Although two more women have filed civil lawsuits against Deshaun Watson since the Browns traded for him, the NFL was on the homestretch of its lengthy investigation prior to those suits emerging. Watson’s camp is expecting a “significant” suspension, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post.
While careful not to predict a precise punishment, a source informed Maske the NFL will likely seek a year-long suspension. A league presentation on the case to the NFLPA and Watson’s representatives has led the union to expect a lengthy ban. The NFL’s punishment may indeed be near, with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noting the NFLPA is bracing for an “unprecedented” ban in this case. The steady stream of Watson news to emerge since the trade has become a concern for NFL higher-ups, per Florio, who adds some in the league office do not believe Watson should be cleared to play until these issues are resolved.
[RELATED: Browns Not Looking To Void Watson’s Guarantees]
The prospect of Watson being sidelined throughout the course of the civil suits does not seem realistic, based on Roger Goodell‘s comments this spring and his handling of the situation since the lawsuits began to emerge in March 2021. The NFL did not place Watson on the commissioner’s exempt list last year, relying on the Texans to deactivate their former starter for all 17 games. Watson’s 2021 trade request and the Texans’ rebuilding approach last season also contributed to the team’s decision to deactivate the Pro Bowler.
The Browns almost certainly would not follow suit, considering the historic compensation package they sent to the Texans for Watson and the record-shattering contract they authorized upon doing so. Citing conversations with the NFLPA, Goodell said after a second Texas grand jury did not recommend charges against Watson he would not be placed on the exempt list. That opens the door to Watson receiving punishment this year and when the civil suits eventually conclude. Cleveland’s front office structured Watson’s contract — perhaps the most divisive deal in modern NFL history — in a way to protect him from a 2022 suspension, giving him a mere $1MM salary this season.
The timeline for Watson’s civil suits also would make the prospect of Watson being banned until they are resolved unlikely. After August 1, the civil suits will pause until March 1, 2023. Both Watson’s legal team and the Tony Buzbee-led attorney for the plaintiffs agreed on that timeline. Parking Watson on paid leave until these suits are all resolved runs the risk of the embattled QB being sidelined into the 2023 season, due to the high number of women who have accused him of sexual misconduct and/or sexual assault.
Since the 24th accuser’s suit surfaced, a New York Times report added more detail and startling number to this saga. The report indicated Watson received massages from at least 66 women between fall 2019 and spring 2021. In the days since, Watson news has continued to circulate. Houston police detective Kamesha Baker said during a recent civil deposition she believed Watson committed sexual assault, USA Today’s Brent Schrotenboer notes. Ten women filed criminal complaints against Watson, but they did not lead to charges. Two of those 10 accusers are not part of the ongoing civil cases. Prior to these news items coming out, the NFL had concluded its meetings with Watson. It is possible the league had all of this information beforehand. If not, more meetings could ensue, further muddying this saga.
Independent arbitrator Sue Robinson will render the punishment, and the NFL would handle an appeal. The NFLPA would move to defend Watson during an appeal process — one Maske notes the NFL wants completed by the time the Browns report to training camp July 27. Watson has continued to deny all wrongdoing and said as much again this week from Browns minicamp, but the sixth-year veteran faces the prospect of missing back-to-back seasons.
It would be awkward, but if Watson is out for most of or all of the season, It would be in the Browns and Baker’s best interest to at least be civil and agree to stick together for one last run. If not, their season is over before it even begins. If Baker sits out, he loses too.
If they can get a pissed off Baker on the field fighting for his NFL future, they at least have a chance. Maybe he has a career year out of pure spite.
They didn’t just burn bridges with Baker, they demolished them, and he obviously angered the brass with his response to their criticism. He’s not going to play another down for them, by mutual consent, under any circumstances.
Monkey’s Uncle I know it’s extremely unlikely and I’d be shocked if it happens, but it is the most logical choice for both sides, you’d wish a pro athlete and team execs would have the maturity to figure it out.
