Mark Madden: Don't expect a long suspension for Deshaun Watson

Quarterback Deshaun Watson had his introductory news conference as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

It was absurd and awkward. How couldn’t it be?

The self-righteous brigade wanted Watson to make a full confession to his alleged sexual transgressions in Houston, triggering a lifetime suspension by the NFL and renewed interest by criminal courts.

Watson didn’t. Duh.

Watson wants to put this behind him, play football and get his $230 million guaranteed. Two grand juries say he can, the Browns want him to, and the NFL is going to allow him, perhaps after serving a token suspension of two games.

Ben Roethlisberger got suspended four games in 2010 for alleged sexual misconduct. He, too, never was charged criminally.

Watson has 22 civil suits pending. Roethlisberger had two incidents.

If Roethlisberger was banned four games, Watson should sit 44. Do the math.

But Watson’s suspension will be light. The Steelers organization wanted Roethlisberger suspended, thus further burnishing the team’s morally upright image (gag) and getting him under control. The Browns just want Watson to play.

Watson expressed little sorrow and contrition during this presser. That’s the right move. Sorrow and contrition equate to guilt.

Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam said counseling would be made available to Watson. That’s a bad move. It implies wrongdoing.

Should Watson never play again because that’s what the moral sensibilities of some demand?

You’ve got to prove malfeasance. Nobody has.

Is Watson of sketchy character? Probably. But that’s not illegal.

Sports should let the courts decide eligibility. If you’re in prison, you can’t play. If you’re convicted of a felony but not jailed, you get suspended.

Otherwise, you play.

Judging morality and misconduct will never be applied evenly by a sports league. (Nor will justice in courtrooms, but at least that’s their job.)

The most revolutionary thing about Watson’s arrival in Cleveland is that his entire contract is guaranteed. That sets a precedent 31 other teams would have rather avoided.

Before you excoriate the Browns, as many as 10 NFL teams were interested in trading for Watson. The Browns didn’t set the market by themselves.

How will the community of Cleveland react to Watson’s presence?

There was a one-woman protest outside the house of Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. Banners obscenely decrying Watson and the Haslams were hung on an overpass. Not exactly a groundswell, and nothing too egregious.

Outrage over Roethlisberger’s supposed misdeeds was minimal in Pittsburgh. (It was mostly talk-show callers punning on Roethlisberger’s name. That continues to this day.) Nobody stopped going to games.

Watson’s difficulties aren’t good for Roethlisberger. They’ve caused Roethlisberger’s news cycle to be revisited.

There wasn’t much concern locally when James Harrison was accused of physically abusing his girlfriend. Same goes for when the Steelers signed dog-killer Michael Vick.

Morality is convenient. The Steelers are forever.

Nobody wants to spoil a Steelers Sunday. The same goes for the Browns in Cleveland.

The NFL matters a lot more than what Watson did or didn’t do in Houston.

That’s not justice. It’s America.