Disgraced Cleveland Browns quarterback learned his fate after two dozen women in Texas accused football star of sexual misconduct.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson was suspended for six games Monday after being accused by two dozen women in Texas of sexual misconduct during massage treatments, in what a disciplinary officer said was behavior “more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL.”
One of Watson’s accusers called him a “serial predator” who reportedly “assaulted and harassed” her by “exposing himself to her and touching her with his penis.” The woman, a traveling massage therapist, claimed he “locked the doors behind him” when she arrived at their appointment in California and forced her hand onto his penis.
However, two Texas grand juries declined to indict him on criminal charges and he has settled out of court with all but one of his accusers.
On Monday, former federal judge Sue L. Robinson found that Watson violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy and chose to suspend him for six games, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Reports initially suggested the league wanted to suspend the quarterback indefinitely, seriously dampening any hopes of the Browns having a stellar season.
According to Schefter, Watson, who signed a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract with the Browns earlier this year, will not be fined.
Deshaun Watson will serve a six game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy following accusations of sexual misconduct, disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson ruled Monday, a source told Adam Schefter. https://t.co/1x3cpIOLT0 pic.twitter.com/n1WW6JXIe2
— ESPN (@espn) August 1, 2022
According to the New York Post, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) will not be appealing the decision and asked that the NFL do the same. Watson settled 20 of the 24 lawsuits against him by mid-June, and an additional three as recently as Sunday.
More from The Daily Wire’s report:
Last month, the Texans reached settlements with 30 women who threatened to sue the organization for its alleged role in the allegations against Watson.
Robinson heard arguments from the league, the union, and Watson’s attorney Rusty Hardin during a three-day hearing held in her home state of Delaware in late June.
Under the suspension, Watson will still be able to participate in practice during the preseason. He will also be allowed to return to the Browns to practice after sitting out the first three games, according to the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
Watson has denied any wrongdoing and said he has no regrets for any of his actions during the massage sessions. Watson also said he cooperated with the NFL’s investigation and “answered every question truthfully” that he was asked by the league’s investigators.
So the NFL has the final say over the discipline. The NFL Commissioner Roger Godell will make a “final and binding” decision.
