Cleveland Browns

There will reportedly soon be a decision on a potential Deshaun Watson suspension.

Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reported that jointly appointed disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson is expected to inform both the NFL and the NFL Players Association of her decision regarding the Cleveland Browns quarterback on Monday. According to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, the ruling will be issued around 9 a.m. ET.

"Robinson has not indicated how she will rule on her first personal conduct policy case," Wilson wrote.

Jeff Howe of The Athletic reported "there's been a feeling in the Browns' building that it could be a suspension of 4-8 games."

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com noted both the league and the players' association can appeal to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after Robinson's ruling.

However, the NFLPA said in a statement Sunday night that it would not appeal Monday's decision:

According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, the two sides continued to engage in settlement talks in recent days but never got close to an agreement:

Watson settled 20 of the 24 civil lawsuits he was facing after women accused him of sexual assault or misconduct during massage appointments. Cabot noted 30 women also settled with the Houston Texans after saying the quarterback's former team enabled his behavior with nondisclosure agreements and by providing venues for appointments.

Two grand juries previously declined to indict the Clemson product on criminal charges.

In June, Andrew Beaton of the Wall Street Journal reported the league was aiming for a suspension of at least one year:

"The league's belief that it should institute what is essentially the strictest discipline it can assess is based on its investigation over the last year, the breadth of the allegations against him and some accusations that NFL officials have concluded are particularly damning. While the league's arguments include the broad array of the accusations against Watson—in addition to the 24 lawsuits, other women have accused him of wrongdoing without taking civil action against him—officials have zeroed in on five of the alleged victims whose cases they believe include the strongest evidence."

Yet Cabot pointed out the players' association fought for a shorter punishment in large part because owners around the league were not punished for direct or indirect involvement in sexual misconduct.

Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reported earlier this month that Watson and the NFLPA would file a lawsuit against the NFL in federal court if the quarterback is suspended for a full year.

Cleveland acquired Watson from the Texans via trade this offseason and rewarded him with a fully guaranteed, $230 million contract extension over five years.

The team also traded Baker Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers this offseason, meaning Jacoby Brissett will likely be the starting quarterback during any suspension.

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Jacoby Brissett will be the team's starting quarterback if Deshaun Watson is suspended.

"Jacoby is our backup quarterback," Stefanski told reporters Wednesday. "If Deshaun is unavailable, Jacoby's the starter."

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Browns "privately are bracing for an eight-game suspension" for Watson under the NFL's personal-conduct policy after accusations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct by at least 24 women.

Cleveland has prepared for this possibility by splitting time between Watson and Brissett in practices.

"I wouldn't get into like the exact percentage, but they're both going to get a ton of reps," Stefanski said.

There was some speculation Josh Rosen could work his way up the depth chart after he agreed to a one-year deal with the Browns, but the 2018 top-10 draft pick has a long road ahead of him.

Stefanski said Wednesday that Rosen is the No. 4 and Josh Dobbs "has a leg up" in the battle for No. 3.

"I feel like Josh Dobbs has done an outstanding job throughout the spring," the coach said.

Brissett is by far the more experienced of the group if Watson is unavailable. The 29-year-old has made 37 starts in the NFL across his time with the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins.

With the Colts, Brissett spent two years as the team's primary quarterback—one with Andrew Luck out with an injury and a second after Luck retired. He was at his best in 2019 when he totaled 18 passing touchdowns and just six interceptions for an 88.0 quarterback rating. He added 228 rushing yards and four touchdowns that season.

Last season, Brissett made five starts and 11 total appearances for the Dolphins while Tua Tagovailoa was limited by injuries.

The experience could be valuable to keep the Browns in playoff contention.

As the Cleveland Browns continue to wait for a decision about a potential Deshaun Watson suspension, the club is looking to add quarterback depth heading into training camp.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Browns have workouts scheduled with several veterans, including AJ McCarron and Josh Rosen, and they plan to carry four quarterbacks at the start of camp.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that the San Francisco 49ers have given Jimmy Garoppolo's agents permission to seek a trade for the 30-year-old.

However, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com noted the Browns aren't expected to pursue a trade for Garoppolo despite the uncertainty over Watson's status.

