Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will serve a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy following allegations of sexual misconduct, disciplinary official Sue L. Robinson ruled Monday, ESPN source Adam Schefter said.
Watson will not be fined, Schefter’s source said.
Robinson’s comprehensive 15-page conclusion states that while Watson violated the personal conduct policy, there was insufficient evidence to warrant an indefinite suspension, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The players’ union made clear in a statement Sunday night that it would “stand behind” Robinson’s decision and called on the NFL to do the same.
Each party will have three days to file a written appeal. In such event, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell or his designee “shall issue a written decision which shall constitute a full, final and entire resolution of the dispute,” under the terms of Article 46 of the CBA.
Watson is accused of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior during massage sessions in civil lawsuits filed by 25 women. The meetings cited in the lawsuits took place between March 2020 and March 2021 while Watson was a member of the Houston Texans. One of the 25 lawsuits was dismissed after a judge ruled in April 2021 that the plaintiffs must amend their petitions to reveal their names. In June, Watson settled 20 of the 24 cases he faced; on Monday, he agreed to settle three of the remaining four, according to Houston attorney Tony Busby, who represents the women suing Watson.
Last month, the Texans reached settlements with 30 women who filed lawsuits or were ready to file lawsuits against the organization for its alleged role in the allegations against Watson.
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Robinson heard arguments from the league, the union and Watson’s attorney during a three-day hearing held in her home state of Delaware in late June. The NFL had been pushing for a suspension for at least a year, while the NFL Players Association and Watson’s attorney argued that the quarterback should not be suspended at all. The parties discussed a potential settlement during the hearing, but were unable to agree on a deal.
In the days leading up to Robinson’s decision, the league and Watson’s side engaged in additional settlement talks, sources told ESPN’s Dan Graziano, but neither side believed they were close to an agreement. The most Watson’s side have indicated they are willing to offer is a suspension in the range of six to eight games, according to sources. The best the league indicated it was willing to offer was a 12-game suspension and a substantial fine — on the order of $8 million, sources said.
If his suspension is upheld, Watson will still be able to participate in practices during the preseason. He will also be allowed to return to the Browns to practice during the second half of the suspension, in Week 4, according to the CBA. But he will not be allowed to be with the team for the first half of the suspension.
Although two grand juries in Texas declined to bring criminal charges against Watson earlier this year, the NFL is investigating whether he violated its personal conduct policy from last year. The NFL interviewed Watson a few days earlier this summer. League investigators have also spoken with several of the women.
Watson has consistently denied any wrongdoing and says she does not regret any of her actions during the massage sessions. Watson also said he cooperated with the NFL’s investigation and “answered truthfully every question” asked of him by the league’s investigators.
The Browns traded for Watson in March, sending three first-round picks to the Texans. Cleveland then gave Watson a new five-year contract worth $230 million, fully guaranteed, the richest deal in NFL history for any player.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said at the start of training camp last week that Jacoby Brissett would become Cleveland’s starter in the event of Watson’s suspension. In the first week of camp, Watson took the bulk of the snaps with the first-team offense, but Stefanski indicated the Browns “may adjust” their scheme after Robinson’s decision.
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