Both sides could begrudgingly win here in a very inconvenient situation, but they’ll probably both shoot themselves in the foot.
But the team said they wanted an adult at QB, I guess an adult offender is what they really wanted some they could open up the vault.
So you want Baker to play under a new offense knowing that he’s most likely going to get dumped in a year?
pt57 If his only alternative is to sit out the season, then yes. This is his final season before Free Agency. He could set himself up for a sizable deal to be another team’s QB if he really proves himself this year.
Otherwise, he’ll hit the market as a ‘question mark’ (Can he really be The Guy, or just a bridge QB/Backup) who hasn’t played in an NFL game in over a year.
So what happens if Watson only misses 8 games? Does Mayfield go back to the bench? Of course he does. The Browns had a split locker room last with Baker being involved.
Brownsbacker9 A good early showing would make him a more attractive trade target before the deadline, and if not, a solid 8 game stretch would still put him in a better position for Free Agency. The Browns would be left off in a position where Watson could lead a playoff push rather than his first year being a wash.
Why is it logical for Baker to suit up for a and risk injury for a team that has already made it overwhelmingly clear that he is not a part of their long term plans?
Because he’s under contract to do so
Sounds like something a snowflake would say…
SnowflakeAlert He wouldn’t just be playing and risking himself for the Browns, he’d be playing for his next contract from another team. He’s not an established star who’s in line to get paid in FA if he plays this upcoming season, or not.
There already isn’t a great market for his services now, never mind after he doesn’t play for a year.
So who QBs with Watson suspended and Baker ousted?
Jacoby Brissett would be the starter and Joshua Dobbs would be the backup. They might still sign someone else for depth.
That is never going to happen. They don’t even want him at the mandatory OTA’s and they are installing a somewhat new offense
In a way, it’s why the Browns are who they are. Choosing to be worse out of spite, rather than sucking it up and the making the best choice to compete. Not sure how Browns fans feel about Baker, but as a fan I’d be pissed if my team was knowingly starting a lesser QB and refusing to try to work it out with the best option.
Yup, they deserve whatever comes from this mess.
He doesn’t want to play for them. How hard is that to understand? The Browns were willing to keep him when they didn’t originally get Watson but he demanded a trade and wouldn’t even meet the owner. Both sides are to blame but I blame Mayfield more because teams always try to upgrade their team. I don’t see Bengals offensive lineman demanding a trade when the Bengals signed 3 new lineman and pushed last years starters to a backup role. Baker showed his immaturity and I like Baker. I wish him success
I think publicly trashing your employees is why more immature than getting upset about it.
The Browns have denied it. If the Browns said that then both are immature. I know Baker is immature, that’s the one thing I never liked about him. Stay off social media. He always had a fued going with someone
Typical snowflake browns fan…they may deny it but everything they’ve done this off-season says they believe it. Hope y’all enjoyed the small taste of mediocrity the last couple of years
Wow. If only the Browns had another experienced, veteran quarterback, preferably one who has led them to a playoff berth and who knows the Browns offense very well… you know, like Case Keenum. 😉
Enjoy Jacoby Brissett, Cleveland.
Brissett is better than Keenum right now. Keenum has no arm. I think him not playing last year is an indication that the Browns thought an injured Mayfield gave them a better option. He did go 2-0 but one was against the Bengals resting all their players and the other was against Denver where Johnson ran for 150 and Bridgewater got hurt and Lock played
He’s clearly talking about baker
could have easily avoided this situation by, at the very least, waiting another season to see if you could still get Watson.
Exactly
Then I have to imagine the cost would have been even higher. The 4 firsts was because it was always assumed to be out for a while. They got to pay less for the risk.
Watson was going to be traded this year. I think the Browns knew that they’d be without Watson for this year, at least a portion of it. This trade is for the other 4 years and beyond. Watson is a very good quarterback and the Browns needed an upgrade
Next years 1st round pick the Texans got from Cleveland is gonna be a top 5 pick.
