The disciplinary hearing for Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is set to begin on Tuesday, June 28, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports. The matter will be heard by Sue L. Robinson, who served as a judge in the Unites States District Court for the District of Delaware for over 25 years. Robinson was jointly appointed by the league and the NFLPA, although commissioner Roger Goodell would handle any appeal of the discipline that Robinson imposes.
As we have learned, the league will be pushing for a lengthy suspension, and Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network hears that an indefinite ban may be the NFL’s goal. One potential problem there is that the league was unable to speak with a significant number of the 26 women who have levied accusations against Watson, so its case will be based upon the testimony of only a fraction of those women. It’s important to note, however, that Goodell would also hear the league’s appeal if it feels Robinson’s punishment is too light.
The NFL and NFLPA, along with Watson’s advisors, attempted to negotiate a suspension before the hearing, although the parties were unable to agree to suspension length. Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, it is unlikely that those negotiations will be revived (Florio adds in a separate piece that the NFL was insisting upon a one-year ban in its talks with the union).
Another key piece of the Watson saga, of course, is his contract. When additional lawsuits were filed against the quarterback after he became a member of the Browns, it seemed possible that Cleveland could attempt to void Watson’s fully-guaranteed deal, though a report at the time suggested that the club had no such intentions. Andrew Brandt of SI.com, citing a league source, says that the money to be paid over first two years of the pact — 2022 and 2023 — are not subject to forfeiture anyway.
Per Brandt, the Browns could attempt to void the final three years of the contract for “new misbehavior” that triggers league discipline. And while it might seem that the lawsuits filed after Cleveland authorized the Watson deal in March would qualify as “new misbehavior,” Brandt is not so sure. The former Packers exec points out that the allegations contained in the most recent suits are consistent with those in the suits that the Browns already knew about, so if they were to try and back out of the deal, they would be facing a grievance that might prove difficult to win.
As for the more immediate disciplinary matter, Robinson’s decision is expected to be made no later than the beginning of training camp, although Schefter says it could be handed down within a week of the end of the hearing. As Mark Maske of the Washington Post tweets, if Robinson feels there was no violation of the league’s Personal Conduct Policy, then there will not only be no suspension, but the NFL could not take an appeal; Watson would simply be free to play. In light of everything we have heard to this point, such a finding seems unlikely.
Bad decision all around by the Clowns. 24 is a big number. Throwing two more on top voids the contract? Good luck with that.
They’re not looking to voiding the contract. None of this caught the Browns by surprise. They expected a suspension when they signed him. This eventually will end and the Browns will have one of the best quarterbacks in the league
And the alert goes off, Superfan9 to the rescue, going to Brownsplain everything for us.
You really should go to the authorities with your evidence. What evidence do you have? Were you on the Grand Juries? This country still requires evidence…..unless maybe you live in Russia. Is this Vladimir?
In response to a sick perverted deviant that plays football, we already got a Putin reference. Now it’s time to cue up the Kraft and Trump comments by this nitwit. SMH
So you have no evidence? Exactly. He should get a suspension based on his perverted conduct but apparently none of it led to criminal conduct. Seems like a little dust up to me
If you had a daughter and it happened to her, would you call it “a little dust up”? If you do have one, heaven help her.
And I wouldn’t appreciate what Kraft did to her either. Or what Roethlisberger did to her. Or Daniel Snyder. Or Jerry Jones covering up. If you had a son, would you want him to lose his livelihood and millions of dollars over accusations and not convictions? I’ve said many times that Watson should be punished. He’s a perv but until he has been charged and convicted with a crime, he should not receive the death penalty
Just as predicted that didn’t take long, just missing one more.
Did you see the one thread where this buffoon called Watson a ‘modern day Jesus’? He’s either a low effort troll or one of the dumbest people on earth.
God bless you and God bless the Cleveland Browns
Talented young man. I hope when the dust settles, he finds the help he needs.
The Browns are complete morons and the weird thing is, they interviewed before the trade and gave him a thumbs up
SMH
Starting to look like a complete disaster scenario for the Browns. One year ban can’t be what they signed on for. Let the saga continue…
It’s exactly what they signed up for. $1 million for 2022 and $46 million every year thereafter. They tailored this deal around a potential yearlong suspension for Watson.
