NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says evidence calls for at least full-year suspension for Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday the league seeks a tougher penalty for Deshaun Watson because the quarterback's actions were «egregious'' and „predatory behavior.''

Last week, the NFL formally appealed Watson's six-game suspension, which was handed down by the NFL's disciplinary officer Sue. L Robinson earlier this month. At a league meeting called to formally approve the Denver Broncos' new ownership group Tuesday, Goodell was asked why the NFL appealed Robinson's decision and was seeking a suspension of at least a year for the Cleveland Browns quarterback.

“We've seen the evidence, she was very clear about the evidence, she reinforced the evidence,'' Goodell said. „There were multiple violations that were egregious and it was predatory behavior.''

Last week, the NFL appointed Peter C. Harvey, a former New Jersey attorney general, to hear the appeal of Watson's suspension for violations of the NFL's personal conduct policy. Goodell said Tuesday he did not know when Harvey would make a ruling.

Also Tuesday, Goodell addressed recent sanctions on the Miami Dolphins, team owners Stephen Ross and vice chairman/limited partner Bruce Beal that includes stripping the team of multiple draft picks, including its 2023 first-round draft selection, as well as fines for both Ross ($1.5 million) and Beal ($500,000).

Following a six-month investigation, the league announced last week the Dolphins violated the anti-tampering policy on three occasions from 2019 to 2022 in conversations with quarterback Tom Brady and the agent for then-New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton.

The NFL, however, did not find evidence the team intentionally lost games during the 2019 season. In February, former Dolphins coach