Texans are rooting for a long term suspension. Laughing all the way to the draft.
They’re laughing all the way to the draft and the sexual deviant all the way to the bank while the rest of the league is pushed they set the market price on a scumbag nonetheless.
What do you care about the market price? Do you think any WR is worth 30 million? Do you think McCafferty was worth 17? I would say that the Devante Adams/Tyrese Hill contract is worse. McCafferty runs a close 2nd. No running back is worth that for a 2nd contract.
Against, the genius that likes to take a discussion and spin it about something else.
I’m not a GM, but I do know the GMs are pissed they broke the bank for this sexual deviant and set the market. If a scumbag facing suspend an get that sort of guaranteed contract the teams trying to resign/sign solid citizens that are starting QBs will now have to pay through the roof. Only so much $$$ to go around to fill out a roster and field a complete team.
Again, it’s not your money. Why do you care about billionaires that are making tons of money? If a player can get the money, get the money. I don’t care that Watt or Donald got a raise and I’m worried Garrett may want more. You’re just a hater.
And you’re obviously challenged. It’s a salary cap, the players will get all that money, it’s how you distribute it to build a balanced team that is competitive. When so much is thrown at one player, and a scumbag like this, it’s hard to spread it around to fill out a roster that doesn’t have holes.
I have news for you….quarterbacks make the money. Allen. Mahomes. Both of those guys are making what Watson is making. Burrow and Herbert may eclipse that when their contracts are up. Teams have a mixture of veterans and rookies. The Rams won a Super Bowl with high priced guys who actually got higher priced this year. There’s ways around the cap issue with voidable years and guaranteed money. Some teams do it, others don’t. Sorry if your team refuses to manipulate the salary cap.
Don’t know about top 5, but top 10 for sure. Then even the next season – what’s Watson going to be like 2 years away from football. Why do people assume he’s going to go back to the way he was after sitting out?
Because he’s young and it’s not like he was injured and couldn’t throw. He’s still practicing.
Baker should sit out till traded and donate his salary to the me2 movement. Show Watson and the browns what is, in my opinion.
If he’s sitting out I can’t imagine that salary will be too high.
It depends on if the Browns tell him to stay away. He gets 18 million if that happens. If he decides to not show up without being excused then he gets nothing
Maybe Watson can get off easier if he asks the Roger for a happy ending…
Watson should have seen the same girl Kraft did. Apparently the NFL has no problem with prostitution and sex trafficking
They have no problem with prostitution but you have a problem with conprehension. You continue to make the same dumb fanboy comments excusing his behavior without unseeing one got a happy ending from one person and the other sexually assaulted at least over two dozen women.
They are both crimes. Right? That’s actually going to be the NFLPA stance during their appeal. That and Jerry Jones issue with Daniel Snyder. All three owners have had accusations and no fine or suspension for any. I believe Watson will receive an 8 game suspension after appeals. This thing can end as soon as there is a settlement. Watson will receive his suspension. Settle the suits and move on to football. I’m not necessarily expecting playoffs this year but next year this will be over and Watson will have a full year
Shoplifting and aggravated assault are also both crimes right? You have a funny way of comparing apples to oranges and then try to spin it back like they’re both apples when the conversation was about oranges all along.
And you have a way of convicting a guy that hasn’t been charged with anything. Something happened but I do believe Watson when he says he never forced anyone. I believe he exposed himself and asked for a happy ending. Inappropriate? Yes, but hardly the criminal case of the century. I think Watson isn’t telling the whole truth and I think there’s some women who are looking to cash in. I don’t understand why 9 of these women would continue to see him after the alleged so called attack. If you want to believe all women, then what prison does Trump report to tomorrow?
And you were probably a huge OJ fan and thinks he did nothing wrong. Jim Brown wore your uniform so he was a saint too forget what he did to women.
