Deshaun Watson’s Incident Involving an Official Goes Unpunished

Through Monday night’s game, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was involved in a controversial incident. In the third quarter, Watson was penalized for unnecessary roughness soon after grabbing Pittsburgh Steelers’ player Kwon Alexander’s facemask and holding onto it even when each players have been out of bounds on the Steelers’ sideline. Following the play, Watson engaged in a verbal exchange with the Steelers close to the sideline. Umpire Barry Anderson attempted to intervene and direct Watson back onto the field, but Watson rather shoved Anderson to the side and continued arguing with the Steelers. Surprisingly, Watson did not obtain a penalty for this shove, regardless of the NFL rulebook explicitly stating that players need to not strike, push, or shove officials and that such an offense warrants quick disqualification from the game. The officials’ choice not to eject Watson appears like an incorrect contact, and it is feasible that the league workplace will impose its personal disciplinary action.