With speculation swirling that appellate officer Peter Harvey may suspend the Browns’ team Deshaun Watson Indefinitely before Friday night, barring him from playing in the season opener in Jacksonville, Brown made a convincing chess move.
They announced on Wednesday that Watson will start the first week of pre-season game.
He left no doubt about Cleveland’s plans, although the team was under no obligation to tell anyone what they intended to do. And it looks like an attempt by Brown to embolden Harvey to act sooner rather than later, so that Brown can plan accordingly.
Harvey may wait as long as possible to issue a suspension banning Watson from playing Friday night, given the possibility that the NFL Players Association would rush to court to obtain an order allowing Watson to play. For example, if Harvey issues his ruling before 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, the NFLPA will have about 120 minutes to obtain a temporary restraining order.
Regardless, everyone now knows that Watson will be playing Friday night. Unless Harvey decides he can’t–and if the NFLPA is unable to prevent enforcement of that ruling in court.
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