Following the accusation of sexual misconduct by over two dozen women the Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will observe an 11-game unpaid suspension and will have to cough up a whopping $ 5 million in fine along with a professional evaluation and misconduct as a part of a settlement undertaken by the NFL.
There was a call from the league to ban Watson for at least one year for violating the league’s personal conduct. While playing for Houston Texans Watson was accused of sexually harassing women during the team’s massage therapy session.
Watson was on an agreement of $ 230 million upon his shift from Texans to Browns. Now with the suspension due to the allegation in effect, the three-time Pro-Bowler will lose $ 632,500 of his salary this season.
Soon after the settlement, Watson released the statement over the settlement terms of the league, “My whole life I just have to be able to move forward and that’s the plan, I have to be able to move forward with my career, move forward with my family, my personal life and everything.”
As part of the settlement between the league and the NFL Players Association, Watson will have to be evaluated by behavioral experts and follow their treatment program, the NFL said.
Watson recently apologized for the first time after the allegations of sexual misconduct came to the fore, speaking to the reporters he said, “I’ve always stood on my innocence and always said that I’ve never assaulted anyone or disrespected anyone and I’m continuing to stand on that,” he said.“
The suspension straightaway implies that Watson is not returning anyway before December, 4th when Brown plays in Houston. During the entire period, he won’t be allowed to avail of any of the clubs’ facilities and will be reinstated officially on November, 28th.
Besides the existing fine in place, the league and the Browns will be paying $ 1 million each to a fund that is supporting non-profit organizations across the country to educate young people.
Cleveland Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam have stood by their quarterback Watson despite being widely criticized for trading him in.
They said, “Since Deshaun came into our building in April, he has done everything we have asked of him and more,” Jimmy Haslam said at a news briefing with his wife and Browns general manager Andrew Berry.
“And he has been the person, the leader that we expect him to be and I think he understands where he is in his life, it’s a pivotal point, and we as an organization are going to do everything we can to help him not only be the best football player he can be but more important to be the best person he can be.”
Watson was accused of being sexually inappropriate with the women during massage therapy sessions from March 2020 to March 2021 in Texas. In civil lawsuits filed in Texas, the women accused Watson of exposing himself, touching them with his penis, or kissing them against their will. One woman alleged Watson forced her to perform oral sex.
Two separate grand juries in Texas declined to indict Watson, who recently settled 23 of 24 lawsuits. The case in the town has sparked row and raised questions on the manner how the league is handling the player’s related issues.
The Browns believe Watson could make them a Super Bowl contender. Without him, they could struggle to simply contend in the AFC North against defending conference champion Cincinnati along with Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
Attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents all 24 women who sued Watson, was critical of the NFL’s handling of the case and settlement. “The message today to all victims is clear if you believe you have been sexually assaulted by a powerful person, keep your mouth shut and go away.
The NFL has certainly demonstrated that its ownership and the organization don’t care.” Buzbee said in a statement thereafter.