After a long decision-making process, the NFL has officially suspended Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
The NFL suspended Watson for six games after multiple women filed a total of 24 sexual misconduct lawsuits against the quarterback, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. The women, whom Watson hired for massages, each accused Watson of sexual misconduct or sexual assault.
Former federal judge Sue L. Robinson has found that Deshaun Watson violated the personal conduct policy and has suspended him six games, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 1, 2022
Watson has settled civil cases with 23 of his 24 accusers, with three more settlements reported ahead of Monday’s suspension news. In July, Watson’s former team, the Houston Texans, also settled lawsuits with 30 of women who made claims or were prepared to make claims against the organization for its role in the allegations against Watson.
While the news was expected, that didn’t stop the NFL world from offering its reactions, with many expressing frustration and contempt towards the league for such a small punishment, especially when compared to other players for seemingly more trivial offenses such as smoking marijuana, gambling, or deflating a football.
Josh Gordon was suspended for 78 games by the NFL for smoking weed.
Calvin Ridley was suspended for at least 1 full season for making a bet that his team will win.
Vincent Jackson was suspended for 3 games because of unlicensed driving.
Plaxico got 4 games for shooting his leg
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 1, 2022
24 women accused Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct in civil lawsuits.
He’s suspended six games. https://t.co/8wU182gvEL
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) August 1, 2022
It’s ok, the NFL has players wear pink gloves and socks in October. They clearly support women. https://t.co/FqWE0ZA51x
— Shane Haff (@ShaneHaffNFL) August 1, 2022
tom brady got four games for allegedly taking some of the air out of footballs. nearly 30 accusations of sexual misconduct is only 50% worse than that apparently https://t.co/5V9liuGcXy
— woke stifler (@Yelix) August 1, 2022
Ah, so 30 women suing you for sexual misconduct is the same as taking PEDs. Got it. https://t.co/k015jgotXn
— Nick Stellini (@StelliniTweets) August 1, 2022
It’s morally terrible Deshaun Watson is only getting 6 games but the NFL’s decades of ineptitude re: violence against women set this up
Judges work on precedent. There was NO precedent for suspending Watson more than 6-8 games without criminal charges. It’s the NFL’s own fault https://t.co/REppDelnYP
— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) August 1, 2022
After serving his six-game suspension, Watson will be eligible to return to the Browns for the team’s Week 7 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. In the meantime, veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett will serve as Cleveland’s starting quarterback.
