On the Deshaun Watson Situation and All the Misinformation
The MMQB NFL Podcast
SI NFL
3.9 • 944 Ratings
🗓️ 28 October 2021
⏱️ 27 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
It’s been more than seven months since news of the first civil suit filed against the quarterback first came to light, and ever since it’s been a mess of rumors, misperceptions and incorrect information. Jenny and Gary, who have reported the story more deeply, thoroughly and independently than anyone in the industry, discuss what’s true and what isn’t when it comes to the Deshaun Watson situation.
That starts with Roger Goodell’s first public comments regarding the league’s lack of action on Watson, the basis for which doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. Jenny and Gary also—once again—address the stubborn conflation of license massage therapists and paid sex workers when it comes to the details SI has independently corroborated, as well as the absurd and insulting Houston-area rumors that SI’s reporting was influenced by a plaintiffs’ attorney who was heavily criticized throughout the process.
Finally, a look at the trade rumors themselves and who they’re affecting—as well as who’s escaping accountability—in the final days before the trade deadline.
Have a question for the show? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI, @JennyVrentas or @ConorOrr
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, before we start today's show a quick note. |
| 0:03.0 | This episode covers crucially important subject matter, |
| 0:06.0 | but it also includes detailed descriptions of sexual misconduct. |
| 0:10.0 | For that reason, it is not suitable for younger listeners. |
| 0:13.3 | On Tuesday, Roger Giddell finally spoke. |
| 0:18.6 | Since training camps opened back in July, there's been little clarity coming from 345 Park Avenue |
| 0:24.9 | regarding the playing status of Deshaun Watson |
| 0:27.6 | should he be traded to a new team. |
| 0:30.2 | The league had released a few statements. |
| 0:32.1 | They didn't say much of anything. |
| 0:33.4 | And there were leaks to various reporters working for the NFL's in-house media arm that, among other things, |
| 0:39.7 | the League was not planning to place Watson on the Commissioner's exempt list if he were to be dealt to a new team before next week's trade deadline. |
| 0:49.0 | But the Commissioner had yet to put it in his own words in a public setting. |
| 0:53.6 | Now those reports, again from members of the NFL's media, |
| 0:57.2 | insisted that the league not utilizing the exempt list |
| 1:00.8 | and allowing Watson to play for a new team would be in line with |
| 1:04.6 | their past approach and that there was not enough evidence for the NFL to act at |
| 1:09.1 | this juncture. Neither of those claims holds up to even the mildest scrutiny, but we'll get to that in a few minutes. |
| 1:15.0 | But first, we give you Roger Goodell, speaking to the media at the NFL's owners meetings. |
| 1:21.0 | Obviously, our other... owners meetings. There are obviously other, I'll call it, legal approaches that are being made either through |
| 1:28.4 | civil cases. |
| 1:30.4 | Obviously the police have been investigating also. We don't have all the access to that information at this point in time and we pride ourselves |
... |
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