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The NFL will argue that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshon Watson should receive a “significant” removal for violating the league’s personal policy, many people familiar with the case said Friday.
The league is likely to ask for a full season suspension for Watson, a Watson side said on Friday. A person familiar with the league’s views on the case warned against being “careful” in determining the exact length at this point for the stop that the NFL will be looking for. But this man also said, “The right term would be significant.”
Watson is facing 24 active civil cases against women accusing him of sexual violence. Charges include inappropriate comments, exposing and forcing your penis on women’s hands during massage sessions. Watson and his lawyer, Rusty Hardin, have denied the allegations. Two major jurors in Texas have refused to charge Watson with a crime. The NFL is preparing to present the results of its investigation to Sue L. Robinson, a former U.S. district judge who is a disciplinary officer appointed jointly by the league and the NFL Players’ Association under the current version of the conduct policy.
The league hopes the entire disciplinary process, including resolving any potential complaint to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell or a person nominated by him, will be completed by the start of the training camp, said a person familiar with the matter. The Browns are scheduled to open the training camp on July 27.
Deshon Watson faces the 24th case, accusing him of sexual assault
“Like I said, I’ve never attacked anyone, I’ve never harassed anyone, or I’ve never harassed anyone,” Watson told a news conference on Tuesday during a Browns training session out of season. “I’ve never forced anyone to do anything.”
According to a process that was reviewed in the last collective bargaining agreement between the league and the NFLPA, completed in 2020, the initial decision on future removal or fine will be made by Robinson, who is now a lawyer in Wilmington, Del., After retiring from the bench. in 2017
The case will be closed without the possibility of appeal if Robinson decides that there has been no violation of the policy of personal conduct. If it decides that there has been a policy violation and imposes a penalty, either party can appeal to Goodell. The NFLPA has called for revisions to the CBA’s personal conduct policy following clashes, some of which spilled into courtrooms following lawsuits filed by the union and players in previous disciplinary cases. Previously, Goodell was responsible for both the initial disciplinary decision and the resolution of appeals.
It is unclear whether Robinson will conduct what constitutes a quasi-trial before making his decision. She declined to comment this week, referring questions to the league and the union.
The NFL investigation was conducted by Lisa Friel, a former head of the sexual crime prosecution department at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, which is the league’s special prosecutor for investigations.
Friel interviewed at least 11 of the women prosecuting Watson, represented by attorney Tony Busby, according to a man familiar with the investigation, along with other women. She reviewed the relevant available documents. NFL officials interviewed Watson for several days in Houston.
“I can’t control that,” Watson said this week about the NFL’s disciplinary process. “I met with the NFL a few weeks ago and did everything they asked of me. I answered honestly every question the NFL asked me. I spent hours with the people who took you down. And that’s all I can do, just be honest and tell them exactly what happened. I know they have a job, so I have to respect that. And what we wanted to do was cooperate. And they have to make a decision [that’s] the best for the league. “
Deshon Watson’s NFL investigation is almost complete, says Roger Goodell
Hardin confirmed that he was involved in representing Watson in the NFL process with the union, but declined to comment further on the league’s procedures.
The league made a presentation on the case to the NFLPA and Watson’s representatives, according to a person familiar with the matter. This led those in Watson’s side to conclude that the NFL would seek significant sanctions.
It is unclear whether the two-season removal of Major League Baseball pitcher Trevor Bauer under domestic violence policy will serve as a precedent for the NFL’s proposed removal of Watson, said another person familiar with the league’s views in recent weeks. But the NFL is aware that the length of Bauer’s suspension could affect public expectations and reactions in the Watson case, the man said.
NFLPA outside lawyer Jeffrey Kessler was involved. An acquaintance from the NFL’s point of view said the league feared Kessler would not push for any disciplinary action.
Kessler declined to comment on Friday, citing questions from the NFLPA. The NFLPA may invoke the absence of criminal charges, although NFL policy allows for the imposition of discipline without such charges.
NFLPA’s Watson defense will raise the issue that owners Daniel Snyder of the Washington Commanders, Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots and Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys have not been removed from the league due to incidents involving them and their teams. This was confirmed by a person familiar with the case after it was first reported by Pro Football Talk.
The League would “ideally” want the entire process, including resolving any complaints, to be completed by the start of the training camp, said an NFL expert, adding a disclaimer that the approach taken by Kessler and the NFLPA could production delay.
This first case, which is being resolved under the new disciplinary system, is an important issue. A Watson man wondered if Goodell might not want to overturn the neutral arbitrator’s disciplinary decision in the first case.
The League and the NFLPA could reach an agreement at some point to prevent any appeal or further legal action by Watson.
The Browns completed a deal with Houston Texas for Watson this offseason and signed a new contract with him worth $ 230 million for five seasons. Watson did not play last season, being placed on the inactive list of Texans on a weekly basis.
Each suspension will be unpaid based on Watson’s salary of $ 1.035 million for the 2022 season. The NFL may request a fine, in addition to any salary lost to Watson. The league may also anticipate that additional discipline may be imposed if new information becomes available.
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