2:26pm: Rumored as possible to happen Friday, in an effort to keep Watson off the field for the Browns’ preseason opener, Harvey’s appeal ruling may not come until at least next week. As of this afternoon, nothing looks to be brewing on that front, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com tweets. Harvey’s decision almost definitely will not happen Friday, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com adds (on Twitter). Despite being set to miss at least the Browns’ first six games, Watson is expected to start for his new team against the Jaguars tonight.
1:35pm: Although they have sporadically taken place for more than two months and produced no resolution, Watson settlement talks still are not off the table. The league and the union coming to an agreement should not be ruled out, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk tweets.
11:50am: With the Browns set to begin their preseason tonight, a decision from league designee Peter Harvey could be coming very shortly regarding the NFL’s appeal of the Deshaun Watson suspension. In the hopes of avoiding the league’s desired outcome, the Browns QB is reportedly willing to accept a stricter punishment than the one he was initially given. 
Watson would be willing to accept an eight-game suspension and a $5MM fine, per Rob Maaddi and Tom Withers of the Associated Press. As things currently stand, the three-time Pro Bowler will be sidelined for the first six games of the season, and face no financial penalties aside from the $345K in salary he will forfeit as a result.
The attempt to settle at a middle ground between the original ban and the one the league is arguing for through its appeal raises the question of settlement talks. The NFL and NFLPA have discussed a compromise at various points in this process, but an agreement avoiding the possibility of further appeals or legal action has never seemed particularly close. The league’s closest offer to what the union could agree to was a 12-game suspension along with a fine of roughly $8MM.
Per the AP report, “it’s not clear if the sides are in active discussions” to reach a settlement which will end this saga. Earlier this week, it was reported that a significant increase in Watson’s punishment – which could very well manifest itself as Harvey agreeing with the league’s push for an indefinite suspension – was considered likely. The leverage the NFL is therefore likely to now have could significantly hinder any further settlement talks.
In the event of a lengthier ban being handed down, the Browns could turn to Jimmy Garoppolo. Cleveland initially seemed committed to Jacoby Brissett as a short-term solution, but Watson being sidelined for the entire season – or at least a more significant portion of it – as a result of the appeal could lead them to trade for the outgoing 49ers signal-caller.
The NFL has been attempting to have Watson made ineligible for preseason action as well, but with the Browns’ first game now hours away, that seems unlikely. How deep into the fall he is banned for, though, remains very much in question.
I have no issue with Watson receiving just punishment for what he did, but what is the point of having an independent arbitrator if the league is going to take over the case to punish as it sees fit anyway? Peter Harvey helped Goodell craft the policy, so it’s pretty much a given how he’s going to rule.
You can let your kid try and cut the lawn, if they do a good job, you leave it. If they catch the mower on fire, you put it out.
If the players don’t like the CBA then they shouldn’t have ratified it. But most will never have to worry about personal conduct issues because they are pieces of trash like Watson. The only people complaining about the process are Watson and all his boyfriends, I mean Browns fans
I’m not a Browns’ fan. I’m a long suffering Jets’ fan, which is a whole other story. I just don’t understand why the whole process isn’t independent of the NFL or the NFLPA. I believe with my own company in our documents for contractors the contractor agrees to accept arbitration with an independent arbitrator instead of going to court. I would think it would be something similar.
Because the NFL and NFLPA agreed to the way it is now. What part of this don’t you understand. This is what the players wanted, and they got it.
The NFL is a multi-billion dollar company that operates under rules that most other companies do not. It is not at all similar to your tiny little company. You are out of your depth man, just stop.
Wow, 2% of his contract. Very big of him. Is he willing to show remorse, like the Browns keep claiming he has?
Funny that, because as much as people want to bring up the arbitration case with the judge, they neglect to mention what she said.
1. He was absolutely guilty and there was abundant evidence that he did these things.
2. He showed absolutely no remorse.
3. HE LIED.
You can’t always get what you want, Watson. Take what you get.
Seems like somebody is forcing him to accept something. A taste of his own medicine?
“Watson would be willing to accept”. Hah.
He has a newfound interest in consent.
I don’t care who you are that’s funny right there.
Yep. He keeps acting like this is the NBA. The players don’t run the NFL like the players run the NBA.
10 games
6 million
enough that it wrecks Cleveland’s season…they aren’t winning with JB or JG.
neither side fully gets what they want but it’s done with and you move on.
I’ll take 15 games, that way Cleveland has to eat the year and can’t try to toll the contract
One more time, if it is a full year, his contract rolls a year.
