NFL

[Leisher]

Houston Texans immediately settling lawsuits related to Deshaun Watson.

Is this because they know they're guilty or has the NFL given instructions to all to get everything immediately out of the news?

[TheCatt]

Is this because they know they're guilty or has the NFL given instructions to all to get everything immediately out of the news?

Houston probably just wants to be done with this and let it hang on Watson + The Browns. Not their problem any more.

[Stranger]

I just wanna know what the hell is taking this Sue L. Robinson bitch so long to make her decision on the Watson case. All the final paper work was due to her last Monday there is nothing more to be done. Training camp starts next Wednesday, stop fucking around and make this saga end already! I'm so sick and tired of hearing about it literally every.. single.. day..

[Leisher]

The delay is probably good news for you. They're waiting for the next awful thing to happen to distract the public and when it does they'll quietly announce the Watson suspension. They would do this if they know the number is going to be offensive to most of the public.

There could also still be a lot of behind the scenes politics being played among the most powerful people without anyone else having a clue that is even going on. For example:
Goodell: "We cannot announce a four game suspension. The public would kill us and we stand to lose a LOT of money if female fans boycott us."
NFLPA Power Player: "I understand, but we cannot look weak without you making it up to us later."
Goodell: "Fair. How about you let us announce the suspension was for a year and during the next labor contract you get to name one item you will not concede on and we'll agree to it."
NLFPA PP: "Sounds good, but what about Cleveland?"
Goodell: "Who cares? They're not a big market, they just pissed off all the other owners, and half their fans are boycotting over Watson anyway."

[Stranger]

LOL, was a good take until the last two sentences, complete garbage after that.

Maybe not a big market in the traditional sense, but a much larger fan base and following than both LA teams and the sexy new Las Vegas teams all combined.

[Leisher]

Well, you'd be wrong.

NFL fanbases based on FB stats.

Top 25 fanbase sizes based on social media.

The top 10 (Not sure what their metrics are.

By "Fandom":


Now beyond all of that, here are the largest TV markets in the U.S. This is what's important to the NFL and why LA has two teams out of the blue. Cleveland is no slouch at 19, but LA is FAR more important to the NFL right now than Cleveland. Ask the B1G and Fox.

[Stranger]

Oh wow, i'm so impressed. It's a list on the Internet, i must believe that!!

Two of those lists are based on social media, another by some back ally website clearly ran by a Steelers fan and a graphic some smart ass Harvard nerd made.. that tells me nothing.

I guess having the biggest club with the most members around the world means nothing. But whatever, you found it on the internet and now you're right.

Again garbage..

[Stranger]

All in good fun Leisher. When i read that back it felt different than when i wrote it.

But honestly, one list doesnt even have them in top 25, cmon i dont believe that for one second. And yet the Steelers are top 5 in all of them?? Cleveland and Pittsburgh are basically sister cities, similar size in the same midwest region. Tell me how the Steelers have so much better, bigger fan base? Because they have won more? Nah, these lists are all biased just like i am, i get it.

[TheCatt]

Washington really got screwed by Baltimore's move, and the Panthers.

[Cakedaddy]

Oh wow, i'm so impressed. It's a list on the Internet, i must believe that!!

Two of those lists are based on social media, another by some back ally website clearly ran by a Steelers fan and a graphic some smart ass Harvard nerd made.. that tells me nothing.

I guess having the biggest club with the most members around the world means nothing. But whatever, you found it on the internet and now you're right.

Again garbage..

Exactly! Everyone knows Internet facts are only true when they support your world view!!

[Leisher]

All in good fun Leisher.

Don't worry, I know.

It's a list on the Internet, i must believe that!!

To be fair, lists on the internet with source data have more credibility than our opinions.

"Well, one just counts the number of a team's followers on FB!" Yeah, but that's relevant in 2022. That's where ads get sold and revenue is made. Are you suggesting that most Browns fans don't know how to use FB? Social media engagement is TV ratings without the TV. It's insanely more accurate than us just saying, "I think..."

