Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s disciplinary hearing before Judge Sue Robinson will be extended to a third day Thursday, NFL expert Ian Rapoport said Wednesday after the second day of the hearing. Network.
Watson, who has been accused by several women of sexual assault and misconduct during massage sessions, faces possible NFL discipline after his independent investigation into whether he violated the league’s personal conduct policy. .
Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported Sunday that the league is expected to argue for an indefinite suspension of at least a year, and then Watson could apply for reinstatement after the 2022 season. Watson, Rusty Hardin, and NFLPA attorneys argue that neither the alleged violations against Watson nor the precedence of previous NFL-imposed suspensions support a suspension of that duration.
Pelissero and Rapoport have reported pelissero and Rapoport that there is no set timeline for Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFL Players Association, to decide, but all parties are awaiting a decision. before training camp, which begins for the Browns veterans on July 26th. .
In the event that either party appeals Robinson’s initial disciplinary decision, the appeal would be handled by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell or a designee. Then the subsequent sentence would be firm.
Tony Buzbee, each plaintiff’s attorney in the Watson cases, announced on June 21 that confidential agreements had been reached between Watson and 20 of the 24 women who have filed civil lawsuits alleging that she committed conduct. sexual abuse.
Watson has previously denied any crime and has maintained that any sex with women was consensual. Two grand jurors in Texas have refused to charge Watson with criminal charges filed by 10 women.
Watson met with league researchers in May.
“I met with the NFL a couple of weeks ago and I did everything they asked me to do, I really answered all the questions the NFL asked me,” Watson told reporters on June 14th. “I spent hours with people who were dropped., And all I can do is be honest and tell them exactly what happened. I know they have a job and so I have to respect that, and that’s what we wanted to do is cooperate. They have to make a decision that is for the league. “
Watson hasn’t played any NFL games since the 2020 season when he was with the Houston Texans. Watson abstained in the 2021 season after requesting a change in Houston before allegations of sexual misconduct first appeared in March 2021. The Texans were sued for allegedly allowing Watson’s behavior during the sessions. massage in a lawsuit filed Monday in Harris County, Texas.
The Browns traded Watson in March 2022 and signed him to a five-year, $ 230 million fully guaranteed contract.