Deshaun Watson didn’t choose the Panthers, but the Panthers still chose him

Deshaun Watson won’t be the next quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers were one of several NFL teams who courted Watson and who submitted an offer to the Houston Texans to trade for him. But as of Thursday, they were out of the running.

That should be a relief. Watson may be a talented player, but he’s also, allegedly, a creep. Or worse.

Watson faces 22 civil lawsuits from women — all of whom are massage therapists in the Houston area — accusing him of sexual harassment and sexual assault. The allegations, which surfaced last year, are graphic and disturbing in nature, and suggest that Watson may be a “serial predator.”

But maybe that’s all just noise when you’re really, really good at throwing a football.

A grand jury in Harris County, Texas, declined to indict Watson last week, indicating that it did not find enough evidence to support criminal charges against him. The news that he had been “cleared” of any criminal wrongdoing prompted multiple teams, including the Panthers, to pursue Watson more earnestly.

Watson may have avoided criminal charges — and he’s maintained that he’s innocent — but there remains a troubling question about whether 22 women are somehow confused or lying. The justice system, after all, is often not a true arbiter of justice in sexual assault cases, especially when it comes to those with wealth and celebrity.

But none of that seemed to matter — at least not enough — to the Panthers, who are looking for ways to climb out of a losing rut.

The Panthers have had their eye on Watson for more than a year in spite of the allegations against him. The team expressed a more formal interest in him last October, but eventually opted to pull themselves out of trade talks, in part because they were concerned about his then-unresolved legal situation, the Charlotte Observer reported at the time.

Good, we said then. Trading for Watson would have been a step backward in too many ways.

But then the Panthers made moves to trade for Watson again. The Observer reported that after doing “extensive research” on Watson, which included speaking to a number of people about his character, the Panthers felt comfortable enough to move forward on a deal.

But speaking to the 22 women suing Watson, or their lawyer, doesn’t seem to have been a part of their “research.” Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing all 22 women, said no NFL teams interested in trading for Watson have reached out directly to him or his clients, according to The Athletic.

It’s incredibly difficult to come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct, even more so against someone who outranks you in power and popularity. Despite the risk, despite knowing there would be backlash, these women chose to do so. And when teams like the Panthers decide to pursue him anyway, it suggests to women that their experiences aren’t real — or at least not real enough to matter. If he plays well and wins championships, as he is expected to do, people might just forget the gravity of what he was accused of. But they shouldn’t.

Watson may not be coming to Carolina, but it’s not for a lack of trying — and the franchise isn’t off the hook. They were willing to make Watson the face of the franchise — the player whose jersey they sell, the player idolized by kids who tape his poster up on their bedroom wall. Either the Panthers are presuming he’s innocent, or they accepted he might be guilty and fought for the trade regardless. Neither is a good thing.

It’s especially disappointing from a franchise that has tried to rehabilitate its image after former owner Jerry Richardson sold the team due to a workplace harassment scandal. When David Tepper purchased the organization in 2018, he vowed to change the culture. Apparently, the culture hasn’t changed enough.

In the end, the Panthers get all the bad feeling for pursuing Watson, with none of the wins that might make some fans forget the awful allegations. It sends an unsettling message — and that’s a loss for both the team and the city it represents.