Browns’ Deshaun Watson suspended 11 games, fined $5 million by NFL
The NFL and NFL Players Association reached a settlement on Thursday to suspend Deshaun Watson 11 games and fine him $5 million. The settlement ended a months-long battle between the two sides surrounding the Browns quarterback’s punishment after Watson, who still maintains he is innocent, faced accusations of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen massage therapists.
Though the NFL reportedly had sought a full-season ban, Watson will be eligible to play in the Browns’ Week 13 game against his former team, the Texans.
Though two Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal charges, he has settled 24 of 25 civil lawsuits he faced, in which the women described lurid behavior and advances during massage sessions.
“I’ll continue to stand on my innocence, just because you know settlements, and things like that happen doesn’t mean that a person is guilty for anything,” Watson said after the punishment was announced. “I feel like a person has an opportunity to stand on his innocence and prove that, and we proved that from a legal side, and just going to continue to push forward as an individual and as a person.”
Though Watson has not been criminally charged, the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy states: “[I]t is not enough simply to avoid being found guilty of a crime. We are all held to a higher standard and must conduct ourselves in a way that is responsible, promotes the values of the NFL, and is lawful.” That allowed the league to issue its own punishment.
Commissioner Roger Goodell initially appointed retired federal judge Sue Robinson to rule on the disciplinary matter, but the NFL appealed her decision of a six-game suspension. The NFL believed, in accordance with Robinson’s determination that Watson’s actions were “egregious’’ and “predatory,” the six-game ban was too light.
With the way his five-year, $230 million contract, which he signed after Cleveland acquired him from Houston, is structured, Watson would have only lost around $345,000 from the six-game suspension. Goodell then appointed former New Jersey attorney general Peter C. Harvey to oversee the league’s official appeal, which resulted in the settlement.
“The message today to all victims is clear: If you believe you have been sexually assaulted by a powerful person, keep your mouth shut and go away,” Tony Buzbee, who represents the women who sued Watson, said in a statement. “The NFL has certainly demonstrated that its ownership and the organization doesn’t care.”
Just days before the settlement, Watson issued his first apology, a seeming 180-degree turn on his public stance throughout the process. He followed that up with his statement following the settlement, writing: “I apologize once again for any pain this situation has caused. I take accountability for the decisions I made.”
When asked why he was apologizing if he maintained his innocence, the authenticity of the apologies immediately fell under question.
“For everyone that was affected by this situation,” Watson replied. “There were a lot of people that were triggered.”
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam defended Watson, stating that he believes in second chances and that he would “absolutely” make the same blockbuster trade that brought Watson to Cleveland again, knowing what he does now. In announcing the team’s support for its new quarterback, Haslam’s wife, Dee, said the Browns are donating $1 million to help fight sex trafficking, sexual abuse and other related endeavors.
“I think in this country, and hopefully in the world, people deserve second chances,” Jimmy Haslam said. “I really think that. … Is he never supposed to play again? Is he never supposed to be a part of society? Does he get no chance to rehabilitate himself? That is what we are going to do.”
Watson did not share his opinion of the length of the suspension, but said he hopes to share his side of the story one day.
“That’s definitely the plan, that’s definitely the goal,” Watson said. “I feel like through the whole process I’ve been trying to tell my side of the story. But a lot of people just didn’t pay a lot of attention to it.”
While Watson serves his suspension, the Browns will turn to Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback.
