The Weird, Wacky and Awesome World of the NFL - General Banter thread V3

I don't think it'll get over-looked by the majority. It's very different to the Ray Lewis case in how people view it, despite a murder charge being obviously more serious. Firstly, and most importantly, I'm guessing it was widely seen as a one-off street-fight incident where drink/drugs played a significant role. There was very little chance of Lewis ever repeating said behaviour. Watson on the other hand has been accused by 22 women (so far) of sexual assault, none of which I'm aware happened 'in the heat of the moment'. He has been described as a serial predator and I'm no expert, but I wouldn't be confident that he won't reoffend. Especially considering the lack of consequences. Secondly, the charges were dismissed against Lewis - rightly or wrongly. The fact that nothing happened to Watson criminally has been completely overshadowed by the sheer volume of complaints, the numerous civil cases and the length by which the whole ordeal has gone on. Thirdly, and perhaps only a side point, his behaviour throughout has been despicable. He hasn't endeared himself to many the past few months. And finally, the money he'll be making despite everything. It's mind-boggling that someone who's been accused by 22 women of sexual assault can sign the largest contract in NFL history, and will have had essentially 2 seasons on the side-lines to boot.

And just so my post doesn't get misconstrued, I am absolutely not defending Ray Lewis. I'm just making the point that the Watson ordeal is much less palatable. I don't see him ever getting the same reception as Lewis would in B'more.

True. Plus this was always going to get him cut anyway so his career earnings are 200k and are not going above 200k anytime soon given he has been cut.

In terms of a cash grab it isn't exactly setting her up for life.

This seems to have come from the victim to the media. I am not sure how you ban someone from publicizing details of attacks they suffered if they so wish. I guess if she is lying he can sue for defamation. Generally it is a he said/she said for both sides of this and so neither side would ever get justice however he can counter the claim that he admitted to sex with a minor since they should be able to get access to the phone calls or show that the recordings do not exist. Similarly it seems she mentioned the assault to friends pretty quickly and they took her to hospital. The details of the assault were quite graphic so there is no way the hospital couldn't confirm if an attack took place or not. So if he wants to clear his name the evidence should be there.

I feel like the Bills didn't do an investigation and just decided it wouldn't blow up in the media. Certainly the attorney for the accused is claiming that they were never contacted which seems similar to how the Browns conducted their investigation. I feel like the Bills FO didn't have an issue with the possibility of having a rapist on their team and so didn't care to do an investigation. They just cared about the backlash. I also feel like if he was a higher round draft pick he would have gotten a longer leash like Watson.

And yet they have decided to throw it away. Plus they didn't even get to keep the player for all this bad press. Moreover I can't think of an FO in the league that I would bet on doing a serious investigation. Anyone with an ounce of sense had to have known this was going to go public given all the Watson press and they didn't have any response ready except to release him. They obviously didn't learn enough to be confident they could back him if this went public which should have been the final question of any investigation.

She says she was drunk, that is part of her claim that he was taking advantage of a drunk girl as part of this and plied her with more alcohol. Again just asking the cops does nothing, I would be trying to get access to the tapes (with the victim's permission) or at least get the police to verify the existence of those tapes. Also whether she took alcohol or not is irrelevant to whether anything can be proven. At the end of the day even if she was sober it is still their word against hers which I suspect the actual reason there will be no rape conviction unless one of the 3 confesses.

However if I got nothing either way I would go with what I would do if the information went public. If you are going to cut someone because stuff like this went public you may as well cut them now. Even from what is in the team's best interests point of view as it will get out and then you have hurt your team's image for no benefit whatsoever. In fact it hurt them as they may have wanted to keep Haack.

F all will be proven about Watson either. There is a reason he is not in prison. I believe he did it, and should get banned but he will never see the inside of a jail cell and any cases on those grounds went no where. What you have said is exactly what the Browns would have heard about Watson (well the reason for no conviction would not be alcohol) but the actual reason for no conviction would be the same.

What does Jimmy g get out of this deal exactly? Why is he doing it?

Not sure there was anywhere for him to start this year, so this gets him a decent backup job while he waits for Free Agency next year. He'll be in the Trubisky/Mariota spot next year to choose his own team.

Also he might get his job back if Lance is a bust.

He also had a 5 TD to 2 int which is a fine ratio. He was a raw player with 1 year of college experience and not getting the starter reps. 57% is fine against expectations. He was drafted on pure talent and that needs to be developed, there may well be teething issues along the way but they gotta stick with the good and the bad.

Plus Lynch and Shanahan may as well pack their bags if they bench him. They put the house on that pick. He will get at least Josh Allen's window to improve even if he is bad. Jimmy G is only still there because they couldn't actively get rid of him.

The no trade and no tag clause are great for Jimmy. If a team he wants to go to comes calling for him and he performs well there then they don't have the option to tag him and he gets to hit the open market.

For Jimmy's long term future staying with the 49ers as a back up is a far better move than the other options out there. Worst case for Jimmy, he doesn't see the field and is seen as the perfect bridge QB for the rest of his career, showing last year that he can take the pressure and work well with a young QB behind him and then the year after being a good back-up. Best case for Jimmy, he sees the field and is in the best situation to succeed and put himself in the shop window - one of the stacked rosters in the NFL, coach who has shown he can get the best out of him, and already knowing the system. Far better position than being a starter joining a poor team just before the season starts - where most QBs would struggle to succeed.

Overall it is a very rare NFL mature decision by all parties involved - one where everyone wins. Would have been easy for Jimmy to demand a release or for the 49ers to just cut him for 'optics' but Jimmy is in the best of a bad situation and the 49ers have the best backup QB in the league for cheap. If pressure impacts Lance and he cant handle it then he was never going to succeed anyway.

Only real downside is the media making a huge meal of it and the continuation of dumb conspiracy theories - it is like last year all over again, except for the camera panning to Jimmy on the bench instead of Lance.