Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been suspended for six games after a former federal judge ruled Monday that Watson violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Watson had been accused by several women of sexual misconduct. Watson has settled with 20 of 24 women who filed lawsuits against him, and his former team, the Houston Texans, settled with 30 women who made claims or intended to make claims against the Texans organization for its role in the allegations against Watson.
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The ruling was announced by retired judge Sue Robinson, who was appointed jointly by the NFL and NFL Players Association, to preside over a hearing on the sexual misconduct allegations. The NFL had been pushing for a full season suspension, but the NFLPA and Watson jointly said they would not appeal Robinson’s decision.
“A former Federal Judge — appointed jointly by the NFLPA and NFL — held a full and fair hearing, has read thousands of pages of investigative documents and reviewed arguments from both sides impartially,” the joint statement said. “Every player, owner, business partner and stakeholder deserves to know that our process is legitimate and will not be tarnished based on the whims of the League office. This is why, regardless of her decision, Deshaun and the NFLPA will stand by her ruling and we call on the NFL to do the same.”
Our joint statement with Deshaun Watson on the impending arbitration decision: pic.twitter.com/9ObLnHiX6J
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) July 31, 2022
Watson’s accusers claimed he inappropriately touched them after hiring them as personal trainers and massage therapists. Watson has denied any wrongdoing, claiming the touching was consensual with at least three accusers, according to his attorney Rusty Hardin. Two grand juries in Texas declined to indict Watson for the criminal complaints brought by 10 of the women.
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Pending an investigation by the NFL and subsequent lawsuits, Watson did not play in any games last season as a quarterback of the Houston Texans. Watson was traded to the Cleveland Browns and signed a $230 million five-year contract in March.