Hahaha he thinks OJ was actually not the murderer. What a joke
Who’s your team? They have one too.
As a Bengals fan, I felt bad for the Browns for being so bad for so long and I was actually happy when they started being decent, but not anymore. Trading for Watson and giving him a huge contract was completely moronic. Now, the next time he might play, if another 20 women don’t come out of the woodwork, he will have not played for two years following a four win season. He’ll probably tear another ACL or something in his first game back.
You should know what happens after a quarterback comes off an injury and a 4 win season.
It better be more then a year. It should be for life.
Don’t you think they should at least have some evidence to make it a lifetime suspension? I mean he wasn’t even charged. I mean if accusations is all it takes, Trump should be in prison now instead of a year from now
“In the days since, Watson news has continued to circulate. Houston police detective Kamesha Baker said during a recent civil deposition she believed Watson committed sexual assault…”
Not sure how he gets one day less than Bauer.
The NFL will eat a world of **** for this guy? Why?
A year suspension only succeeds in keeping Watson in the news cycle as long as Kaepernick and who really wants that?
People who randomly bring his name up out of nowhere.
My sister wants to know where to go sign up to be on the lawsuit.
Facebook. Their lawyer was looking for clients on Facebook. I can’t see how they can treat an innocent man so poorly
How appropriate considering this pervert found his professional masseuses via social media. Innocent people don’t use the professionals on the team payroll at the team site, they troll SitonmyFacebook to find a girl they can fly into town, set up at a hotel and then sign an NDA before you throw your junk in their face and beg for a run and tug.
The Texans made a mistake in paying Watson to sit out last year. They should have played him just to shove his 66+ sexual assaults in Goodell’s do-nothing face.
Hey BB let’s do a test. Go to your favorite store not the candy one but it would work too probably. Follow a women around then drop your pants and start beatin off. You will find quickly that it is assault even though you didn’t make her do anything. The fact you exposed yourself is illegal.
The argument you will make is this is a work place. Then you can go into the managers office at the McDonalds you work at and try it yourself. Maybe you could just go in needing to change and strip. Not sure if you are a troll or really believe the stupidity you are writing.
Coincidentally, I think Deshaunfluffer9 just got a job working glory hole #3 at the nail/massage parlor right next to the training facility in Berea and is hoping to get to meat the new QB.
Have you figured out how to screw in a light bulb yet? Because you certainly don’t know football
Whoaaaaaa, epic burn bro…
You actually don’t if you don’t believe Watson is an upgrade over Mayfield and gives the Browns a much better chance at the Super Bowl than Baker did. This little dust up with the accusations will all be over soon and then it’ll be about football. Either later this year or definitely next year. Righty tighty. Lefty loosey.
Keep telling yourself that. Some people have a conscience and more self respect than to sell out for a serial offender.
I’m rooting for Joel Bitonio and Nick Chubb. 2 fabulous individuals. Why would I let one person dictate who I root for? I root for a team, not individuals. I liked Baker Mayfield but I won’t be rooting for him when he leaves. I won’t be rooting against him. He’ll be just another guy. I don’t need professional athletes for my morality. Whatever Watson did has no impact on what I do or how I live my life. I realize that you’re a hater. Like I said before, it doesn’t bother me that people still love Trump who admitted assaulting women or that people still go to Catholic Mass when they have done what they’ve done.
Dude you need help!?!
Why? Because I refuse to condemn that the authorities don’t even have enough evidence to bring it to trial? He did something. I admit that. You’re a hater of Watson. Don’t ever serve on a jury. Watson will be a Cleveland Brown for a long time and have them as perennial playoffs.
Only explanation is that this must be a satire account…you do not represent the real Browns fans.
You mean they don’t want to win? Trust me, the stadium will be full as long as they win. This year may not be a playoff season depending on how many games Watson misses. I don’t think Brissett will be worse than Mayfield was last year. The Browns have a lot of talent, with or without Watson