Scott Berkowitz is the founder and president of the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, the nation’s leading anti-sexual assault organization known commonly as RAINN. He’s also a huge fan of the National Football League. That makes Berkowitz an authority on football’s biggest news of the week — the Deshaun Watson trade saga.
Watson, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback for the Houston Texans, has been accused by 22 women of sexual assault and harassment. The Texans are done with him — he’ll never play another down for that franchise. So, Houston GM Nick Caserio has tried to trade Watson ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline and may have a partner in the Miami Dolphins.
A deal as of Thursday (October 28) afternoon had not been struck. But by all accounts, the Dolphins have been seriously involved in talks. Miami has notably not publicly ruled out trading for him, even if Watson’s criminal investigation and numerous cases are not resolved. And NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters on Tuesday that the league does not currently have the necessary information to either suspend Watson or put him on paid leave. Watson has denied any wrongdoing.
Social impact of trading for Watson
All of this prompted us to reach out to Berkowitz, an advocate for tens of thousands of Americans who are sexually assaulted yearly, for his thoughts.
Q. Just to start, what is your general opinion about an NFL team potentially trading for Deshaun Watson with what’s known about him at this point?
A. “I think it’s awful. I think it’s a mistake by the Dolphins. I love football. I understand the desire to win, doing anything to win. I don’t know what more you need to know about the character of a potential player than 22 active cases going on, alleging similar sexual violence.”
Q. How much credibility do you give his denials, considering nearly two-dozen massage therapists are telling a similar story?
A. “He certainly deserves his day in court. In fact, he’s going to get his 22 days in court. But I think with this many active allegations on behavior misconduct this serious, teams need to let that play out before deciding that he’s the one to represent and lead your franchise.”
Q. What would it say about the philosophy of the organization willing to trade for him without that resolution?
A. “It feels like desperation, is how it comes to me. Particularly the quarterback position. This is the face of your franchise. This is the person you’re putting out there as a role model to every kid who’s watching games. That’s not the kind of person I’d want representing me.”
Q. Dolphins fans seem overwhelmingly against a trade for Watson. What do you think the community’s reaction would be if the Dolphins do?
A. “I think that, probably, if they [trade for] him and he plays well, then a lot of people are going to come to accept it. I think that most people know that this is not the kind of person that you want to rely on to lead you. It’s hard to see him ever fully winning over the fan base, unless somewhere down the road he’s exonerated of all of these allegations.”
Q. Do you think there would be protests?
A. “I could see there being some small protests, but probably not something that the Dolphins care about if they’ve already made the decision to [acquire] him. … I would guess that they’re thinking a lot more about the effect that it will have on TV ratings and tickets sold than the risk of some people protesting.”
Q. What impact would it have on South Florida sexual assault victims in general and Dolphins fans in particular?
A. “It’s kind of a slap in the face to the many thousands of victims who I am sure are Dolphins fans. … It’s sort of an amoral decision. It’s not that they’re endorsing rape by doing this, but it’s saying that they don’t care. That winning is that much more important than character and behavior.”
Q. Is the NFL being cavalier by letting it get to a point where he could be traded to and play for the Dolphins at any point?
A. “I don’t know enough about their investigation, where it is or what information prosecutors and others have shared with them. It’s hard to comment on that decision. But I think that the situation now, him [being] with a team and not playing while this is going on, is reasonable until these charges are resolved.”
Q. Anything else you’d like to add that we haven’t thought to ask?
A. “This is a pattern we’ve seen in other high-profile cases, where when once the first few people come forward, so many others who have been keeping it a secret are empowered to speak up. The way this case has developed reminds me of how other high-profile cases like Larry Nassar and Catholic priests, how these other big scandals have gone. I don’t think that’s company that the Miami Dolphins should want to be in.”
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, free and confidential 24/7 support is available through RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and via online chat at online.RAINN.org.
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