NFL quarterback banned for six games after 24 women accused him of sexual harassment or assault

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been suspended for six games after being accused by two dozen women in Texas of sexual misconduct during massage treatments.

Key points:

• NFL disciplinary officers find Watson engaging in “conduct that qualifies as sexual assault”
• Judge Sue L Robinson said there was a “lack of expressed regret” on Watson’s part
• League says it wants to suspend Watson for over a year

The sentence was handed out by the game’s disciplinary officer, former federal judge Sue L Robinson, who said Watson’s behavior was “more egregious than it was before the NFL review”.

But the ban doesn’t live up to what the NFL reports: an open suspension of at least one year for violating the league’s privacy policy.

Watson, who played four seasons with the Houston Texans before being traded to Cleveland in March, recently settled 23 of 24 lawsuits filed by women alleging sexual harassment and assault during treatment in 2020 and 2021.

The NFL has three days to appeal the decision.

“While this is the most significant sentence ever handed down to an NFL player for a charge of nonviolent sexual conduct, Mr Watson’s pattern of behavior is more egregious than it was before it was reviewed by the NFL,” Robinson wrote in the conclusion to his page 16. report.

As a condition of his recovery, Robinson mandated that Watson use only team-approved massage therapists for the rest of his career. And he said Watson must “have no adverse engagement with law enforcement and must not commit additional violations” of the privacy policy.

The NFL Players Association and the Browns said they accepted Robinson’s decision.

If the NFL appeals, league commissioner Roger Goodell or someone he appoints will make a decision on the appropriate penalty, in accordance with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

Players’ unions can then try to challenge that decision in federal court.

Watson was welcomed back into training after the find was revealed.(AP: Nick Cammett)

The league has pushed for a suspension of at least one year and a $US5 million ($7.1 million) fine for 26-year-old Watson during a three-day trial before Ms Robinson in June, two people familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press on condition anonymous.

The NFL presents a 215-page report based on dozens of interviews, including testimonies from four of the 12 women interviewed by league investigators.

Robinson determined Watson violated three provisions of the privacy policy:

• Behavior that qualifies as sexual assault
• Behavior that poses a real danger to the safety and well-being of others
• Behavior that undermines, or jeopardizes, the integrity of the NFL

When stressed on the severity of the first two fouls, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski repeatedly insisted that Watson “works to be the best version of himself … and I believe that”.

Robinson said the league acknowledged at trial that the recommended penalty was “unprecedented” and he concluded the NFL should not change disciplinary standards for nonviolent sexual assault without giving players fair notice.

“Defining prohibited behavior plays an important role in the rule of law, enabling people to predict the consequences of their behavior,” he wrote.

“It is fundamentally unfair to identify prohibited behavior only after the behavior has been committed, just as it is unfair to change the punishment for the behavior after the fact.”

Robinson dismissed Watson’s rebuttal of his guilt and considered his “lack of expressed remorse” to be an aggravating factor.

“For mitigating factors, he was a first-time offender and had an excellent reputation in his community prior to this incident. He is cooperating with the investigation and has paid damages,” he wrote.

In a statement, the league said it was “reviewing Judge Robinson’s implementation of a six-match suspension and will make a decision on next steps.”

This is the first case for Robinson, who was appointed jointly by the NFL and the union to deal with player fouls — a role previously held by Goodell.

Watson was able to play in pre-season exhibition games before his suspension began in the first week of the regular season, and he returned to Browns training after the ban was handed down, seen signing autographs for fans, many of whom cheered for a big-name signing.

But Rhonda Whitelock, president of the Touchdown Browns Backers fan club in suburban Cleveland, said the six-game suspension wasn’t long enough given the accusations made by so many women.

He said there were people in the group who were “disgusted” by the team’s decision to swap Watson and not want to watch the Browns again.

Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam released a statement saying they “are empathetic and understand that many individuals have been triggered during this process” but they will “continue to support him”.

Watson’s infamous case has renewed scrutiny of the league’s handling of player misconduct, along with its support for women.

The league has been sensitive about his image and provided appropriate discipline for Watson after being criticized for handling cases of domestic violence or previous sexual misconduct against women involving Baltimore running back Ray Rice, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy and Cleveland running back. Kareem Hunt, among others.

Watson has denied all wrongdoing, insisting any sexual activity with three women is consensual. He has publicly insisted his goal was to clear his name before agreeing to a secret financial settlement with 20 women June 21.

One remaining lawsuit could still be tried, but both parties agreed to wait until 2023, after the upcoming season.

AP/ABC

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