MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Making sense of the Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins, and Calvin Ridley suspensions

One of the more common questions raised in response to Judge Sue L. Robinson’s decision to suspend Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for six games flows from a fairly obvious set of comparisons.

How does Watson, who faced 24 lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions, get suspended only six games when Cardinal receiver DeAndre Hopkins was suspended six games for trace amounts of a PED he claims he didn’t know he ingested and Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley was suspended a whole season for making $1,500 in parlay wagers?


On the surface, the answer is easy. These three players were suspended under three completely different policies: Personal Conduct, PED, and gambling.

There’s a more nuanced explanation. The PED policies and gambling policies go directly to the integrity of the game, whether by cheating in it or betting on it. The Personal Conduct Policy relates to off-duty behavior, conduct that has no connection to the league’s core business interests.

The vast majority of American employers don’t, won’t, and can’t police the private lives of their employees. If an employee faces multiple civil lawsuits unrelated to his workplace behavior and/or if he’s investigated but never charged with any crime(s), the employer has no cause to do anything.

The NFL has cause to do something to players like Watson because the league and the NFL Players Association have agreed that the NFL can and should investigate and discipline players who get in trouble away from work. Despite the inherent flaws (such as the inability to force non-employees of the league or its teams to cooperate), the NFL has the right — and feels an obligation t0 — take action against employees who have gotten into certain types of trouble.

And remember this. First, the NFL focused only on four cases, not 24. Second, the NFL has the right to appeal the ruling to (checks notes) the NFL, and in turn to impose a much greater suspension than Judge Robinson’s six games.

So while the comparisons are understandable, there’s a reason for the differences in treatment of Watson and Hopkins/Ridley. For many, however, those subtleties will be irrelevant.

PFT

 

ASSORTED NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS
• While the rotation at left guard continued as it had on Saturday, with Kevin Dotson and Kendrick Green alternating with the first group on a period-by-period basis, the quarterback rotation changed at the start of the day and remained in effect throughout. It was Trubisky-Pickett-Rudolph.

 

John Lynch: Jimmy Garoppolo is cleared to practice with no restrictions



For now, Jimmy Garoppolo is still a member of the 49ers.

But San Francisco is still looking for a trade partner for their former starting quarterback.


After undergoing offseason shoulder surgery that prevented an earlier trade, Garoppolo is now cleared to practice. But he’s been working separately from the team during training camp.

“We’ve just made the decision that it’s in his best interest to be off to the side and that was made mutually,” G.M. John Lynch said in a recent press conference. “It was made with Dr. [Neil] ElAttrache, but he has no restrictions and I’m watching him throw out here right now. He looks pretty good.”

But even as Garoppolo goes through his program, it doesn’t seem like anything is imminent on the trade front.

“Jimmy’s doing a really good job,” Lynch said. “Kind of building his stamina in the throwing program that was prescribed all along and working out really strongly and aggressively, but yeah that situation is kind of where we’ve described it before. We’ll stay patient through this one as well and come to a great conclusion for everybody involved.”

In 15 starts last season, Garoppolo completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 3,810 yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

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Davis Mills: I think I’ve developed a lot since the end of last season



Throughout the offseason, the Texans have been clear in their support for Davis Mills entering the season as their starting quarterback.

Selected in the third round out of Stanford last year, Mills went 2-9 in his 11 starts as a rookie. Overall, he completed 66.8 percent of his passes for 2,664 yards with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 13 appearances — good for an 88.8 passer rating.


But in his last five starts, Mills led the Texans to a 2-3 record with victories over the Jaguars and Chargers. Houston also gave Tennessee all it could handle in Week 18, with the Titans winning 28-25. In those contests, Mills compiled a 102.4 passer rating, completing 68 percent of his passes for 1,258 yards with nine touchdowns and two picks.

With last year’s passing game coordinator/QBs coach Pep Hamilton taking over as offensive coordinator in 2022, there’s reason for optimism when it comes to Mills’ play. This week, the quarterback said he feels really good in his second training camp.

“I think I’ve developed a lot since the end of last season,” Mills said, via Deepi Sidhu of the team’s website. “I think I felt the progression at the end of last year and then really taking it into the offseason, big momentum and stacking on it has allowed me to come out here and start playing really fast at the start of training camp and throughout OTAs. I’m excited to keep progressing.”

