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Deshaun Watson has been suspended for six games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy after an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against the Cleveland Browns quarterback, according to multiple reports.
NFL disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson, a retired judge, issued the ruling on Monday following a hearing that concluded a month ago.
In separate lawsuits filed throughout 2021 and 2022, 24 women accused Watson of exposing himself, touching them with his penis or kissing them against their will during massage appointments while he played for the Houston Texans. One woman alleged Watson forced her to perform oral sex.
Watson, who played for four seasons with Houston before being traded to Cleveland in March, recently settled 23 of 24 lawsuits filed by massage therapists alleging sexual harassment and assault during appointments in 2020 and 2021.
Houston police began their investigation of Watson in April 2021 after a criminal complaint was filed. The FBI also was reviewing the allegations. Watson did not play a game that year.
Two separate Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal complaints stemming from the allegations.
The NFL argued for an indefinite suspension of at least one year during a three-day hearing in Delaware last month. The union pushed for no punishment, though a person familiar with Watson’s defense told the AP in June that a suspension was expected and the goal is to have Watson play this season.
The NFLPA already made it clear it won’t appeal.
“In advance of Judge Robinson’s decision, we wanted to reiterate the facts of this proceeding,” the union said in a statement. “First, we have fully cooperated with every NFL inquiry and provided the NFL with the most comprehensive set of information for any personal conduct policy investigation. A former Federal Judge — appointed jointly by the NFLPA and NFL — held a full and fair hearing, has read thousands of pages of investigative documents and reviewed arguments from both sides impartially. Every player, owner, business partner and stakeholder deserves to know that our process is legitimate and will not be tarnished based on the whims of the League office. This is why, regardless of her decision, Deshaun and the NFLPA will stand by her ruling and we call on the NFL to do the same.”
The union negotiated the right for either side to appeal a disciplinary officer’s ruling in the CBA signed in March 2020 because Goodell previously had the authority to impose punishment for personal conduct violations.
Cleveland sent Houston its 2022, 2023, and 2024 first-round picks as well as a 2023 third-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick for Watson in a trade this off-season. As part of the trade, Watson signed a new fully-guaranteed five-year $230-million contract with the Browns that included $150 million at signing.
Watson did not play last season after requesting a trade from the Texans.
The ironclad contract has specific language that prevents Watson from forfeiting any money in the event of a suspension. Further, it’s structured so that his salary in Year 1 of the deal is paid almost entirely as a $44.965 million signing bonus.
Watson initially told the Browns he would not be joining them. Since the trade went through, Cleveland sent its franchise quarterback, 2018 No. 1 pick Baker Mayfield, to the Carolina Panthers for a 2024 conditional fourth-rounder. Cleveland agreed to retain $10.5 million of Mayfield’s 2022 salary to facilitate the deal.
The 26-year-old Watson is a three-time Pro Bowler with a career regular-season record of 28-25 and has appeared in three playoff games.
Through 54 career games with the Texans, Watson completed 67.8 per cent of his passes for 14,539 yards, 104 touchdowns and 36 interceptions, while also rushing for 1,677 yards and 17 scores. The Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons all reportedly expressed interest in Watson.
—With files from the Associated Press
