Despite his public beliefs, Browns QB Deshaun Watson has plenty to be regretful about

This is a column by Morgan Campbell, who writes opinion for CBC Sports. For more information about CBC's Opinion section, please see the FAQ.

So now we know just how committed the NFL is to seeing Deshaun Watson endure stiffer discipline than the six-game suspension an independent arbitrator issued after passing judgment on the star quarterback's repeated, unwanted sexual advances toward massage therapists.

On Wednesday, the league announced it would move to suspend Watson — whose $230 million US contract makes him the best-paid NFL player in history — for at least a season. The NFL also wants to fine him heavily, and mandate that he undergo therapy before returning to play. News broke just after 4 p.m. ET, in time to lead early evening and late-night sports news shows.

The appeal, made public well before a Thursday morning deadline, looks to sweep aside a ruling by a retired judge, Sue Robinson, whom the NFL and the players association installed precisely for situations like this — to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest, and levy level-headed discipline for off-the-field misbehaviour.

This new round of legal jousting prompts fresh questions, though not necessarily for the Browns. We know why they gave Watson a record-breaking contract when they traded for him. They think they're an elite quarterback away from contending for a Super Bowl.

And not for the league, which is taking a PR beating that won't subside unless it hits Watson with a sanction more serious than the one Tom Brady triggered for allegedly deflating footballs.

And not even for Robinson, who said her relatively light punishment was in line with league precedent, but said Watson's behaviour met the definition of sexual assault outlined in the