How about you get a year suspension and we ALLOW you to play next year
One game for every identified victim = 66 games.
There should be no settlement he did the crime he should be out of the league
No criminal charges. Doesn’t mean he’s innocent, but you can’t say “he did the crime”.
The judge that handed down his punishment did.
Evidence that he did it.
Showed no remorse.
He lied while giving his testimony.
Read her decision. It is all in there.
Houston & Cleveland also have unclean hands and are grimy af.
Houston with the NDAs
(circumstantial evidence that the FO knew)
Cleveland with the contract structured to ensure Watson’s minimal financial loss with any 2022 suspension
(circumstantial evidence that’s why Watson did a 180 on going to Cleveland)
I think Houston should lose picks for covering it up.
Where did you see the Texans from office knew what was going on?
copying from the post above mone ‘Houston with the NDAs’ . Texans knew what was up and let it slide because they had a franchise QB, or so they thought.
Let’s not forget that the Texans also settled with 30 of the accusers ……
Houston Texans Settle with 30 Woman Who Accused Deshaun Watson of Sexual Misconduct
link to si.com
But that doesn’t mean the FO knew. It means someone on legal knew. Or someone that had access to NDA’s.
Yep Texans have a line up of ibuprofen a few types of pain killers. Not CBD because that is bad. Then they have Ice packs bandages and genetic NDAs. If anyone in the FO knew they all knew If an attorney gave him the NDAs he should have told someone. He is employed by the owner not The Perv. They were all guilty.
You have no proof of that. Just another browns fan hating because you realizes his team is the absolute worst sports franchise in the history of professional sports
That’s a pretty BS accusation. All NFL teams provide NDAs to their players. Their players are multi-millionaires who are in their early twenties. They become targets of litigious individuals. NDAs are standard practice
Mine is a pretty BS accusation, but follow up accusing me of being another browns fan hating.
It doesn’t qualify as Pro Bono but I’m feeling magnanimous today: respondeat superior
Get over your dumb self
if ignorance is truly bliss, you must be in heaven
I hope the NFL put in punishment if he has any other problem or problems he will get a lifetime ban from the NFL. I would suspend 3 games times 24 women would be his outcome. Also all guarantee money’s this year will be donated to abused women shelters. No commercials on TV of him or his likeness for next five years. Watson has lied to both the Browns and Texans and to the NFL. Any place else he would of been fired for sexual harassment any any kind from his job.
If he plays tonight, his contract shouldn’t roll over another year. Technically, he’s playing in 2022.
This is what happens. He gets suspended for the season because it’s what the NFL wants.
On top of it, they’ll likely impose the largest fine to an individual, which will get appealed, to circumvent how he structured his 1M salary for the 2022 season.
The NFL is playing the game right now. “Fair” process, which watson doesn’t deserve. Go around it because it wasn’t what they wanted. Probably overdo it because they know it gets appealed. Then when the appeal leads to less than what they wanted, the NFL can say they tried.
They aren’t going around anything. This is how the system works that the players agreed to.
Exactly, The whole process is part of the CBA negotiations. For years you heard about how it wasn’t right that Roger was judge, jury and executioner. Well that was what was negotiated. They gave up that fight to gain something else in those talks. And in follow up negotiations they finally got it to where it is today.
How ironic would it be if Watson gets injured in tonight’s game??? Just saying…..
*cough*bounty*cough*
How about a lifetime ban and a fine of $250 million.
Right…then Goodell can go back to ignoring other violations of the league’s personal conduct policy when he feels it’s convenient.
Such as?
Richard Sherman
How many women did he sexually abuse?
Just read an article that he apologized to how he affected the women. I would bet lawyers and agents talked him into it. I know his agent makes a bunch of money off him not sure how he can continue. Sometimes ethics should beat out money.
Pervbacker is slow to be on here Florio said they are still in negotiations so he will guarantee he only gets 8 games. I guarantee he will get unlimited and let a Judge figure it out.
Like I said before I dont wish injury on anyone but a Doug Flutie would not make me sad.
A Joe Theismann?
Yes sorry it is the old man memory. Sucks when you you knew something but can’t remember what it was.
link to twitter.com
Watson played in Jacksonville last night. The NFL shouldn’t allow the contract to roll over if he gets a season ban.
And he was met with a nice chant “you sick fu*k”. Great showing by Deshaun too.
Dude, he plays hockey and they were chanting, “You flick pucks.”
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