Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
The Deshaun Watson Saga is finally over. The Cleveland Browns finally know how many games Deshaun Watson will miss this season after the quarterback reached a settlement with the NFL on Thursday.
Multiple reports indicate that Deshaun Watson's suspension will be for eleven games. Watson has also been fined 5 million dollars which will go to charity. Watson’s first game back is now scheduled to be in week 13 at Houston against the Texans, his former team.
The 11 game suspension is a substantial increase over the six game suspension that he was originally handed down by NFL's appeal of disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson back on August 1st. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell also announced that the settlement calls for Watson to comply with a professional treatment plan.
This case goes all the way back to March of 2021 when Watson was hit with a single civil lawsuit by a massage therapist who accused him of sexual misconduct. The total number of lawsuits eventually escalated to 24. However over the past two months he did settle 23 of those cases.
Deshaun Watson has said all along that he doesn't have regrets relating to any of his actions during massage sessions. However, on August 12th, before starting for Cleveland in the pre-season opener against Jacksonville he did just that. Watson apologized to "all the women I have impacted"
What is interesting is that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had been pushing for a one year suspension. Once again it's not a good look for him. Whether you want to say he "didn't stick to his guns", or "caved" or whatever other colorful metaphor you have, I think it applies.
More on the Shemon and Sheppard Show this afternoon.
The Deshaun Watson saga, at least for now, is over. Here are a few statements from earlier today:
