The subject of another NFL investigation due to a woman’s sexual assault claim, Deshaun Watson settled with his most recent accuser recently. That was believed to effectively close the door on another NFL suspension. That is now official.
Watson is not set to be banned in connection with that alleged crime, with cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reporting the NFL has closed its investigation without finding sufficient evidence the Browns quarterback violated the personal conduct policy. Although Watson’s Cleveland future is cloudy, he is not set to face a second suspension. He missed 11 games due to an NFL-NFLPA settlement in 2022, a ban that began a wildly disappointing Browns tenure.
The QB’s latest known accuser settling her civil suit, one that alleged sexual assault in an October 2020 incident, was set to prevent her cooperating with a league investigation. Her attorney, Tony Buzbee, confirmed (via the Washington Post’s Mark Maske) his client did not meet with the NFL. As such, it would have been difficult for the NFL to conclude the quarterback definitively violated the league’s personal conduct policy. This was the expected outcome, and Watson will remain tied to the NFL’s most player-friendly contract without any changes coming about.
A suspension in connection with this alleged incident represented perhaps the Browns’ last chance to see their dead money bill lightened. But the team faced an uphill battle thanks to the player-friendly contract it authorized.
Personal conduct policy bans regularly void guarantees, but the Browns included language in Watson’s deal to protect him. The former Texans Pro Bowler having not disclosed this incident to the team prior to his latest restructure would have left the door open to future guarantees being voided, but Watson denied all wrongdoing in this case. The QB’s account indicating he was not aware of this particular accuser’s claim would have left the Browns in an interesting spot, due to how they designed his contract, even if he were suspended once again.
As it stands, Watson’s five-year, $230MM deal runs through 2026. With the once-highly coveted QB not coming close to delivering on expectations, it is fair to label this the worst trade and contract in NFL history. The Browns are expected to shop for another starter in 2025, but Watson’s contract being so difficult to move — a status boosted by the two restructures GM Andrew Berry completed — effectively keeps him in limbo beyond this year. The Browns are not expected to cut Watson in 2025, as that would bring an astonishing $172MM in dead money over the ’25 and ’26 offseasons combined.
Cleveland is not expected to fire Berry or HC Kevin Stefanski, despite their lead roles in a disastrous 2022 trade. Watson, 29, is rehabbing an Achilles tear sustained in October. Jameis Winston has operated as the Browns’ starter since, offering the highs and lows that have become associated with the former No. 1 overall pick’s career. Winston is a free agent at season’s end. Watson may be in the background for the Browns for now, with neither Berry nor Stefanski guaranteeing he would start again for the team. But no suspension coming to pass will put Watson on track to be a major part of the Browns’ future once again — once he completes his rehab process.
Here come the comments lol
Yes generally that is the point of the comments section, although most are not as stupid as yours.
oh yeah @insideout… your comment is the beacon of light we’ve all been waiting for smh
Inside Out sounds like a Karen lmao
Your name makes sense. You seem like the type who does the Inside Out technique with pocket …..uhm…”kittens”
So I’m confused. Are the Browns happier or sadder today?
I’m surprised the comments are open. They typically treat us like children who can’t have an open dialogue…although I do act like a child sometimes so it checks out lol
Well if you look at the posts right above yours the moniker children fits.
Baker Mayfield is doing well these days.
Someone doesn’t settle a civil suit, pay off an accuser and buy their silence if they’re innocent.
Think about it.
Usually when defending it is going to cost significantly more they do what ends it the fastest and cheapest.
“Well, we’re having a bad day. How ’bout you?”
-The Browns
A theory: The NFL, as a governing body, represents the owners. Owners care a lot less about player behavior than they do about one owner going rogue and setting a wild new contract precedent. By not suspending Watson, the league isn’t failing to punish Watson, but actively punishing the Browns by withholding a little potential relief on that contract.
I’ll buy that.
Alright ladies, whose turn is it now?
I thought he wasn’t doing that anymore and that why he was now a below average NFL QB (without his blue kryptonite)?
Pre-Crisis:
Blue Kryptonite was created using the Duplicator Ray on a piece of Green Kryptonite which Superman used to halt an army of advancing Bizarros. Blue kryptonite only affected Bizarros and was harmless to humans and Kryptonians.
Post-Crisis:
Blue kryptonite was the opposite to the more common green variety and made Kryptonian-based Bizarros highly intelligent, a process that scared them.
Post-Infinite Crisis:
Blue kryptonite caused Bizarro pain much like green kryptonite crippling Superman.
The Browns are stuck with Berry & Stefanski whether they want them or not. Nobody in their right mind would want either job with Watson & that ridiculous contract to begin their tenure. Their best move is to find a replacement & tell Watson to stay home & enjoy his weekly game checks.
Ban him anyway
Saturday December 7, 2024 at 12 noon. Community scream on the shores of Lake Erie. Everybody is invited.
How does this sex offender keep getting a pass? Does he have naked pictures of the commissioner? Did Diddy give Dumbshawn movies of Goodell with furries? Something isn’t right here. 60+ time offender and he’s patted on the head and told he shouldn’t do that again. Time for some tough love. Was hoping the Browns would be able to cut him and void that ridiculous contract. If I was him I would definitely be watching my back because those victims have fathers, brothers and boyfriends/husbands who may not think flipping out his mini-mushroon was so funny.
It’s the NFL. They don’t give two hot poos about character. It’s the only sport I know of to boast serial rapists and murderers. It’s no wonder when the league is run like an organized crime syndicate.
Browns keep winning paying them off.
He paid the girl off with a very tight NDA I would imagine. She couldn’t testify to the NFL now if she wanted. I am sure that was why they settled so fast. Keep her quiet and collect the game checks.
I kind of like this. Not that he will get the rest of his ridiculous contract but the Brownies have to pay him. He has more money than an intelligent person could live on very comfortably. He on the other hand will be on the streets in his 60s. I kind of agree with ooof the NFL might have wanted to suspend him but the owners said no. The pay off took the thing out of the NFLs hands they can’t be blamed for not suspending him or not. I am happy Vleveland has to pay the money but sad he gets away with more perversion. Sexual predators belong in jail. He would be like a king in there though.
Well….I hope he gets his life in order….he absolutely sucked this year
Roger Goodell: “Thank goodness we’ve got that in the rearview mirror. Now I can get back to my Atlas and see if exporting the NFL to Easter Island and Antarctica is feasible”.
So, for the record…
It’s illegal to threaten a witness.
It’s illegal to intimidate a witness.
It’s illegal to tamper with a witness.
But bribing them is A OK.
Everything you need to know…