Deshaun Watson’s legal team faces the NFL on Tuesday in front of a retired judge to determine his immediate future with the Cleveland Browns.
Former US District Judge Sue Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the league and the NFL Players Association, will hold a hearing to determine whether Watson violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy and whether she should impose disciplinary measures.
The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback has agreed to settle 20 of 24 civil lawsuits over sexual misconduct but still faces a significant penalty. A person familiar with the NFL’s position told the Associated Press last week that the league is seeking an extended suspension for Watson based on the number of sexual assault allegations and conversations with the 11 women who were available for interviews.
Watson’s team, led by renowned attorney Jeffrey Kessler, will try to argue that there is no basis for a prolonged suspension. Two separate Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal charges stemming from the allegations. Watson has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to clear his name.
The NFL has punished several players who did not receive criminal charges for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. In 2010, Ben Roethlisberger received a six-game suspension after being accused of sexual assault by two women. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell later reduced the suspension to four games. Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott got six games in 2017 for incidents of domestic violence.
On Monday, a woman who previously sued Watson filed a lawsuit against the Houston Texans, alleging that her former team provided her with resources to enable her actions and “turned a blind eye” to her behavior.
This will be the first hearing for Robinson, who was the first female chief judge for the District of Delaware. Previously, Goodell had the authority to impose disciplinary action for violations of the personal conduct policy. Still, Goodell has considerable power.
If the union or league appeals Robinson’s decision, Goodell or his designee “will issue a written decision that will constitute a full, final and complete disposition of the dispute,” under the terms of Article 46 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. That means Goodell could finally overturn Robinson’s decision and give Watson a year or even an indefinite suspension because of the possibility of more cases.
In April, Major League Baseball suspended pitcher Trevor Bauer for two full seasons following the league’s investigation into allegations of domestic violence and sexual assault against him. That suspension did not include the 99 regular-season games the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher missed after being placed on administrative leave in July 2021.
Asked if MLB’s handling of Bauer’s case was discussed, a league official told the AP that it’s difficult to compare the two, but stressed that the allegations against Watson are serious enough to warrant a ” unprecedented punishment. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Robinson has not heard of the case.
It’s not known how long it will take for Robinson to make a decision, but the Browns need to know Watson’s availability before training camp. NFL discipline typically begins the week before the regular-season opener, so Watson would be eligible for camp unless a potential penalty stipulates otherwise.
The Browns traded a host of draft picks for Watson and gave him a five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract in March.
Reference-www.theguardian.com