Deshaun Watson

That Watson is allowed to take the field this season is frankly horrifying and an affront to Browns fans with a moral compass.

“The decisions that I made in my life that put me in this position, I would definitely like to have back, but I want to continue to move forward and grow and learn and show that I am a true person of character.” But if Goodell truly believed this in his heart of hearts and wanted to make an example of Watson, he could have utilized the power granted to him in the CBA to oversee the appeal and issue a year suspension. “I want to say that I am truly sorry to all of the women that I have impacted in this situation,” he told the Browns broadcast crew. As if Watson’s bait and switch didn’t feel icky enough, there was the quick realization that Watson’s return in Week 13 will be on the road in … No one in the league office thought they should speak up and point out this is a horrific idea that appears incredibly self-serving? But the NFL didn’t save face because soon after the settlement with Watson was made public, he made the league, and himself, look like even bigger fools. An underlying premise of the settlement was an acknowledgement that Watson did something wrong and needed to be remorseful. According to a [New York Times investigation](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/07/sports/football/deshaun-watson.html), Watson booked sessions with at least 66 different massage therapists in the span of 17 months. [Cleveland Browns](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/cleveland-browns) “won” the Watson sweepstakes by frontloading $230m in guaranteed money and a measly yearly salary, all so the quarterback would be minimally impacted by any length of suspension. [One suit](https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2022/06/22/24th-woman-suing-deshaun-watson-said-he-masturbated-and-ejaculated/7536166001/) accuses Watson of demanding that a young masseuse work his inner thighs before he started masturbating. The lawsuits describe a multitude of lurid behavior by Watson. Because of Watson’s high-level ability, Haslam, along with his wife Dee and general manager Andrew Berry, stood in front of cameras and issued the usual platitudes about how they properly vetted Watson and believe he’s a good guy and he’s going to be a community stalwart, and they believe in second chances.

Five months after his trade to the Browns and 17 months after the first sexual assault lawsuit was filed against him, we finally know what Deshaun Watson's ...

… Julie and Zach Ertz’s newborn son has [a great football-themed name](https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2022/08/18/julie-zach-ertz-announce-birth-first-child). … Rohan Nadkarni analyzes what could be next [for the Lakers after LeBron James’s contract extension](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/08/18/lebron-james-los-angeles-lakers-extension-takeaways). … Add Memphis to the list of [schools reportedly recruiting Bronny James](https://www.si.com/college/2022/08/18/bronny-james-actively-recruited-memphis-report). Flood had another decent season in 1969 and in October of that year was traded to the Phillies. With the criminal proceedings against him concluded, [teams reportedly rush to attempt to trade for Watson](https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/03/12/deshaun-watson-teams-trade-interest-grand-jury-decision). At 30, he was having the best season of his career, leading the team in batting average (.301) and on-base percentage (.339) while playing Gold Glove defense in center field. But the Yankees had no desire to pick up the game and took the matter to the courts. The Browns sign him to a record-setting five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract that includes just [$1 million in salary for ’22](https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/03/18/deshaun-watson-trade-browns-adjust-contract-for-possible-suspension), thereby limiting the amount of money he would lose from being suspended. [hurt his knee in last night’s preseason game](https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/08/19/geno-smith-out-of-preseason-game-with-apparent-injury). … These three MLB teams are showing why [a six-man rotation could be the way of the future, Will Laws writes](https://www.si.com/mlb/2022/08/18/astros-six-man-rotation-the-opener). [about Deshaun Watson’s insufficient apology](https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/08/18/deshaun-watson-settlement-insufficient-apology). 1, 2022: The former federal judge chosen by the NFL and players union to hear the Watson case, Sue L.

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson starts his first season on the team with an 11 game suspension and a $5 million fine as part of a settlement reached with ...

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Jacoby Brissett is ready to be an NFL starter again, even if it is temporary.

1 p.m. His teammates certainly have faith in him. 1 Cleveland has a chance to be playing meaningful games in December. TBD — ET That's all good talk, but the reality is, the Browns are short on options. "Can't really worry about what outsiders say," new wide receiver Amari Cooper said. He has the … But he's ready to have another go-around in 2022. Brissett is no stranger to starting.

The league has looked for contrition in determining its discipline of players accused of conduct violations. Deshaun Watson's insistence that he did nothing ...

“I want to say that I am truly sorry to all of the women that I have impacted in this situation,” Watson said in an interview with the Browns broadcast team. One of the accusers continues to be disturbed. But here, it’s the opposite.” “For Goodell to trumpet the penalty makes no sense if Watson is going to disclaim any responsibility.” “I think it’s important to remember, Deshaun is 26 years old, OK, and is a high level N.F.L. While showing remorse can signal that a player recognizes the need to change his behavior, an apology can also help the league manage the crisis publicly. Epstein’s hunch was confirmed in March when numerous teams scrambled to trade for Watson once it was clear he would not face criminal charges. quarterback, and we’re planning on him being our quarterback for a long time.” In the decade and a half since, Goodell has leaned heavily on a player’s contrition when determining what penalties to assess. Epstein advised the N.F.L. Indeed, Watson insisted numerous times that he did nothing wrong. Deshaun Watson’s insistence that he did nothing wrong undermined its attempt at rehabbing his image.

The settlement is the final resolution of the disciplinary process, ending the NFL's appeal of the six-game suspension without a fine disciplinary officer Sue L ...

The Browns would have had the ability to recapture $5,495,722 (or 11/18ths of $8.993 million) from Watson. "...it shall not constitute a failure or refusal to practice or play with the Club and Player shall not be in default if: ... His 2022 contract year would have become his 2023 contract year and additional years in the contract would have also gotten pushed back one year. Many of the other NFL teams feel that the fully guaranteed, five-year contract worth $230 million Watson signed in March as a part of his trade from the Texans was structured in a manner that was designed to minimize the financial consequences of the suspension. In other words, the Browns can't exit the deal because of accusations stemming from the personal conduct policy suspension. The Browns will get $632,500 of 2022 cap relief from the base salary Watson won't earn because of the suspension. Watson will be eligible to play in the Browns' Week 13 game against the [Texans](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/HOU/houston-texans/), Watson's former team, on Dec. Watson will able to practice during the last two weeks of the suspension beginning on Nov. Robinson found Watson in violation by engaging in sexual assault, conduct that poses a genuine danger to the safety and well-being of another person and conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity of the NFL in her 16-page ruling. Under the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, Watson will be allowed back in team facilities and permitted to participate in limited activities during the second half of a suspension on terms similar to players who are suspended under the NFL's performance enhancing substances policy. Watson's punishment is in line with what the NFL was seeking in settlement talks that took place before Robinson's decision. What is unknown is whether Robinson's mandate that Watson's massage therapy to be limited to team-approved massage therapists for the rest of his career remains.

As terms of the Deshaun Watson disciplinary settlement became public Thursday, an NFL executive familiar with the Cleveland Browns quarterback posed a ...

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