FYI, that top 10 gets repeated no matter what site or source you visit. There's a reason the Steelers and Cowboys are always on TV. The Steelers are also known as one of the top traveling fanbases along with Packers fans.

TV ratings are a massive, massive issue and a huge source of revenue for the NFL. This is why LA matters FAR more than Cleveland right now. If moving the Browns to LA would have immediately won them the market, the NFL would have dumped Cleveland again in a heartbeat. That's just business 101. And if you think that's insane think about how they dumped St. Louis and San Diego (And Oakland was on the table during this too). LA is more important to TV deals than those other cities.

To further this and give you a source you might trust a bit more? Here's Forbes list of the most valuable NFL franchises in order. (This is just selling price.) Note that there are perennial losers at the top of that list because TV ratings matter more than other things, like winning. So again, in the eyes of the NFL, LA > Cleveland.

And everything I said about all the other owners being pissed about the Watson deal and a large portion of Cleveland's own fanbase being pissed about it is true. (Both things we've covered here before.)

So what was "garbage"?

------------------------------------------------------------------

Now just for fun and because you asked about the difference between Pittsburgh and Cleveland:

I legit don't know why, but Pittsburgh is a far bigger brand. That's not debatable.

I have a theory that the Steelers were good right when there was a cultural shift in the U.S. A lot of kids were rebelling against their baseball loving folks and here is this sport that just positioned itself as a national power with a merger. Additionally, and yes I realize this is now a running theme, but national TV was becoming a much bigger thing. People were able to watch more than just their local team. The NFL was different, exciting, and wasn't baseball. During this time, the Steelers were awesome winning four Super Bowls. The Super Bowl becoming a cultural phenomenon at this time as well. Steelers sucked in the 80s, but the kids of those 70s rebel children got to watch the Steelers get consistently good in the 90s, 00s, and 10s. #1 in wins since 1960. Now they're passing it onto their kids. Me and my kids are living proof of that process.

Furthering their appeal, you have the longest tenured black HC ever, which if you believe isn't winning them fans in that demographic, you're insane.

Black and gold being their colors helps. It's such a great combo and so represented winning that Iowa's old HC Hayden Fry copied them for his school.

But traffic cone orange is cool too!

Ok, I kid, but I really do think my theory has some weight. I think it's just timing that made them a bigger brand. Like you said, Cleveland and Pittsburgh are basically the same cities. Cleveland was even dominating the NFL for a bit, but it was before the merger, TV expanding, and the rebellious kids. Timing.

[Cakedaddy]

Tell me how the Steelers have so much better, bigger fan base? Because they have won more?

Well, ya! People love to bandwagon. Ask Leisher!

My take away:
The Browns have a huge fan base, but no one watches them. Not even Browns fans!

[Leisher]

Cardinals sign little person to massive contract.

What has he done to deserve that contract?

Browns bringing other QBs into camp.

[Leisher]

Watson ruling expected tomorrow.

Also, Watson and the NFLPA have said they will NOT appeal. Meanwhile, the NFL will not make the same promise.

This is the complete opposite of what I've heard up to this point. Makes me wonder if they are expecting a light punishment?

[Stranger]

Watson ruling expected tomorrow.

6 games. Now does the NFL appeal to itself??

[Leisher]

Watson ruling expected tomorrow.

6 games. Now does the NFL appeal to itself??

They need to confer with their corporate partners and watch the public's reaction. If it goes over fine, they won't appeal. If people are pissed, which they should be, they will appeal.

And yes, they should be pissed. This is less than a slap on the wrist for sexually assaulting 24 women WITH the full support of an NFL franchise. If anyone questions his guilt, I would question their intelligence. He was going offsite and away from his home, having the women sign NDAs, hired only women, while massage therapists were available FOR FREE at team facilities. These were planned out sexual assaults. If you want to argue that some of them were fine with things because money was involved, fine we can discuss that aspect. However, it still doesn't mean illegal and bad behavior was not taking place.

