Where art thou, Roger?

This Deshaun Watson thing is approaching a very interesting stage and is seemingly headed to one the Browns didn't think possible when they went after the former Houston Texans quarterback all those months ago.

It's getting even more interesting by the day in the battle -- call it Deshaun Watson vs. the National Football League --  to punish the Cleveland quarterback as harshly as possible for a recent history of predatory behavior with massage therapists.

After filing an appeal Wednesday to overturn the original adjudication by former Federal Court Judge Sue L. Robinson of a six-game suspension and no fine, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell surprisingly -- and curiously -- chose former New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey on Thursday to hear the appeal.

Goodell is the man at whose desk everything stops in the NFL. Why back off now? It will be interesting to hear -- if he decides to explain (probably not) -- how and why he chose to take one giant step back back at this point and drop this mess in Harvey's lap.

It is becoming blatantly obvious the NFL, which initially pushed for a one-year suspension plus a substantial fine, sharply disagrees with Robinson in her first case as the league's disciplinary officer and seeks to restore their initial offer in the negotiation phase.

It is turning out to be a "your move" scrum that might not see closure until beyond the opening of league's regular season on Sept. 11. Too many unforeseen circumstances could happen to keep this saga from ending. 

Harvey, a former federal prosecutor and current member of the NFL's newly formed Diversity Advisory Committee, now has the hammer. He has handled previous league arbitrations for the league and possesses a strong background in domestic violence and sexual assault.

His decision will be binding, pending possible further legal action by the NFL Players Association, which was satisfied with the original ruling. He will hear both sides and then render a decision based on the facts. Both sides are entrenched in the belief their version of the punishment fits the crime.

Harvey's main role is to maintain neutrality. That could prove quite difficult. Bear in mind he is no stranger to the commissioner, having worked on previous arbitration cases for the league, slightly nudging the door open to a possible conspiracy.

If the union does not agree with Harvey's decision, a likelihood unless he stunningly chooses to agree with Robinson, it quite probably will file a lawsuit and let the courts make the ultimate decision. The only chance for quick closure is if Harvey chooses to talk to both sides seeking an equitable conclusion.

If this does, indeed, wind up in court, the chances of Watson opening the season as the starter improve if the NFLPA is granted a temporary restraining order freeing him up. But that's getting way ahead at this point. The focus now is on Harvey with Goodell firmly in the background.