is an act of hereacy.
The fact is the NFL cannot be trusted on anything.
At least there is a bright spot with more than 1,000 donations being given to the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center in light of this.
In a statement, they said:
“We understand the story surrounding DeShaun Watson joining the Cleveland Browns team is triggering for far too many of our friends and neighbors. For those who need additional support, please know Cleveland Rape Crisis Center is available to you 24/7/365.”
It goes to show that good people who are not swept up in the hoopla of supposed gridiron glories know what really matters.
Survivors matter. Solidarity matters. Justice matters.
It is a damn shame that the NFL and the Cleveland Browns don’t care but it is not a surprise.
