CLEVELAND, Ohio – For the past two weeks, Browns defender Deshaun Watson has shown the NFL that he is ready to work to move beyond his off-the-shelf challenges and pursue his NFL career.
If the league sees enough effort and will from Watson, it could be a factor in easing his discipline that may emerge over the next week or two. Under the Collective Bargaining Policy, the NFL will consider a player’s actions after an alleged violation.
“Both aggravating and mitigating factors can be taken into account when determining discipline,” the politician said. “Reference may also be made to requirements for continuous counseling, treatment or therapy, as appropriate, as well as to the establishment of enhanced supervision which, if satisfactorily complied with, would help to alleviate the discipline otherwise imposed.”
Last week, Watson admitted for the first time that he was seeking advice from more than 24 female massage therapists who accused her of sexual misconduct during meetings, primarily in 2020 and 2021.
On Tuesday, he reached a confidential agreement in 20 of the 20 civil lawsuits against him and is ready to try to clarify his name in the remaining four cases.
“It’s been a long year and a half, I can tell you,” Watson said during a mandatory mini-camp last week. “Personally, it’s been difficult. And since I came here and became Cleveland Brown, I’ve been able to use all the resources of that organization. I’ve been able to start using counseling and talking to someone to make sure my mind is straight and that I could be ready to walk in that field and be as sharp as possible.
“And I’m going to continue to do that, to be the best person and to grow as an individual, to grow as a person and just to be the best citizen, the best person I can be outside that field, and even when I leave this building, be the best teammate and player, who I can be. “
The payments came a week after Watson reiterated that he did not want to do so.
“I just want to make my name clear and let the facts and legal proceedings continue to play out,” he said last week.
In the end, he decided it was the best way forward.
The decision to seek advice was also a departure from his introductory press conference on 25 March, where he said he did not need it because he had done nothing wrong. Whether he believes he is innocent or not, Watson should benefit from the therapy, and it could influence the NFL’s decision.
Following the 20 agreements announced by plaintiffs’ attorney Tony Buzbee on Tuesday, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement: “Today’s developments do not affect the disciplinary process of collective bargaining.”
But if the NFL sees Watson taking another step forward and return, even though it had decided to clear its name, it may be viewed positively.
At least Watson gets help, and if his accusers need help dealing with the consequences of meeting him, they now have the resources to get it. And now Watson and 20 of his accusers don’t have to wait years for a solution.
What’s next
The next big step in the process is for former U.S. District Judge Sue L. Robinson, a disciplinary officer jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA to determine the length of Watson’s ban. A league source told cleveland.com that the NFL players’ association is preparing for an “unprecedented” penalty, which could mean a year-long ban, and it seems to be known in advance that the league is docking it with a significant number of games. .
But the NFLPA is preparing to fight, arguing that too many NFL owners, Robert Kraft, Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyder, were not severely affected by the alleged misconduct of themselves or their organizations.
Although the NFL could begin its suspension for a year, the NFLPA intends to argue that it will not be suspended, based in part on the fact that there is no evidence that Watson violated and that two different juries refused to prosecute him.
However, just as the failure to prosecute did not mean that he was innocent, the agreements do not mean a guilty plea. Watson says he didn’t do anything wrong, but felt it was time to leave most of the cases behind so it wouldn’t bother Browns, their fans and players any less.
Again, if Watson has to face four lawsuits, he sees this as an opportunity to have a say in court and make his name clear.
What is the schedule
NFL lead investigator Lisa Friel was nearing the end of the investigation on May 24 and has spoken to Watson twice in a total of four days.
Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, told cleveland.com that the NFL had completed its interview with Watson, even though the 24th lawsuit was later filed and new prosecutors spoke to Jenny Vrentas for the first time about the New York Times.
Usually, when the NFL talks to an accused, the discipline isn’t far behind. Some expect it to come next week, but it could happen as early as this week. Friel then makes a recommendation to Robinson, who may ask for a hearing or additional information before making a decision.
According to the rule, “depending on the nature of the offense and the player ‘s record, the discipline may be a fine, a time – limit or a combination of the two, or disqualification, with the possibility of re – applying.
If the Watson camp does not agree with the decision, they will appeal to Goodell, whose word will remain final.
How much did he agree?
The contracts were confidential, but a note in the 23rd civil action states that “we know that Deshaun Watson offered each plaintiff $ 100,000 to settle the lawsuit, but not everyone agreed to that amount because of the aggressive non-disclosure agreement
offered by the Watson team.”
It is likely that Hardin again demanded non-disclosure agreements and the amount of settlements could vary.
The other plaintiffs, one of whom is Ashley Solis, the first to perform, and one of the two interviewed by Soledad O’Brien on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, expect more money or are determined. go to court.
It is not yet known whether Buzbee still intends to bring the other two civil actions it intended to bring, or whether it will still add Texans as a defendant.
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