Two grand juries didn’t criminally charge Deshaun Watson with any crimes, but the Browns’ new quarterback still faces 22 civil lawsuits that will make him subject to discipline. Commissioner Roger Goodell said today that there’s no timetable on potential discipline for the QB, but he did keep the door open for a suspension, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Meanwhile, Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com relays that Watson will only be subject to a suspension under the Personal Conduct Policy, meaning the QB won’t land on the Commissioner Exempt List.
[RELATED: Latest On Deshaun Watson Investigation]
“The civil cases were in play over the last year,” Goodell said (via Williams). “The only thing that’s changed is the criminal element has been at least resolved, and that was an important element in the context of the Commissioner Exempt List as discussed with the Players Association. So that was an important (decision as it relates to the Commissioner Exempt List).
“If the criminal had proceeded, that more than likely would have triggered the Commissioner Exempt. I think at this point, the civil case in and of itself would not do that. If there’s a violation of the Personal Conduct Policy, that may trigger something, but that more than likely trigger some kind of discipline in some fashion.”
Watson still faces 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault. We heard previously that the NFL was unlikely to act on a Watson suspension until his civil trials conclude. The league’s investigation is ongoing. Anticipating a suspension, the Browns previously reduced Watson’s 2022 base salary to $1MM, which will significantly limit the financial penalties the quarterback will face if/once the NFL’s ban is handed down.
Gruden was right about goodell
Why tho. He has been ruled innocent with nothing to prove his guilt. Why suspend him. I am fine with BADell
Ruled innocent? He wasn’t indicted, but he will get his new contract cleaned out with all of the civil suits. People excuse this kind of behavior, even when they get it on video like with Kraft. Money talks though.
Being found not guilty and being “ruled innocent” don’t mean the same thing. Being found not guilty doesn’t necessarily equate to innocence, but could also come from a lack of evidence, a reasonable doubt, etc.
He was never ruled innocent. Having no DNA to convict him is much different from he was proven innocent.
Also, you don’t send a text apologizing for someone feeling uncomfortable if you didn’t do a thing wrong. Odds are he did something to upset some girls.
How was he proved guilty or innocent by a grand jury. You need a jury to confirm that
They shouldn’t suspend him, they should permanently ban Watson from the league. What kind of message does it send when Josh Gordon likely ends up suspended for a greater cumulative length of games than Watson? Worse, the Browns foolishly and shamefully guaranteed Watson’s entire contract.
Well, Mr. Watson wound up on the franchise in the NFL best suited for him.
The NFL is the pits. This current Commissioner is something else. On one hand he wraps himself around this cause and that cause that have nothing at all to do with a professional sports league, then he oversees bylaws that make the unthinkable normal. And what I’m discussing is far more than this situation – the disrespect for the fans, teams, opponents; the total lack of class by a good portion of the players; the lack of sportsmanship in general; and the screwball never-ending rule changes combined with the player transactions that not only leave the fans confused, but the game officials as well.
I long ago stopped watching this circus. But it’s sort of like a car crash on the other side of the freeway – one can’t help but stop and gawk every once in a while. Hey – who unretired this week?
Whether you like Roger or not, what you all forget very quickly is that the man is extremely good at his “job”. You may not like what his job requires him to do, but he is very good at; $62 Million per year good at it. That’s a lot of coin on an annual basis. People don’t make that kind of money if they are bad at their “job”.
And they just extended his contract.
Be mad at the league, the owners etc, but singling Roger out because he is really good at his job is ridiculous.
How do you know he’s good at his job? He’s the mouthpiece of the owners, plain and simple. A $62 million dollar messenger boy.
Please oh wise one, tell me anyone you know making $62M per year that is not great at what they do.
I will hurry and wait for your brilliant answer.
He would be replaced in a flash if he was not great at it.
Be better please and stop making idiotic comments like this one.
Did he not just sit out a whole season based on this past conduct / allegations? I can’t see this being a 16 game suspension, so why isn’t this a credit for time served resolution?
Him choosing to sit out isn’t a punishment. He didn’t want to play in Houston and no one wanted to trade for a guy with pending legal problems.
You don’t, nor should you get credit because you chose to sit as a malcontent.
He’ll probably be on the next “pause is power” commercial for Powerade
I thought this was a mutual decision between him and the Texans. He didn’t want to play for them and they did not want to play him with all of the legal stuff still pending.
No he did not sit out out “based on this past conduct/allegations”. He said out because he was upset and refused to ever play for Houston again, THEN the accusations started mounting up.
I also think Godell already knows exactly what punishment will be handed down and the Browns were aware prior to pulling the trigger on the ridiculous trade and restructuring of his contract. Sad state of affairs when a scumbag not only gets his way but gets rewarded in a huge way, and the other owners are rightfully upset because they just set the market.
Credit? He didn’t sit out..mutual desicion team and him. Was still on 53 man roster and got paid for season in full. Not much penalty there.
I believe he got paid for sitting out those games, and I’d hardly classify that as “time served”.
He got paid!
“Anticipating a suspension, the Browns previously reduced Watson’s 2022 base salary to $1MM, which will significantly limit the financial penalties the quarterback will face if/once the NFL’s ban is handed down.”
Just in case anyone was wondering whether or not Jimmy Haslam was a classless piece of trash. I hope the civil cases last until the season is over so he can be suspended next year. Or they suspend him and also jam him up with a massive fine. I don’t understand how Goodell can be OK with this circumvention of any potential punishment he might mete out.
Like it or not, it’s perfectly understandable. They were pursuing his talent and, after interviewing him, decided they could be comfortable with him as their QB. He will have to pay whatever the judgment is against him. The threshold for proving his liability is considerably lower than for a criminal case. The Browns are just sparing him the full brunt of the NFL’s punishment.
“The Browns are just sparing him the full brunt of the NFL’s punishment.”
Right, and this is the part I find disgusting and classless. I would be surprised if Goodell lets this fly because they’re trying to evade potential punishment.
Why did the Browns trade for this Entire Clown Show? Void the Trade!!!! And apologize to Mayfield
The Browns are stone cold stoooopid!!!
The league should get creative with its punishment – 10 game suspension..last 2 games of the year for the next 5 years.
The NFL should wait for ALL the civil suits to be settled before suspending him.
@high altitude – he might not be in the league then. I know of suits that go on for close to a decade
There are now 26 women on the civil suit.
If two grand juries didn’t find enough evidence to proceed with criminal charges, then on what grounds can anyone win a civil case? What evidence is going to be presented at a the civil trial that didn’t convince two grand juries? The players association shouldn’t stand for any penalties without clear cut evidence.
The standard determining responsibility of an accused is lesser in a civil proceeding.