NFL ups Deshaun Watson suspension to 11 games, $5 million fine following appeal
After appealing Deshaun Watson’s initial six-game suspension, the NFL has made the final decision. The suspension has been extended to eleven games, announced by the league on Thursday.
“The NFL has officially announced the settlement with Deshaun Watson, who will be suspended 11 games, fined $5 million and required to undergo a behavioral health evaluation and follow a treatment program,” tweeted Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Aug. 3, the NFL announced it was appealing judge Sue L. Robinson’s decision to suspend the Cleveland Browns quarterback for six games as part of the NFL’s personal conduct policy after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and eventually settled 20 of 24 cases outside of court as of June. Then, in July, attorney Tony Buzbee announced all 30 of the women who filed or intended to file suit against the Houston Texans settled their cases.
Commissioner Roger Goodell could have heard the appeal, but opted to designate Peter C. Harvey — a former New Jersey attorney general — to do so. As a result of the appeal, the NFLPA could sue the NFL, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter said that was the expectation after the league announced its appeal.
“The NFLPA is likely to take this decision to court and sue the NFL over it,” Schefter said on NFL Live. So what looked like a story that could be coming to a close when Justice Sue L. Robinson issued her six-game suspension and written opinion on Monday may just be beginning.
“This could be the start of a very long legal drawn-out process, but Deshaun Watson is not going to play at the start of the season.”
Last week, the Browns somewhat controversially decided to allow Watson to start their preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where the quarterback spoke with NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala prior — the Browns’ Twitter account posting the entire conversation. Watson publicly apologized to the women he has “impacted” in the situation, also stating he wants to move forward from everything, even as his suspension looms in the background.
“I’m truly sorry to all the women that I’ve impacted in this situation,” Watson said. “(There are) decisions that I made in my life that put me in this position I would definitely like to have back, but I want to continue to move forward and grow and learn and show that I am a true character and I am going to keep pushing forward.”
Watson didn’t play at all for the Houston Texans last season as the proceedings unfolded. After the season, they traded him to the Cleveland Browns, who signed him to a massive five-year, $230 million contract with Cleveland. The entire deal will be fully guaranteed, meaning he will receive just over $46 million a year. A certain clause was worked in there, though, as Watson’s minimum salary for the 2022 season was set at just over $1 million.
Now, Deshaun Watson will serve his 11-game suspension, with his first regular season game as the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns coming Week 13. Ironically, the contest will take place on the road against his former team, the Houston Texans.
On3’s Griffin McVeigh and Stephen Samra contributed to this report.