Watson's disciplinary hearing in front of former United States District Judge Sue Robinson concluded June 30. The hearings are part of the process between the NFL and NFL Players Association to determine whether he violated the league's personal conduct policy.

The three-day hearings came after attorney Tony Buzbee said in a statement that 20 of the 24 civil lawsuits against Watson accusing him of sexual assault or misconduct have been settled.

Robinson has yet to make a formal announcement about any discipline for the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

Per ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio, the Browns privately are "bracing" for Watson to receive an eight-game suspension.

If Robinson issues a suspension of any length, the league has the right to appeal that discipline to commissioner Roger Goodell. If it goes in that direction, Goodell would then have the authority to issue the discipline that he deems appropriate.

As things stand, Cleveland's quarterback depth chart includes Watson, Jacoby Brissett and Joshua Dobbs. Fowler noted Brissett would be viewed as the starter, depending on Watson's status.

McCarron and Rosen both spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons. McCarron was going to be Matt Ryan's backup, but his season ended in Week 2 of the preseason when he tore his ACL.

The Falcons signed Rosen to be their No. 2 quarterback following McCarron's injury. The UCLA alum appeared in four games, completing two of his 11 attempts.

McCarron was teammates with Watson for two seasons with the Houston Texans in 2019 and 2020.

Rosen was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals, but he quickly fell out of favor with the organization. They used the No. 1 pick the following year to select Kyler Murray and traded Rosen to the Miami Dolphins.

The Cleveland Browns reportedly expect to be without Deshaun Watson for eight games in the 2022 campaign.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk cited a league source and reported that the AFC North team is "bracing for an eight-game suspension" as jointly appointed disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson reviews materials submitted to her by the NFL and the NFL Players Association.

Florio previously reported "the currently expected range is two to eight games" for the suspension, although the league could then appeal the outcome.

That Watson may not be suspended for a full season echoes a report from Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com stating "there's growing sentiment" he will play during the 2022 campaign.

Both Cabot and Florio noted the NFLPA pointed out some league owners were not suspended for their direct or indirect involvement in sexual misconduct when arguing against a strict punishment for the quarterback.

On Monday, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reported Watson and the NFLPA plan to file a lawsuit against the NFL in federal court if he is suspended for an entire season.

Two grand juries declined to indict the Clemson product on criminal charges in March, although that did not remove the possibility of a suspension given the league's personal conduct policy.

Attorney Tony Buzbee announced in June that Watson settled 20 of 24 lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault or misconduct.

The Browns acquired Watson from the Houston Texans via trade this offseason and signed him to a fully guaranteed, $230 million contract extension over five years. They also traded Baker Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers and would likely turn to Jacoby Brissett should Watson be suspended.

Cabot reported the team will look to sign another quarterback as a backup if the suspension is a lengthy one.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and the NFL Players Association have already prepared their counter if Watson receives a one-year suspension following an investigation into allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.

Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reported Watson and the players union will file a lawsuit in federal court if the NFL or arbitrator Sue Robinson suspends him for a year.

ESPN's Dan Graziano reported on the July 6 episode of Keyshawn, JWill & Max the NFL had proposed an indefinite suspension for Watson, who could apply for reinstatement after 12 games.

Watson was "still not interested in signing up for that indefinite suspension," per Graziano.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk followed up to report Watson's representatives were arguing in front of Robinson the three-time Pro Bowler should avoid a suspension. In addition, any settlement that resulted in a 12-game ban "would not be a serious offer."

Under the terms of the most recent collective bargaining agreement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell can't issue a suspension on his own. Goodell can modify the length of any ban if the disciplinary officer—Robinson in this case—deems a player violated the NFL's personal conduct policy.

That still gives the commissioner a lot of latitude in terms of doling out punishment.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the "growing sentiment" around the league is that Watson will be eligible for the Browns sometime in the middle of the 2022 NFL season.

Watson has yet to face any formal consequences from the NFL after numerous women came forward with allegations of misconduct. He didn't play a single snap in 2021 while in effect on paid suspension. The Houston Texans made him a healthy scratch for each of their games.

In March, a second Texas grand jury declined to indict the 26-year-old on criminal charges stemming from the allegations. Watson also settled 20 of the 24 outstanding civil lawsuits filed against him.