And before BrownsFool9 chimes in with how other players have a low base in the first year, please look at how those contracts escalate by year. Watson’s is just $1 million, then $46 million each subsequent year. Blatant attempt to circumvent monetary penalties for Watson.
Not sure why everyone assumes the Ben Roethlisberger suspension will be the template instead of the Trevor Bauer suspension.
Different world.
A mediocre franchise missing out on the QB upgrade they overpaid for doesn’t hurt the league but eating constant **** for enabling an accused serial rapist does.
Both accused. Both weren’t charged. Both settled out of court. Yeah, completely different
A week ago, I would have assumed from this response that you were playing dumb.
A week ago.
How is different?
What word did I type after “different”.
Go back and look.
So rape was ok back then? I do expect more than a 4 or 6 game suspension but Bauer and Watson is not the same thing. Different leagues. Bauer beat Manfred up through social media for years before that. Ever heard of revenge? Without a doubt, Watson will be the Browns quarterback next year and for years to come. I expect a suspension of at least 8 games
Rape was surprisingly OK back then.
The Bauer thing wouldn’t have even been a story back then.
Today, he loses 3 years of his career.
He wouldn’t have if he doesn’t rip Manfred. Watson is getting counseling which is a plus. Did you just say rape was ok back then? Wow
A smart person wouldn’t need it explained to them that the word “OK” in the context of my sentence referred to the level of social acceptance.
A smart person wouldn’t.
And you think that Bauer was not suspended for being credibly accused by multiple women of anally raping them, but because he was mean to Manfred on Twitter…?
K.
I think Bauer’s arrogance cost him. Honestly what Bauer, Roethlisberger, Kamara, or anyone does really doesn’t bother me. I don’t live my life worrying about what people do. Even a scumbag like Trump. We both know that what all of the above did was wrong. Every single one. But you still need evidence. With Watson, I know why you don’t ever want him to play and it has nothing to do with what he did
When you say “I know why you” what you mean is “I project my use of what’s best for my football as a moral compass on everyone else”?
I called Ben a rapist for years.
You lick Watson’s sack.
“Yummy, it tastes like a woman’s fear!”
Haha. You lose. Watson will be the Browns quarterback and you have…….Trubisky? Pickett? I love it. Get used to last place. Oh yeah I forgot, you like Nascar on Ice
Bro, how can their be a BIGGER loser on EARTH than you?
YOU view EVERYTHING through the lens of the Cleveland Browns and live vicariously through them.
If you and your ENTIRE identity is based on them, so be it…
The Browns are the BIGGEST CLOWN FRANCHISE in sports history.
You have literally NOTHING to hang your hat on…nothing. They have never won a thing. EVER.
They are losers and THUS, you are a loser.
Your logic.
Enjoy.
They have championships. Very rich history. Your whole life is negative. I’ve never seen one post that you’ve written that wasn’t negative. You hate life. The only thing you like is hockey and that sport has as much popularity as watching poker on TV. You are a total loser
So, let’s just be clear…you are now in FAVOR of living in the past (long long ago past too), is that correct?
You are pretty wishy washy on this issue.
You decided to evaluate both your own morals and self worth through the prism of a football team (normal people do not do that). No one told you to do that. You made that choice.
And you chose…the Browns.
The clowns amongst clowns of pro sports.
That’s a loser. By your own terms.
The Browns are not the worst team in pro sports. Maybe the Pirates. Not evaluating my morals. If I’m supposed to stop rooting for a team that has a guy accused of something, then I guess nobody can root for any team. All teams have had someone accused of some heinous acts. And let’s get one thing clear, Watson has only been accused and not charged. Why do you think that is? You think it’s because the Harris County prosecutors or Grand Jury just love Watson so much or maybe that it’s a he said/she said.
Pirates have 3 titles. Browns have 0.
The Pirates haven’t tried to win for 30 years.
The Browns try to win. And fail.
Browns have 4 NFL championships from 1950 to 1964. Championships makes you the best. It doesn’t mean anything to me though. The only team that has bragging rights is the Rams right now until someone takes it from them. The Bengals have no Super Bowl wins but they have every right to feel excited about the next 10 plus years
Dude who routinely slams “living in the past” is reduced to bragging about stuff before the moon landing and The Vietnam War…
“Championships makes you the best. It doesn’t mean anything to me though.”
Exactly, winning is foreign to you. Alien, even. Not something you can relate to. We get it.
You said the Pirates have 3 championships. When 50 years ago. 43 I believe. Were you born? Again, you bring up the past all the time and I really don’t care about the past, even Cleveland’s past but I thought I should educate you on the fact that Cleveland does have 4. Good job on not mentioning sack licking. You’re growing up young man
Wow, I wasn’t this bad was I? It’s a blessing I am getting away from this franchise !
Baker
Getting the popcorn ready. Waiting for the finale of this trade blowing up in the face of the Browns if Watson gets a substantial ban. They better get knee pads now to go crawling back to Mayfield.
If Watson is suspended for the year and loses the appeal, the Browns may just pivot to Garapollo. They have plenty of cap space left. 42 million. This has already been talked about in Cleveland. If the suspension is appealed down to 8 games, I’d stick with Brissett. As a Browns fan, I’m basically writing off this season anyway. Watson will be around for awhile. The Browns were 1 game away from winning the division last year and I gotta believe that Brissett can play as good as Mayfield did last year. Baker was the 26th rated passer
Wow, you’ve come around to my thinking in the past 24 hours. Let’s face it, he gives them much more firepower than Brissett and that idea someone on PFT put forward about bringing Baker back for a year is utter nonsense
I will take issue with something you said above, regarding him serving the time and being one of the best QBs in the league.
Truth is, after a 1 or 2 year hiatus, it rarely works that way.
Sure. Brady was horrible after he missed the season. It’s not like Watson had a surgery and couldn’t practice. He’s at camp now. Throwing, running. He may take a few games but it’s not like he forgot what to do. He should be better with the Browns than the Texans because of a much better line and a tremendous running game
Yeah, because the league has had so many Brady-types. You don’t even believe that.
So you really think that he forgot how to play football? I know most people wish that on him but to think that he’s not going to be the same quarterback because he sits out a year or 2 at age 26? Maybe if he were 36 but not 26. He’ll be fine. Mahomes sat his first year. Rodgers sat his first couple of years
Watsons lack of forthcoming about his need for psychological help due to his sexual addiction should be troubling to both the league and the general public. Hopefully the arbitrator will consider this factor when making her decision concerning length of punishment.
He’s actually been seeing a counselor for the Browns. Don’t know if if was in the above article but it’s on Cleveland. Com
March 25th…watson said didn’t need counseling..didn’t have problem. Now he is going..could it be to look better for the hearings? I’m sure you won’t think so.
When the decision is announced let’s ensure COMMENTS OPEN for the article PFR!
I’m actually looking beyond that to the release of the movie version of this saga. Will Bill Cosby be considered for a role?
I know how the movie ends…..with Watson winning a Super Bowl for the Browns
I think the movie will be issued as a documentary rather than a science fiction feature.
Playing the role of Simple Jack in tonight’s presentation will be Brownsbacker9…
Yeah because the guy who led the league in passing his last year and made the pro bowl 3 out of his 4 years couldn’t possibly help a team with a lot of talent win. Your hatred makes you look stupid. Or you’re just plain stupid
Ironically, you are just plain stupid and derail any comment section you find your way into. And your stupidity mates you hated.
You can not like Watson but to not give him the credit as one of the best quarterbacks in the league shows your stupidity. What do I expect from a guy figuring out how to screw in lightbulb. I’m not a fan of Rodgers but I will say that he’s probably is the best quarterback in the league right now. Watson has the numbers to back it up without a good roster. His last year playing was one of the best ever. 112 QBR. Don’t be a hater.
I never commented on his accomplishments on the field, good or bad. This discussion, like almost all others in the NFLTR the past year or two is totally about his misconduct resulting from his off the field perversions. You truly are a little slow Simple Jack.
You said that I was stupid for calling Watson a very good quarterback. So apparently you commented on his play on the field. Honestly, as I’ve said before. I could care less about what any of these players or owners do. I’m not their judge. It doesn’t matter to me if Kamara gets suspended or not. Same with Hopkins. I didn’t care about Kraft getting off twice either. You and others on here don’t care anything about the women Watson is accused of assaulting because you only mention him and what punishment he should get. You never mention sympathy for the accusers