Mills did the things quarterbacks are expected to do these days, like bring his receivers together for offsite, offseason workouts. And he said he worked on specific weak points from his rookie season.

“We kind of pinpointed and saw the shot chart or the throw chart from across the field, saw the different percentages, and I had a couple boxes where I needed to work on, so I focused on those type of throws, just making sure my feet and my body were in line to make all those throws,” Mills said. “The biggest thing is just coming out and being ahead of schedule in the playbook so you can come out and play fast.”

No one outside their building really expects much from the Texans in 2022. But if Mills continues his trajectory from the end of 2021, they could surprise some teams in the coming season.

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NFL moves closer to deadline for filing Deshaun Watson appeal



The stunning news regarding the suspension of Dolphins owner Stephen Ross for tampering (which he did) but not for tanking (which he also at least tried to do) pushed the Deshaun Watson case out of the news for at least a day. It won’t stay out of the news for long.

The NFL’s appeal is due soon. With no reporting or evidence of discussions with the NFL Players Association to possibly extend the deadline (an extension is permitted, if the parties agree), the clock is ticking toward the closing of the window for the NFL to appeal Judge Sue L. Robinson’s decision to (checks notes) the NFL.


By rule, the league has three business days to file the appeal. It’s unclear whether that means 72 hours from Judge Robinson communicating her decision to the parties, or close of business on the third business day after her decision was reached. Good lawyering includes identifying all possible deadlines, and complying with the earliest one — just in case.

Heck, in this case it would make sense to file the appeal today, in order to avoid the potential claim that, because the decision came before the opening of NFL business on Monday, Monday was the first business day and today is the third.

That likely wouldn’t be a strong argument, but why risk it? The league, to be as safe as possible, should file the appeal before 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, if an appeal is coming.

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Tua Tagovailoa: I think the Dolphins are all-in with me and the guys we have now



Now that the NFL has punished the Dolphins and owner Stephen Ross for tampering, it’s clear that the club was once again trying to replace quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with Tom Brady.

The 2021 season was filled with rumors that Miami was going to trade for Deshaun Watson, which meant Tagovailoa had to spend plenty of his time in press conferences addressing them. Now that the Brady revelations have come to light, Tagovailoa was asked in his Wednesday media session what he thought about the Dolphins’ punishment for pursuing the seven-time Super Bowl winner and former Saints head coach Sean Payton.


“I would say everyone heard about it yesterday when we went into the locker room, seeing it on the TV,” Tagovailoa said. “For me, I have no idea about all the details other than what was shown on TV with the $1.5 million fine and then something happening with Brady — I mean, I don’t know all the details. I don’t even know what happened. But I got to talk to a couple of the guys to kind of find out what was going on. And everyone’s wondering the same thing, so not too sure.”

As a follow-up, a reporter asked how it made Tagovailoa feel about his standing with the team.

“I remember I came in 2020, so whatever happened in 2019, I can’t even speak on that,” Tagovailoa said. “I was here in 2020 and I’m still here and I’m blessed to be here. If it has to do with support from the team, I think the team’s all-in with me and all the guys that we have now.”

That may be true at this point, if for no other reason than the team doesn’t really have many other options on Aug. 3. But unless Tagovailoa has a particularly strong 2022, Dolphins ownership may get more wandering eyes for a different quarterback in 2023.

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The NFL wants to suspend Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson more than six games.

That became clear today when the league announced that it will appeal discipline officer Sue Robinson’s decision to suspend Watson six games.


Although Robinson was jointly hired by the NFL and NFL Players Association, for the appeal the deck is stacked in the NFL’s favor: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell decides who hears the appeal, or Goodell can choose to hear the appeal himself. Goodell has not said who will hear the appeal of Watson’s suspension.

But whoever hears it, it’s highly likely that the NFL will prevail, and Watson will face a longer suspension — perhaps for the entire 2022 season.

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Rudolph now splitting first team reps with Trubisky. Looking like Trubisky is losing his grasp on the starting job.

 

The NFL announced Wednesday that it was appealing the six-game suspension of Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, seeking a tougher penalty under the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.

Now comes word, via multiple reports, that the league wants an indefinite suspension of at least a year for Watson as well as a fine. Under the six-game suspension imposed by disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson on Monday, Watson stood to lose $345,000 from the $230 million deal he signed with the Browns.


