Deshaun Watson and the NFL settled on an 11-game suspension and a $5 million fine for violating the league’s personal conduct policy with the punishment landing about midway between the six games determined last month by an independent arbiter, retired judge Sue L. Robinson, and the 17-game, full-season ban sought by the league and commissioner Roger Goodell.
Listening to him addressing the media from Browns camp, it is clear Watson still does not get the seriousness of the sexual misconduct allegations levied against him by 25 female massage therapists, though he has settled 23 of 24 remaining civil suits since Cleveland guaranteed him an NFL-record $230 million following an offseason trade from the Houston Texans.
The 26-year-old Watson had publicly apologized last week to “all the women I have impacted,” but he made no mention of his accusers on Thursday. He also continued to maintain his innocence while suggesting that financially settling the civil cases was in no way an admission of guilt.
The decision to accept the middle-ground punishment means Watson will be eligible to return on Dec. 4 in what should be a circus-like atmosphere against his former team in Houston.
