Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has reached settlements in all but one of the civil lawsuits from women accusing him of sexual assault or sexual misconduct during massages. On Friday, the woman who is holding out explained her refusal to settle her suit, pointing to Watson's lack of remorse.

"I have rejected all settlement offers, in part because they have not included any sincere acknowledgment of remorse and wrongdoings, nor have they included any promises of rehabilitative treatment," Lauren Baxley wrote in an essay for the Daily Beast.

On Thursday, the NFL and NFLPA reached a settlement on discipline for Watson for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Watson will be suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 regular season and pay a $5 million fine. He is also required to "undergo a professional evaluation by behavioral experts and will follow their treatment program."

After the suspension was announced, Watson spoke with the media and maintained his innocence: "I'll continue to stand on my innocence, just because you know settlements, and things like that happen doesn't mean that a person is guilty for anything."

Baxley stated in her essay that Watson's continued refusal to admit wrongdoing is why she is standing firm in her lawsuit against him.

"Watson still refuses to admit that he harassed and committed indecent assault against me," she wrote. "Any settlement offer he has made has been a dismissal of his evil actions, and I know that unless there is an authoritative intervention, he will continue his destructive behavior."

In total, 25 lawsuits were filed against Watson. One of the lawsuits was dropped because of privacy concerns from the plaintiff. Two grand juries in Texas declined to pursue criminal charges against the quarterback. Watson then settled 23 of the remaining lawsuits.

Former federal judge and NFL disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson determined after an investigation that Watson would receive a six-game suspension, but the NFL appealed her decision. Robinson said in her findings that Watson had committed "non-violent sexual assault," a notion Baxley dismissed.

"I will say again: All non-consensual sexual acts are a violence, particularly when the predator far outweighs his victims in physical stature and influential power," Baxley wrote. "And inherent and unspoken threats are just as damaging to the psyche as explicit threats. I will never cease my attempts to educate on this point."

Watson's suspension begins Aug. 30. He will be eligible to play in Week 13 when the Browns visit his former team, the Houston Texans.

After signing a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns in free agency, Jacoby Brissett is going to play a significant role in determining how successful the team is on the field in 2022.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Brissett said he's "excited" about the opportunity to be a starting quarterback and knows he will have to "prove" every day that he's capable of handling the job.

The NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to a settlement, with Deshaun Watson being suspended for the first 11 games of the regular season and fined $5 million for violating the league's personal conduct policy stemming from more than two dozen allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct.

Watson's suspension means he won't be eligible to play until Cleveland's Week 13-game against the Houston Texans on Dec. 4.

The Browns do have a favorable schedule to start the season if they want to help Brissett build his confidence. Their first four games are against the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons.

The Jets and Panthers finished last in their division in 2021. The Falcons had the fifth-worst point differential in the league (minus-146) and no longer have Matt Ryan as their quarterback.

The Steelers are an unknown right now because of the uncertainty over who will start under center. Mitchell Trubisky appears to have the inside track on the job, but rookie Kenny Pickett is being elevated to the No. 2 quarterback for Saturday's preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Things get considerably more difficult for the Browns after Week 4. They have games against the Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals before their bye in Week 9.

Brissett does have extensive starting experience over the past six seasons. The North Carolina State alum started 15 games in a season twice for the Indianapolis Colts (2017, 2019). He also made multiple starts for the New England Patriots as a rookie in 2016.

Tua Tagovailoa missed five games for the Miami Dolphins last season. Brissett started each of those games, posting a 2-3 record.

In 60 career appearances, Brissett has completed 60.2 percent of his passes for 7,742 yards with 36 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Teams have gone 14-23 in his 37 starts.

The National Organization for Women criticized the 11-game suspension and $5 million fine given to Deshaun Watson on Thursday, as agreed upon by the NFL and NFLPA, saying it's "nowhere near enough."

"That $5 million represents 2.1739 percent of Watson’s new $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns, which was negotiated after more than two dozen women had accused the star athlete of sexual misconduct," the advocacy group said in a statement. "NOW is pleased to see behavioral evaluation and treatment recognized as best practices by the NFL, but they have a lot to learn about math."

In addition to the $5M fine, Deshaun Watson will lose $632,500 in salary this season based on the 11-game suspension. His base salary is $1,035,000 in 2022 and then jumps to $46M in the 2023 season. His $5M fine equates to 2.2 percent of his $230M guaranteed contract.