The NFL’s decision to appeal could prompt the sides to resume settlement talks, which previously went nowhere. The NFLPA, working with Watson’s camp, wasn’t willing to accept more than 6-8 games. The league would agree to 12 games plus a fine in the range of $8 million.

The NFL has not yet announced whether commissioner Roger Goodell or a designee will hear and decide the appeal.

PFT

 

If I were the Browns, I'd have Jimmy Garoppolo in Berea TOMORROW.

 

Garoppolo with a chip on his shoulder might be a lot better than Watson.

 

Deshaun Watson appeal will proceed on paper only, with no hearing

Now that the NFL has appealed the Deshaun Watson decision to the NFL, what happens next?

The Personal Conduct Policy and the relevant provision of the Collective Bargaining Agreement lay out the next steps.


Here’e the relevant language of the Personal Conduct Policy: “Such appeals will be: (i) processed on an expedited basis; (ii) limited to consideration of the terms of discipline imposed; and (iii) based upon a review of the existing record without reference to evidence or testimony not previously considered. No additional evidence or testimony shall be presented to or accepted by the Commissioner or his designee. Any factual findings and evidentiary determinations of the Disciplinary Officer will be binding to the parties on appeal, and the decision of the Commissioner or his designee, which may overturn, reduce, modify or increase the discipline previously issued, will be final and binding on all parties.”

Because there’s no new evidence, there’s no reason for a new hearing. Neither the Personal Conduct Policy nor the CBA call for a hearing on appeal. Instead, it’s simply a matter of both sides submitting their paperwork to Commissioner Roger Goodell or whoever he designates to reach the same decision he would reach.

In this specific case, the factual findings and evidentiary determinations made by Judge Sue L. Robinson give the Commissioner or his designee all the ammunition needed to replace her six-game suspension with something more. She found that Watson violated three different provisions of the policy as to four different people. Nothing about her decision to suspend Watson six games limits the ability of Goodell or his designee to implement a much longer suspension.

That’s the most important thing to remember. Judge Robinson determined the facts. And the facts that she determined are exactly what the NFL wanted them to be. Although the NFL didn’t like her decision as to the length of a suspension, the NFL has the ability under the policy to appeal the decision to the NFL, and to replace her six-game suspension with whatever the NFL would prefer it otherwise be.

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Matthew Stafford won’t be participating in team drills, for now



The issue of quarterback Matthew Stafford‘s elbow discomfort continues to make things very uncomfortable at Rams training camp, even as coach Sean McVay tries to glass-half-full his way through talking about the situation..

On Wednesday, McVay explained at the outset of a press conference that Stafford won’t be participating in team drills, for now.


“This is part of the plan that we feel like is in his best interest,” McVay said. “So it’s a great opportunity for John Wolford and Bryce [Perkins] to be able to get a lot more reps than they would otherwise. Matthew’s going to stay engaged and that’s the plan that we think is best right now.”

McVay declined to call it a setback. But how could it be anything but a setback to have the starting quarterback for the defending Super Bowl champion not participating in team drills at training camp?

“It’s consistent with what’s been going on,” McVay said. “It’s just more of, when you really look at the totality of it, want to try to have him operate in as little as pain as possible. I think anytime that you’ve played as long and are as tough as he is, I don’t know if you’re ever truly pain free but the goal would be for September 8 and really looking towards 17 games then hopefully some games after that if we earn that opportunity. That’s kind of the perspective and the big picture approach that we want to be able to take. I don’t know that I would feel as comfortable taking that approach if it wasn’t for the experience that he’s accumulated and knowing how intentional he is about staying up to speed with his mental and his physical work that he can do in the absence of some of the stuff in the team settings.”

How concerned is McVay that this issue will linger into the regular season?

“You could [have that concern],” McVay said. “I think that’s one of those things that we talk about where, ‘Hey, all we can do is what we can control.’ We feel like this is kind of the best approach to be able to take. Is there a possibility that that conversation occurs? Sure. But based on the medical experts and the plan in talking with Matthew, this is what we think is best. I am optimistic that it’ll give us the best chance for him to feel as good as possible. Would you say, ‘Hey, you’d love him to have no issues and be out here playing and getting all these reps.’ Of course. But this is the thing that we think is best. This is one of those deals where you kind of take your own advice where, ‘Hey, let’s just be right here in the moment, take it a day at a time,’ and I thought we got better as a team today and we’re getting some encouraging things. I think you want to be careful to say, ‘Okay, well it’s just been a couple days,’ but I think for us being able to really give it a week, two weeks, is where you give it enough time to really see… ‘Okay, is this new plan that we’ve implemented getting the results, that we’re hunting up.’ I think everybody feels good about that and that’s the plan that we’re going to go with for the next couple weeks.”