If Watson is handed a yearlong suspension and files an appeal, it wouldn't be the first time an NFL star attempted to fight the outcome at the highest judicial levels. Tom Brady was unsuccessful in 2016 when he appealed his four-game suspension stemming from the Deflategate controversy.

Former NFL tight end Orson Charles was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed firearm after allegedly confronting two law enforcement officers during an argument over a parking space, per Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times.

Charles was in one car and lost out on a parking spot to another vehicle with the two officers. The former NFL player then allegedly approached the other car and pulled a gun.

Police said the officers showed Charles their badges, but he responded by cursing and saying "I have one in the head."

That is when the officers drove away from the scene and alerted another deputy of the situation before Charles was taken into custody.

Charles also faces one charge of introduction of contraband into a detention facility.

The 31-year-old played collegiately at Georgia and was a fourth-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

He appeared in games for the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns from 2012 through 2018 and never had more than 101 receiving yards in a season.

The Carolina Panthers will be hoping they get a new version of Baker Mayfield in 2022, instead of the one reportedly seen as "childish" while with the Cleveland Browns.

Mayfield was viewed by the Browns as "childish and immature," according to The Athletic's Jason Lloyd, who added that the 27-year-old was "often difficult to coach" and that his behavior "annoyed teammates and divided the locker room."

Of course, the most recognized issue was between Mayfield and former Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who was released by the franchise during the 2021 campaign and later signed with the Los Angeles Rams.

The Browns released Beckham after his father, Odell Beckham Sr., shared a video that highlighted times when Mayfield either missed his son entirely or didn't throw the ball to him when he was wide open.

Beckham neither publicly disavowed his father's comments nor spoke to Mayfield about it, according to ESPN's Jake Trotter, and the two just never appeared to be on the same page during their time together in Cleveland.

Lloyd also cited an instance where Mayfield got irritated with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski for missing a meeting after the team lost 45-7 to the New England Patriots in November so he could speak with defensive end Myles Garrett instead.

From that point on, Stefanski never missed another meeting and "privately shined a glaring spotlight on his quarterback during film sessions from that day forward," according to Lloyd.

The Browns traded Mayfield to the Panthers on July 6 in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2024, putting an end to his tenure in Cleveland. After acquiring Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans earlier in the offseason, the franchise had no need for Mayfield on its roster.

Now Mayfield will likely enter a battle with Sam Darnold for Carolina's starting job. Considering Darnold had an even worse 2021 campaign than Mayfield, the former Brown probably has a good chance to get the nod.

Mayfield appeared in 14 games for the Browns last season, playing with a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, and completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Darnold, meanwhile, appeared in 12 games because of a shoulder injury, but he didn't show any signs of improvement from his days with the New York Jets in those games. He went 4-7 and completed just 59.9 percent of his passes for 2,527 yards, nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

That said, even if Mayfield is arguably the better quarterback, it's hard to imagine the Panthers starting him if his behavior issues continue in Carolina.

Despite rumors linking Baker Mayfield to the Seattle Seahawks, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport told The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday that he doesn't believe a deal will happen.

"I've heard nothing to corroborate Baker to the Seahawks at all," he said. "... It seems crazy to me, but they have never really been that interested in Baker. What they have wanted is a Drew Lock v. Geno Smith battle."

Rapoport argued that the initial rumors about Mayfield simply took a life of their own.

Mayfield has started 59 games over the last four years with the Cleveland Browns and remains under contract through the upcoming season, although he is unlikely to play another game with the team.

The quarterback requested a trade in March, and the Browns excused him from minicamp amid trade rumors.

Seattle appeared to be a logical fit because of its lack of established quarterbacks after the team traded Russell Wilson.

Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reported the Seahawks had a "high level of interest" in Mayfield, while Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network reported mutual interest.

It now appears Seattle would be fine sticking with Lock and Smith as the top options on the depth chart.

Lock was acquired in the Wilson trade and has shown promise in his career, but the 25-year-old has struggled with consistency and spent most of last year on the bench behind Teddy Bridgewater. In the last two seasons, Lock has 18 touchdowns with 17 interceptions in 19 games.

Smith has been with Seattle since 2019, but he has made only three starts in three seasons. He still performed well when given the chance last year, totaling 702 passing yards and five touchdowns with only one interception in four games.