Page 16 - aruba-today-20220819

A16 sports
Friday 19 august 2022
Browns QB Deshaun Watson settles for 11-game suspension

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Cleve- three first-round draft picks
land Browns quarterback to the Texans in March and
Deshaun Watson will serve signed the QB to a five-
an 11-game unpaid sus- year contract.
pension, pay a $5 million Watson's case sparked
fine and undergo profes- strong opinions while rais-
sional evaluation and treat- ing questions about the
ment as part of a settle- league's handling of player
ment with the NFL follow- discipline and its spotty re-
ing accusations of sexual cord of supporting women.
misconduct by two dozen The Browns believe Watson
women. could make them a Super
The league had sought to Bowl contender. Without
ban Watson for at least one him, they could struggle
year for violating its person- to simply contend in the
al conduct policy. He was AFC North against defend-
accused of sexually harass- ing conference champion
ing and coercing the wom- Cincinnati along with Balti-
en during massage therapy more and Pittsburgh.
sessions while he played for All along, the Browns' plan
the Houston Texans. was to turn their offense
Watson signed a $230 mil- over to veteran Jacoby
lion fully guaranteed con- Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson throws during NFL football practice in Berea, Brissett, who has made 37
tract after being traded to Ohio, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022. career starts, during Wat-
the Browns in March. The Associated Press son's suspension. But it's
three-time Pro Bowler will now possible Cleveland
lose $632,500 in salary this anyone and I'm continu- grow from the experience. suspension and hefty fine. will explore other options at
season while serving the ing to stand on that," he "Since Deshaun came into At the owners' meetings this quarterback.
suspension, which takes ef- said. "But at the same time, our building in April, he has month, Goodell said the The suspension also means
fect Aug. 30. I have to continue to push done everything we have league's pursuit of a year- Watson will be idle longer.
"My whole life I just have to forward with my life and asked of him and more," long ban was warranted One of pro football's elite
be able to move forward my career, and for us to Jimmy Haslam said at a following its investigation QBs, he sat out last season
and that's the plan," Wat- be able to move forward, news briefing with his wife and Robinson's findings. in Houston after demand-
son said shortly after the I have to be able to take and Browns general man- "She reinforced the evi- ing a trade and before
settlement became public. steps and put pride to the ager Andrew Berry. "And dence," Goodell said. the sexual allegations sur-
"I have to be able to move side. he has been the person, "There were multiple viola- faced.
forward with my career, "I'm going to continue to the leader that we expect tions that were egregious, In her 16-page ruling, Rob-
move forward with my fam- stand on my innocence him to be and I think he un- and it was predatory be- inson found that the league
ily, my personal life and ev- and keep pushing forward, derstands where he is in his havior." proved its case that Watson
erything." and I've always stood on life, it's a pivotal point, and In her conclusion, Robin- violated three provisions of
The settlement ends months not disrespecting or sexu- we as an organization are son cited Watson's lack of the conduct policy: sexual
of speculation and head- ally assaulting anyone." going to do everything we remorse as a factor in her assault as defined by the
ed off a ruling from former As part of the settlement, can to help him not only be decision. Watson apolo- league, posing a genuine
New Jersey attorney gen- Watson may return for the the best football player he gized for the first time "to all danger to the safety and
eral Peter C. Harvey, who Browns' game on Dec. 4 in can be but more important the women that I have im- well-being of another and
was appointed by Com- Houston. He won't be al- to be the best person he pacted" before making his undermining or putting the
missioner Roger Goodell af- lowed at the team's facility can be." Browns' debut Friday in an league's integrity at risk.
ter the league appealed a during the suspension and Haslam was asked if he's exhibition in Jacksonville. Attorney Tony Buzbee, who
six-game suspension issued will be eligible for reinstate- still comfortable with Wat- Watson was accused of represents all 24 women
by disciplinary officer Sue L. ment on Nov. 28. son being on Cleveland's being sexually inappropri- who sued Watson, was criti-
Robinson. Browns coach Kevin Ste- roster. ate with the women dur- cal of the NFL's handling of
As part of the settlement fanski said Watson will not "Absolutely," he said. "100%" ing massage therapy ses- the case and settlement.
between the league and play in any of Cleveland's On Aug. 1, Watson was sions from March 2020 to "By settling this matter the
the NFL Players Associa- preseason games. suspended six games by March 2021 in Texas. In civil way he has, Roger Goodell
tion, Watson will have to be Along with his $5 million fine, Robinson, a former federal lawsuits filed in Texas, the has proven one of two
evaluated by behavioral the league and Browns are judge jointly appointed by women accused Watson things: Either his recent
experts and follow their donating $1 million each to the league and union to of exposing himself, touch- rhetoric was utter baloney,
treatment program, the a fund that will support non- act as an independent dis- ing them with his penis or or his bark is much worse
NFL said. profit organizations across ciplinary officer. She found kissing them against their than his bite," Buzbee said
Watson, who recently the country to educate the 26-year-old violated will. One woman alleged in a statement. "My belief
apologized for the first time young people on "healthy the league's conduct poli- Watson forced her to per- is that he is nothing more
since the allegations sur- relationships, promote edu- cy and called his behavior form oral sex. than a paper tiger.
faced, spoke to reporters cation and prevention of "egregious" and "preda- Two separate grand juries "The message today to all
after the settlement was sexual misconduct and as- tory." in Texas declined to indict victims is clear, if you be-
announced. He offered sault, support survivors, and Believing the suspension Watson, who recently set- lieve you have been sexu-
more contrition while main- related causes." was too light, the league tled 23 of 24 lawsuits. ally assaulted by a pow-
taining he never has been Browns owners Dee and appealed and pushed For now, the suspension erful person, keep your
inappropriate with women. Jimmy Haslam, who have Watson's case back to ends months of specula- mouth shut and go away.
"I've always stood on my in- been widely criticized for Goodell, who had handled tion about whether Watson The NFL has certainly dem-
nocence and always said trading for Watson, stood all player discipline in the would play in 2022 for the onstrated that its owner-
that I've never assaulted by the QB. They said they past. The league previously Browns, who outbid sev- ship and the organization
anyone or disrespected expect him to learn and pushed for an indefinite eral other teams, traded doesn't care.q