McVay said he “doesn’t think” there’s a scenario that entails Stafford skipping all team activities until the week of preparation commences for the opener against the Bills.

“What we’ve really said right now is we will really take it over these next couple weeks, really until we leave here because we’ve got this four-day block, and then another three days before you end up going back to [Cal Lutheran],” McVay said. “So we’ve kind of taken the approach that we’ll reevaluate once we get there prior to that first preseason game, and then see where we’re at there and I’ll have updates for you guys accordingly.”

Obviously, Stafford would prefer that this not be the situation.

“He wants to be out there and do everything,” McVay said, “but that’s where you got to say, ‘All right, let’s really take a step back. What do we think is the best way to follow our own advice and be as healthy as we can and ready to go for September 8?’ That was really what I thought would be best as a competitor. He’s always going to want to continue to be out here, be with his teammates. But he is so intentional with his approach that you feel good about that. That’s kind of the situation that we’re in, so we’ll deal with it the best we can.”

Bottom line? Stafford’s elbow — which kept him from throwing at all in the offseason — continues to be an issue. For now, they’re trying to find a way to get him ready to go without making it worse. It remains to be seen whether this approach will properly get him ready, and whether the limited workload will avoid making things worse.

Either way, it’s definitely something to continue to monitor for the Rams. The road back to the Super Bowl becomes a lot harder to traverse if Stafford can’t throw the way he’d like, or if he ultimately can’t play at all.

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There’s been some rocky days in practice for the Bears offense in training camp, but Wednesday was better than earlier efforts this week and it left quarterback Justin Fields feeling positive about the direction things are heading in Chicago.

Fields told reporters “it’s gonna come” when discussing the need for more consistency on that side of the ball. He also said that he feels like the team is taking the necessary steps toward that goal even on days when it looks like nothing is going their way.


“I think we’re progressing every day,” Fields said, via Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times. “We’re not where we want to be yet, though, for sure. . . . I think we can improve at everything. As long as we continue to get better every day, we’re going to be in a good position.”

With a new offensive coordinator and scheme in place, it would be unreasonable to think the Bears offense would be in midseason form in early August. A few more signs that they’ll reach that kind of form come the regular season would still be a welcome development in the coming weeks.

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Report: Matthew Stafford dealing with “bad” elbow tendinitis



Rams coach Sean McVay announced Tuesday that Matthew Stafford wouldn’t participate in team drills for now. It has raised concerns about the quarterback’s elbow issue.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media has provided more clarity, reporting Stafford is dealing with “bad tendinitis.”


Stafford had a procedure this offseason, which previously was reported, but Rapoport called it platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. The quarterback also wore a brace briefly to limit his range of motion while healing. He did not throw during the offseason workouts but obviously still is dealing with the issue into training camp.

Rams coach Sean McVay downplayed Stafford’s absence in team drills, saying rest is part of the plan.

“It’s consistent with what’s been going on,” McVay said Wednesday. “It’s just more of, when you really look at the totality of it, want to try to have him operate in as little as pain as possible. I think anytime that you’ve played as long and are as tough as he is, I don’t know if you’re ever truly pain-free, but the goal would be for Sept. 8 and really looking toward 17 games then hopefully some games after that if we earn that opportunity. That’s kind of the perspective and the big picture approach that we want to be able to take. I don’t know that I would feel as comfortable taking that approach if it wasn’t for the experience that he’s accumulated and knowing how intentional he is about staying up to speed with his mental and his physical work that he can do in the absence of some of the stuff in the team settings.”

Backup John Wolford will handle the starting reps in Stafford’s absence.

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Just cut him already. Let him try and find a landing spot. No one is paying him 24 million on a one year deal, no one is giving up a pick to pay him 24 million on a one year deal.

Still say the best place for him is in SanFran. Sign him to a one year, 8M deal and let him backup Lance.

 

Posted this on the Browns board. Good twitter thread on the merits of a Watson appeal for a preliminary injunction...