Before the NFL wrapped up its ownership meetings in Atlanta two weeks ago, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell revealed that the league's investigation into the actions of embattled Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was "nearing the end." But considering the latest news regarding Watson, the NFL should take more time draw conclusions. Earlier this week, a 24th civil lawsuit was filed against Watson, who's facing allegations of sexual misconduct.
According to a recent New York Times report, Watson booked massages with at least 66 different women during a 17-month period between 2019 and 2021. Watson's future in the NFL remains unclear -- Goodell does have the power to suspend him, under the league's personal conduct policy, and the consensus is that he'll see that disciplinary action. To make football matters even messier for the Browns, their relationship with Baker Mayfield has completely soured.
"Why would he put himself in that position [to come back]? He already feels wronged," CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones explained to the Maggie and Perloff show on Wednesday. "And reasonable people can disagree about that. But he feels that way, and justified in that. It can't be, 'Now you want me because your quarterback, to whom you gave nearly a quarter billion dollars in guaranteed money, may not be able to play for an extended period of time?'
"I understand, based off the incredible reporting by Jenny Ventras, that a lot of folks think a suspension may be even longer than thought before. I'm not convinced Watson's going to be out for a year, or even out for more than half a season. I'd say somewhere between 6-8 games, with an appeal potentially taking it down from there. Browns knew that going in, signed him knowing a suspension was possible. Not sure this really changes the math for them."
The entire football conversation between Jones and Maggie and Perloff can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Maggie and Perloff Show on Twitter @MaggieandPerl and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.