For contrast, Big Ben was accused twice. Neither resulted in criminal charges, just like Watson. One was a complete sham and proven via her text messages to her friends who ratted her out. The other seemed far more credible, but it was still "he said, she said". He got six games that was reduced to four. So the message being delivered to male athletes is "Rape all you want. Women are meaningless. Rape 1 or rape 100, the punishment will be the same! Oh, and please support breast cancer awareness because the NFL cares about women!"

If karma is real, then he will either shred his knee and his career will be over or Cleveland will ultimately fail in their quest to buy a ring with Watson. If they win it all, then everyone can shut the fuck up about karma forever.

[Stranger]

This is less than a slap on the wrist for sexually assaulting 24 women

Per a former federal judge: "behavior was nonviolent sexual conduct" so NOT sexual assault.

If anyone questions his guilt, I would question their intelligence

I'd question the intelligence of those who do. I'd say those who did just blindly followed the court of public opinion that Buzbee stirred up because that's all he had.

[Stranger]

However, it still doesn't mean illegal and bad behavior was not taking place.

Egregious, sure. Illegal, not really. That's why he got suspended.

[Stranger]

https://www.espn.com/pdf/2022/0801/watson.pdf

Full 16 pg report from Sue Robinson.

[Leisher]

Per a former federal judge: "behavior was nonviolent sexual conduct" so NOT sexual assault.

Oh shit! My bad! He didn't use violence on these women, so it's ok everybody. The much larger man rubbed his erect and exposed dick on smaller, nonconsenting women in a totally passive and peaceful way. We should build a shrine in his honor!

Jokes aside, what you cite is a technicality. Had it gone to trial we would have heard about intimidation based on his gender and size. Then violence would have been introduced to the charges. It's like strong arm robbery. Sometimes you don't need to actually hit someone to be violent.

I'd question the intelligence of those who do.

Feel free. In fact, let's look at the actual facts:
He paid off all but one person who accused him (She has not accepted the offer.). The Texans did the same. He had access to free massage therapists, but instead hired dozens of different women in a short time period. He had them meet him at a hotel and sign NDAs. All the women have had similar stories of him inappropriately touching them, asking for sexual favors, touching them with his dick without permission, and so on.

Side note: I do want to address the payoffs. His claim will be "The NFL/agent/someotherscapegoat told me to do it." There IS truth in that, but there is also truth in that he, nor the NFL/Browns/Texans/etc., want these things to go to trial where details of his behavior will become part of public record.

Anyway, so what you're saying is all of that behavior is logical, understandable, legal, and socially acceptable? All 24 women are greedy liars who just happen to all have similar stories? You are 100% certain it all makes sense without the illegal or immoral aspects? You would tell your son to behave in the same manner towards women?

At best he was paying women to do sexual favors for him, which is still illegal in Texas. Thus, my original statement wins.

He is a textbook sexual predator. He picked a profession that is not in the sex trade and then went out of his way to take advantage of women alone in those situations. That is what gets him off. The taboo of the situation, the power he has over them, and so on.

When BB was accused the first time it was easy to brush aside because there was no evidence and then the evidence did come out exonerating him. However, that second time it was tough. He clearly did something bad, paid the girl off, and then got suspended. It always bugged me about him and still does even now. Do I think he was a serial rapist? No, but he got drunk, was full of himself, and then very likely overstepped some boundaries. Nothing ever happened again and by all accounts he lived perfectly from then on, but again, it still bugs me about him.

Point being, I get your defense of him as a fan, but man, don't drag yourself down to his level. Root for your team. Root for the player. Don't feel like you have to extend that to the man off the field.

At least that's how I dealt with BB.

Illegal, not really. That's why he got suspended.

Actually, it is very illegal to rub your exposed dick on people without permission. It's also very illegal to pay for sex outside of shooting porn or certain areas of Reno/Vegas. These are indisputable facts.

If you want to debate that, don't bother. It'd just be words. Instead, on Wednesday pull out your dick at golf and rub it on the beer girl. Let's see who is right and who is wrong.

Why he was only suspended this long is because they can't build a case on "he said/she said" or the NFL wouldn't need to rule on shit as he'd be heading to jail. Technically, there's nothing to show his behavior aside from the admitted actions of him and the Texans, which all by themselves are creepy and incriminating.