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) August 18, 2022

Watson—who was accused of sexual assault and sexual misconduct by 25 different women in civil lawsuits filed against him—was originally suspended six games by independent arbitrator Sue L. Robinson.

The NFL appealed that suspension and sought at least a one-year ban, and the league and NFLPA settled on Thursday's punishment.

The NFL has now announced the settlement for #Browns QB Deshaun Watson pic.twitter.com/q5fg5BRQa5

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 18, 2022

Deshaun Watson has to comply with eval and treatment recommendations of a third-party behavioral expert to be reinstated. His reinstatement is contingent upon his compliance with the treatment plan. If he doesn’t comply, his reinstatement could be delayed, plus further discipline

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 18, 2022

For NOW, that decision fell short of the mark.

"Women need more than empty words and half-measures. The culture of toxic masculinity within the NFL must change—NOW," its statement read. "Deshaun Watson’s career and wealth won’t be damaged by this decision—unlike the dozens of women he has irreparably harmed. No, this isn’t good enough."

Watson has since settled 23 of the 25 lawsuits against him, and one has been dropped. Two separate grand juries in Texas also declined to pursue criminal charges.

In March he was traded to the Browns and signed a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. The Browns structured his contract to include a base salary of just $1 million in 2022, with many critics of the move arguing that the team did so to help alleviate as much potential financial impact from a suspension as possible.

The worst part of what Browns did wasn’t signing Watson, but agreeing to contract that helps him mitigate or even avoid virtually any financial consequences from the NFL. Who does that with 22 accusations still out there. I don’t agree with signing him, but this is much worse

— Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13) March 19, 2022

Peter King of NBC Sports reported the following in March after the deal was signed:

Jimmy and Dee Haslam. Not the most popular people at the league meetings on Sunday. I heard lots of grumbling from those who think a) trading six picks for a player who may be found guilty of heinous offenses or b) signing Watson to the richest guaranteed contract in league history and giving him an $80-million raise 'stinks to high heaven,' as one team exec said. The Haslams had to know it was coming, and now that they've traded for and signed Watson, it's not going away.

On Thursday, Watson vacillated between being remorseful and maintaining that he believes he did nothing wrong, a somewhat contradictory approach.

Deshaun Watson statement: pic.twitter.com/n54aGsYRiy

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 18, 2022

"I'll continue to stand on my innocence, just because you know settlements, and things like that happen doesn't mean that a person is guilty for anything," he told reporters. "I feel like a person has an opportunity to stand on his innocence and prove that, and we proved that from a legal side, and just going to continue to push forward as an individual and as a person."

As for why he apologized in his public statement if he felt he was innocent, Watson responded: "For everyone that was affected by this situation. There were a lot of people that were triggered."

The signing of this settlement only means Watson is ending the legal process. This has nothing to do with an admission of guilt.

Those close to him share with me today he regrets putting himself in the position. “This isn’t an admission or an apology to the women involved”

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 18, 2022

"We respect his opinion," Browns co-owner Dee Haslam told reporters when asked about Watson proclaiming his innocence. "I do think in counseling Deshaun will learn a lot more about himself."

Whether he received enough of a punishment as he goes through that process remains a hotbed topic around the NFL.

Now that the Cleveland Browns know how long they will be without quarterback Deshaun Watson, their focus for the rest of the preseason appears to be on getting Jacoby Brissett ready to start in Week 1.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Thursday that Watson won't play in the final two preseason games.

The NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to a settlement that sees Watson suspended for 11 games and fined $5 million for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Watson faced 25 civil lawsuits from women who accused him of sexual assault or sexual misconduct during massages. He has settled 23 of the cases, while one woman dropped her lawsuit because of privacy concerns.

He can practice with the team until his suspension takes effect Aug. 30, and he can resume practicing Nov. 14.

Watson will be eligible to play Dec. 4 when the Browns play the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in Houston.

The Browns had Watson start their preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday. He played their first three offensive series, finishing 1-of-5 for seven yards. It was his first game action since Jan. 3, 2021, when he was with the Texans.

Brissett didn't appear in the 24-13 win over the Jaguars. Several of the Browns' projected starters also sat out, including Amari Cooper, Greg Newsome II, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, John Johnson III, Joel Bitonio, Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett.

Stefanski has not announced who will start at quarterback in Sunday's preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Browns will wrap up their exhibition season Aug. 27 against the Chicago Bears.

