Takeaways from arbitrator's Deshaun Watson suspension report

Former Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson should be suspended six games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy for his behavior during massage therapy sessions. That was Monday’s ruling from former federal judge Sue L. Robinson, the arbitrator jointly appointed by the NFL and NFL Players Association. Here are some takeaways from Robinson’s 16-page report (embedded below) announcing her decision:

The NFL alleged that Watson violated three provisions of its player conduct policy by engaging in: Sexual assault, conduct that “poses a genuine danger to the safety and well-being of another person” and conduct that “undermines or puts at risk the integrity of the NFL.” The NFL interviewed 12 of the 24 massage therapists who filed civil lawsuits against Watson. Of those 12, the league relied on the testimony of four therapists as well as interviews of 37 other third parties and “substantial” documentary evidence. A 215-page investigative report and the testimony of its two investigators comprised the case presented by the league during the three-day disciplinary hearing in late June. Robinson said the record before her also included multiple exhibits identified during the hearing, and the testimony of Dr. Robert Peppell, a sports chiropractor and physiotherapist currently working with Watson.