NFLPA NOT TO APPEAL DESHAUN WATSON RULING AS WATSON SETTLES THREE OF REMAINING 4 LAWSUITS
Judge Sue L. Robinson has made her ruling on a suspension for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson on Monday as per Adam Schefter, where the Browns new signal caller will miss the first 6 games of the season. According to initial reports, Watson will not be fined.
The retired federal judge had the ability to issue Watson anything from no suspension to an indefinite one. Watson was accused of sexual misconduct by at least two dozen of massage therapists in the past 16 months, a situation that resulted in him not playing in the 2021 season. The 26-year-old did not face criminal charges after rulings by two grand juries and has settled 20 of the 24 civil lawsuits filed against him.
As per ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the NFL and Watson tried to reach a settlement in the past week with Watson’s team trying to push for a six to eight-game suspension. The league, however, was intent on giving, at minimum, a 12-game suspension, plus a fine in the range of $8million as part of a settlement. It was earlier reported a few weeks ago, that the NFL’s stance on Watson is that he should get an indefinite suspension that would last at least, the duration of the 2022 season.
Watson is currently at training camp with the Cleveland Browns after making the switch to the AFC North franchise in March and will abide by Judge Robinson’s decision, according to a joint statement released by the NFL Players Association late Sunday night. The NFLPA stated that it would not appeal Judge Sue L. Robinson’s ruling on Deshaun Watson, and called on the league to do the same.
“In advance of Judge Robinson’s decision, we wanted to reiterate the facts of this proceeding,” the statement read. “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 – jointly appointed 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.”
Robinson’s ruling is not necessarily final and can be appealed by either or both the NFL and the NFL Players Association if they deem the ruling unsatisfactory, as per the 2020 collective bargaining agreement. The appeal would then go to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell or his designee for a final ruling. If Watson is suspended, the NFL would most likely determine him in violation of the league’s code of conduct policy, introduced in 2007 in an attempt to improve off-field behavior.
The Browns have tried to protect themselves in the event that it’s a long-term suspension by signing former 2018 first-round draft pick, Josh Rosen. The team also has former Steelers QB Joshua Dobbs on the depth chart and is likely to start Jacoby Brissett in week one in Carolina if it indeed comes to it.
The joint statement by the NFLPA came just hours before Watson’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, confirmed that Watson had reached settlements with three of the remaining 4 civil lawsuits that were filed against him, as per ESPN’s John Barr. The first plaintiff, Ashley Solis, was among those to settle and means that Watson now only has one civil lawsuit left. Watson’s settlement of the three cases has nothing to do with the ruling and did not have an effect on Judge Robinson’s decision.
The Houston Texans also settled claims brought against the organization by 30 women a few weeks ago, alleging the organization’s role in the sexual misconduct by Deshaun Watson.
If the 6 game suspension is upheld, it would make Watson eligible to return for the Brown’s October 23rd game against the Baltimore Ravens. Both sides now have 3 days to appeal the decision in writing before it becomes final.
Watson is eligible to continue to practice and train with the team during the preseason, and could return to practices in full during Week 4 of the NFL season should the 6 game ban remain in place. Because of the way Watson’s contract is structured, he will only lose out on $345,000 worth of game cheques in 2022.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: Atlanta Falcons. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.