DeMaurice Smith — the former Executive Director of the NFL Players Association — is turning heads across the football world after releasing a brutally honest take on the Deshaun Watson scandal, calling the allegations that surrounded the ex-Houston Texans quarterback “truly sickening.” His explosive comments are sending shockwaves throughout the NFL, resurfacing uncomfortable questions the league thought it had left behind.

Smith Breaks His Silence in New Book

Smith’s remarks come from his newly released memoir, “Never Shut Up: The Life, Opinions, and Unexpected Adventures of an NFL Outlaw,” in which the longtime NFLPA boss offers a raw, behind-the-scenes account of the league’s most controversial moments.

His harshest language is aimed directly at the Deshaun Watson case, which involved more than two dozen civil lawsuits accusing the former Texans quarterback of sexual misconduct during massage sessions between 2020–2021.

“No one should ever have had to come forward with these stories,” Smith writes. “The fact that this went on at all — and that it involved so many people — is truly sickening.”

“The System Failed the Women — and Failed the Players”

Beyond condemning the alleged behavior itself, Smith also takes aim at the NFL’s response, blasting Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Texans organization for what he claims was a mishandled, headline-driven disciplinary process.

According to Smith, the league:

• Reacted slowly, despite early warning signs

• Tried to protect its image above protecting alleged victims

• Enforced punishment (an 11-game suspension and $5M fine) that was more about public optics than true justice

“The women were failed. The player was failed. The system was broken,” Smith writes bluntly.

Fallout Across the League

The blunt tone of Smith’s book has already touched a nerve:

• Texans fans feel the franchise is once again being dragged for its role in allowing Watson “too much access” to team resources.

• Cleveland Browns supporters — Watson’s current fan base — say the past keeps resurfacing, making it hard for the QB to truly move on.

• Legal analysts suggest Smith’s claims could inspire new investigations or lawsuits.

Social media quickly exploded as excerpts from the book went viral, with hashtag #WatsonControversy trending alongside #DeMauriceSmith by midday.

Will the NFL Respond?

So far, the league has declined to issue a formal response, but insiders say Smith’s words carry enormous weight — especially since he led the NFLP

“This isn’t a Twitter hot take — it’s coming from the man who used to negotiate with Goodell face-to-face,” one