Cleveland signed Brissett in March to give the team a backup quarterback with starting experience. The 29-year-old has started 37 games and has posted a 14-23 record, and he has 7,742 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and 17 interceptions for his career.

The Browns will take on the Carolina Panthers in a road game at Bank of America Stadium in Week 1 of the regular season Sept. 11.

Deshaun Watson has accepted an 11-game suspension from the NFL. He's settled 23 of 24 civil lawsuits from women who accused him of sexual assault or sexual misconduct during massages. He's apologized to "all the women I have impacted."

Yet when addressing reporters following the announcement of the settlement between the NFL and NFLPA on his suspension, Watson again took a defiant stance on whether he committed sexual assault.

"I've stood on my innocence and always said that I've never assaulted anyone or disrespected anyone, and I'm continuing to stand on that," Watson told reporters. "But at the same time, I have to continue to push forward with my life and my career. For us to be able to move forward, I have to be able to take steps and put pride to the side. I'm going to continue to stand on my innocence and keep pushing forward."

#Browns Deshaun Watson: “I stand on my innocence” pic.twitter.com/OuxzRjdflH

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 18, 2022

Thursday's announcement ends a saga that began in March 2021 when Watson was sued by a woman for civil assault. Droves of additional lawsuits followed as 25 women filed civil cases (one dropped her lawsuit because of privacy concerns). The Houston Texans sat Watson for the entire 2021 season amid the allegations and after he requested a trade from the franchise.

The Texans traded Watson to the Browns this offseason.

While two different grand juries declined to prosecute Watson in criminal court, the three-time Pro Bowler settled all but one of his civil cases out of court. One lawsuit remains ongoing.

The NFL conducted its own investigation and then handed the case over to former federal judge and league disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson, who recommended a six-game suspension. In her decision, Robinson wrote, "the NFL carried its burden to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that Mr. Watson engaged in sexual assault (as defined by the NFL) against the four therapists identified in the Report."

However, Robinson used NFL precedent established by past punishments handed out by the league to offer her ruling. The NFL used its CBA-negotiated right to appeal and reportedly sought a suspension of at least one year before negotiating a settlement with the NFLPA.

In addition to the suspension, Watson must pay a $5 million fine that will go to a fund that supports nonprofit organizations that "promote education and prevention of sexual misconduct and assault," among other related causes. The NFL and the Browns are each contributing $1 million to the fund as well.

"Deshaun has committed to doing the hard work on himself that is necessary for his return to the NFL," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "This settlement requires compliance with a professional evaluation and treatment plan, a significant fine, and a more substantial suspension. We are grateful to Judge Robinson and Peter Harvey for their efforts in addressing these matters, which laid the foundation for reaching this conclusion."

Watson will be eligible to return for the Browns' Week 13 game against Houston. Under terms of the agreement, he will have to undergo mandatory counseling and follow a treatment program.

Following an appeal by the NFL, the league and the NFL Players Association have reached a settlement on discipline for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

Watson will be suspended for the first 11 games of the regular season and fined $5 million. He is also required to undergo evaluation and treatment.

Adam Schefter of ESPN added:

Deshaun Watson has to comply with eval and treatment recommendations of a third-party behavioral expert to be reinstated. His reinstatement is contingent upon his compliance with the treatment plan. If he doesn’t comply, his reinstatement could be delayed, plus further discipline

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 18, 2022

Watson released a statement through the Browns:

pic.twitter.com/XY6sjIMhdM

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 18, 2022

Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam released a statement as well:

Browns’ owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam: pic.twitter.com/wDHEi8nRGj

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 18, 2022

Attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the women who have filed civil lawsuits against Watson, called out NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement:

Statement from attorney Tony Buzbee on #Browns Deshaun Watson’s 11-game suspension pic.twitter.com/P7JF8X6I3v

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 18, 2022

The NFL announced Aug. 3 that it was appealing the six-game suspension handed down by disciplinary officer and former federal judge Sue L. Robinson:

The NFL has appealed Sue L. Robinson’s recommendation of a six-game suspension. Roger Goodell will decide whether he or a designer will hear the appeal.

Here’s the league’s statement and a note on the process. pic.twitter.com/tmasBcHIRh

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 3, 2022

Per ESPN's Jeff Darlington, the NFL wanted an indefinite suspension of at least one year for Watson and a monetary fine.

Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reported July 18 that Watson and the NFLPA had decided to file a lawsuit against the NFL in federal court if the QB received a one-year suspension from either Robinson or the league on appeal.

Twenty-five women filed civil lawsuits against Watson between March 2020 and March 2021 accusing him of sexual assault or misconduct during massage therapy appointments while he was with the Houston Texans.

As of July 31, 23 of the 25 lawsuits have been settled, while one was dropped.

Robinson ruled Watson should be suspended six games Aug. 1. The decision came after a three-day disciplinary hearing between the NFL and NFL Players Association from June 28 to 30.

In her 16-page ruling about the decision, Robinson said Watson's "pattern of behavior was egregious" and the NFL's investigation showed Watson committed sexual assault and engaged in "conduct that poses a genuine danger to the safety and well-being of another person" and "conduct that undermines, or puts at risk, the integrity of the NFL."

She outlined that Watson should "limit his massage therapy to club-directed sessions and club-approved massage therapists for the duration of his career." The ruling also noted the league only interviewed 12 of the women who filed civil lawsuits against Watson, and "of those 12, the NFL relied for its conclusions on the testimony of four therapists."

In deciding on the six-game ban with no fine for Watson, Robinson noted she was "looking at the record when compared to the relevant precedent, and looking forward to how this disciplinary determination might be used in the future."

When the NFL and NFLPA agreed to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement in 2020, one of the changes made was over how discipline was imposed under the personal conduct policy.

Under the previous system, Goodell was in charge of all rulings. The new policy requires the league to inform a player of a potential violation, and a jointly appointed disciplinary officer decides whether a player is suspended and for how long.

If a suspension is rendered by the disciplinary officer, as happened in Watson's case, the players association and league have the right to appeal. If an appeal is filed, Goodell, or his hand-picked designee, will hear the appeal and have final authority on the discipline.

Prior to Robinson's ruling, the NFLPA issued a statement calling on the union and NFL to "stand by" the decision in the interest of making sure every "player, owner, business partner and stakeholder deserves to know that our process is legitimate and will not be tarnished based on the whims of the League office."

Ashley Solis and Lauren Baxley, two of the women who filed civil lawsuits against Watson, publicly discussed their experiences with him during massage therapy sessions in April 2021.

Solis noted during a press conference that Watson "tainted a profession in which I take enormous pride," that she suffers from "panic attacks, anxiety and depression" and has sought counseling "as a result of Deshaun Watson's actions."

Attorney Cornelia Brandfield-Harvey read a letter written by Baxley, who was not present at the press conference. Baxley noted she wrote the letter to Watson at the recommendation of her trauma therapist so he "can know without excuse or justification that you have deeply and irreversibly brought terror to me and others."

In June, Jenny Vrentas of the New York Times reported that Watson scheduled massage appointments with at least 66 women between the fall of 2019 and spring of 2021. Per Vrentas, the Texans indirectly helped to facilitate those appointments by providing Watson with a membership to the Houstonian hotel and club, where he allegedly had some of his massage appointments.

Vrentas also reported that Watson said in a deposition he made some of his massage therapists sign a nondisclosure agreement that had been left in his locker by Brent Naccara, Texans' director of security.

The Texans reached settlements with 30 women who made claims or were prepared to make claims against the organization for allegedly enabling Watson's behavior.

The Browns acquired Watson from the Texans on March 18 and signed the three-time Pro Bowler to a contract extension worth a fully guaranteed $230 million over five years.

Watson's 11-game suspension means he will be eligible to return for the Browns' Week 13 game against the Texans at NRG Stadium on Dec. 4.

Recent discussions between the NFL and representatives for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson have "heightened hope" that a settlement can be reached over his pending suspension, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano.

A resolution could come Wednesday or Thursday, per Graziano.

Disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson gave Watson a six-game suspension for violating the league's personal-conduct policy, but the NFL is appealing the decision and seeking harsher punishment.

"That was something that we felt was our right to do, as well as the NFLPA's, and we decided it was the right thing to do," commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters.

Watson faced 25 civil lawsuits from women accusing him of sexual assault or sexual misconduct during massages. One case was dropped and 23 more were settled.

Robinson referenced "relevant precedent" to determine the length of the suspension, although the NFL was seeking a suspension of at least one year, plus a fine and mandatory treatment, according to ESPN's Jake Trotter.

