On March 16, 2021, the first civil lawsuit against Deshaun Watson was filed. Less than three weeks later, that number would rise to 22—22 different women all alleging the Houston Texans quarterback of sexual assault and misconduct.
That, however, did not deter the Carolina Panthers from embarking on a year-long chase for the embattled star.
Now, just two days after the anniversary of that first filing, the pursuit is over. Watson, who has since been cleared of any criminal charges, was traded to the Cleveland Browns on Friday in a deal of massive proportions.
But even though owner David Tepper and the Panthers ultimately failed to catch their white whale, have they done enough to damage their image amongst the female fan base?
There has been much conjecture, throughout the larger part of this pursuit, about the female perspective on Watson’s situation. How do women feel about the matter? Will they still support their team if they show interest in Watson? What would happen to their allegiance if their team acquires him?
What doesn’t need conjecture, however, is the lack of female representation in and around the sport. It’s a painful fact—one that’s been rather evident not only in this story, but in the NFL as a whole.
So, instead of continuing to hear from me—another white guy who has the opportunity to express his thoughts to you at least four times a day on this website—we’ll let the women do the talking. Here’s what female Panthers fans think of their team’s deep-seated desire for Deshaun Watson.
