NFL and players union avoid appeal ruling, 11-game suspension without payment to Browns QB, plus $5 million fine and mandatory counseling
He received a final suspension, which was almost doubled.
6 games to 11, that is, the next Cleveland Browns his 2nd in almost a third of his season.
Among the final and binding penalties imposed on the quarterback, as agreed Thursday in a settlement reached between the league and the players union representing Watson , this enhanced suspension is the most important part.
The settlement included his $5 million fine against Watson, plus a mandatory evaluation of Watson by a behavior expert and subsequent disposition. , avoiding a decision on appeal in Peter's case. C. Harvey.
Deeply disappointed to see Watson double with reporters in Cleveland shortly after news broke on Thursday.
This was the first time in two years that Watson had been truly It happened less than a week after voicing something within binocular distance of remorse or guilt.
"I want to say I am truly sorry to all the women I have affected in this situation," Watson told interviewer Aditi Kinkabwala. I definitely want to take back the decisions I've made in life, but I want to keep moving forward, keep growing, keep learning, and show who I really am."
46} On Thursday, he added a "never mind" addendum.More on Watson's fresh reaction later. First, remember how you came to be here.
No criminal charges were ever brought against the Six Year Pro after his two Houston Grand Juries that considered police evidence both declined to recommend prosecution, and There are no plans to do so.
However, the league conducted its own investigation, which began early last year and ended in June.
Due to the rules of the recent collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA, an independent disciplinary officer — Sue L. Robinson — will hear arguments in June and he will hear in July. Mutually elected by both sides for She ruled on Aug. 1 that Watson, 26, should be suspended for six games without pay for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy in a "evil" but "non-violent" manner. did.
The league appealed Robinson's decision, seeking at least a season-long ban without pay. The NFLPA and Watson insisted there were no suspensions.
A decision on Harvey's appeal was supposed to be made "quickly," but by the end of last week it became clear that Harvey had been holding back while both sides sought compromising punishment.
Within minutes of that news break, the Browns released a boilerplate from owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, as well as Watson. But shortly afterward, when Watson spoke to reporters in Cleveland, he insisted on his total innocence. All but one of his final 24 sexual misconduct accusers, who were suing him for damages in civil court, recently settled out of court. 66} "I will continue to maintain my innocence," he said. “You see, a person is not guilty of anything because there is a settlement or something like that. We have proven it legally.(I) will continue to move forward as an individual and as a person."
Watson is now One of the highest paid players in league history. The Browns scored him a blockbuster in March with Houston in his trade, newly signing him to his $230 million five-year deal. Suspended, except for a $5 million fine.
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A wounded Watson may one day tell us all aspects of his own affairs to prove his alleged innocence. I can't.
"It's definitely a plan, definitely a goal," he said. "Throughout the process, I feel like I've been trying to tell my side of the story. But a lot of people haven't paid much attention to it."
If that's true, perhaps they Many of the people in theNew York Timeshad exposures such as Watson arranged private massages for at least 66 patients away from a facility in Texas, as reported in June. would have been astonished. Or last month's shocking disclosure that all 30 women who were suing the Texans for alleged QB's offensive sexual misconduct have settled out of court.
Watson's camp argues that any sexual acts that may have occurred between the passerby and the therapist were entirely consensual.
"I never assaulted anyone. I never disrespected anyone," Watson told reporters in June. "I never forced anyone to do anything."
Watson's suspension will begin this Tuesday, a week after him on August 30. After that, he has no contact with the Browns until his November 28th. — Houston.
Watson backup Jacoby Brissett is expected to start his first 11 games of the season for Cleveland, which starts Sept. 11 in Carolina. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Thursday that Watson will not appear in his last two preseason games for Cleveland this month.
Watson added at the outdoor podium on Thursday:
On the legal side, things happen that we have to keep moving forward. .
Watson was also asked whether Thursday's final punishment would be unfair if truly innocent of all these sexual misconduct accusations.
I can't talk about sex," he said.
“The only things I can really control are the things I can control. Like I said before, I'm focused on being here and being the best teammate, football player, quarterback, and legal side they can be for the Cleveland Browns.
But certainly Watson was asked. He must have an opinion on this matter.
"Of course. Everyone has their own opinion. But I think for my own peace and will keep my opinion to myself.
Yeah, good, and more double talk, expert double talk, Watson proved Thursday that last Friday's turn was only half a 360, not a 180.
For example, Hockey Canada might hire Watson to represent them at their next congressional hearing.
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