Watson's team is willing to accept an eight-game suspension as well as a $5 million fine, per Rob Maaddi and Tom Withers of the Associated Press.

The divide between the two sides seemingly made an agreement unlikely, although recent talks have apparently closed the gap. Without a deal, the case will be heard by arbiter Peter C. Harvey, who will make a final decision.

Watson is heading into his first season with the Browns after an offseason trade from the Houston Texans. He signed a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract with Cleveland. The three-time Pro Bowler sat out all last season while seeking a trade, although he was not disciplined by the NFL and earned his full salary.

The NFL and NFL Players Association are reportedly continuing to hold talks regarding a settlement to the appeal of Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson's suspension.

According to Pro Football Network's Aaron Wilson, it is unclear if the two sides will be able to reach an agreement before the league's appeal against the length of Watson's suspension is heard by Peter C. Harvey.

Disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson suspended Watson for six games on August 1 after an NFL investigation into the 25 civil lawsuits filed by women accusing him of sexual assault or sexual misconduct during massage sessions.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell decided to appeal the decision in search of a more significant punishment, and he appointed Harvey to hear the appeal.

Watson issued a blanket denial of the allegations when they first became public. But in an interview Friday that aired shortly before his preseason debut for the Browns. he said, "I want to say that I'm truly sorry to all of the women that I have impacted in this situation."

"The decisions that I made in my life that put me in this position I would definitely like to have back," he continued. "But I want to continue to move forward and grow and learn and show that I am a true person of character and I am going to keep pushing forward."

Last week, Goodell called for at least a one-year suspension.

Per ESPN's Jeff Legwold, Goodell added: "We've seen the evidence, [Robinson] was very clear about the evidence, she reinforced the evidence. There were multiple violations that were egregious, and it was predatory behavior."

Watson did not play at all last season while facing the lawsuits, although he had previously requested to be traded by the Houston Texans.

After a grand jury declined to indict Watson on criminal charges, the Browns sent three first-round picks, one third-round pick and two fourth-round picks to Houston in exchange for Watson.

Cleveland also signed Watson to a new contract worth $230 million over five years. The entirety of the contract was guaranteed, making it the most guaranteed money in NFL history.

The move spelled the end of 2018 No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield's tenure in Cleveland, as the Browns eventually traded him to the Carolina Panthers.

For now, the Browns are preparing for Jacoby Brissett to be the team's starting quarterback for the first six games of the 2022 regular season, although they could end up needing him for much longer than that.

The drop-off from Watson to Brissett is steep, as Watson is a three-time Pro Bowler, while Brissett is something of a journeyman, going 14-23 in 37 career starts with the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported Wednesday that Harvey won't rule on the NFL's appeal against the length of Watson's suspension until the NFL and NFLPA's talks reach an impasse.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Deshaun Watson's status for the 2022 season, the Cleveland Browns don't appear to be motivated to pursue a trade for another starter.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said during a appearance Monday on the Pat McAfee Show that it's unlikely that Cleveland is willing to acquire Jimmy Garoppolo from the San Francisco 49ers.

"I just don't get the sense that the Browns are that interested. I just don't. I mean, they signed Jacoby Brissett for a reason," Rapoport said (around the 1:45 mark). "If they trade for Jimmy G, it's 20-plus more million dollars. ... I've checked with everyone. Maybe something will surprise me. I just do not get the sense that there's that much interest in him."

Garoppolo's time in San Francisco is expected to end after the team committed to second-year signal-caller Trey Lance as its starter for 2022. The 22-year-old impressed in the 49ers' first preseason game on Friday, a 28-21 win over the Green Bay Packers in which he threw for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Watson, who faced allegations of sexual assault or misconduct in civil lawsuits filed by 25 women, has been suspended for the first six games of the 2022 season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy after an investigation by independent arbiter Sue L. Robinson. The league has appealed Robinson's ruling and is reportedly seeking a harsher punishment of at least one year. Former New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey has been appointed to oversee the appeal.

Amid the ongoing situation, Cleveland still named Watson as its starter for Friday's preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was his first game action since January 2021 and he struggled, completing one of five passes for seven yards. The Browns won the game 24-13.

Brissett didn't play Friday, but Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski said the seven-year veteran will start receiving first-team reps in practice this week. Stefanski pointed out that it "has been the plan really from the beginning" to switch Brissett to the starting role during the early part of the preseason.