The first few weeks of the 2024 season have produced some unexpected headlines. In many cases, the underlying stories aren’t going away.
In Cleveland, quarterback Deshaun Watson is facing a new lawsuit and new discipline from the league after being accused of sexual assault and battery in a complaint filed Sept. 9.
There is no concrete news yet, but the league is talking about a possible suspension under the Personal Conduct Policy.
The league has said Watson will not be placed on paid leave. The attorney for the new accuser has said he will cooperate with the league’s investigation.
The neutral party who conducts disciplinary hearings, Judge Sue Robinson, concluded two years ago that Watson’s steadfast denial of any suggestion of wrongdoing lacked credibility. If she takes on this case as well, she might be inclined to give greater weight to the new accuser’s version of events, if only because she has already decided that Watson is not a fully reliable witness.
The question is how quickly things will unfold. Will the league feel compelled to speed up the situation and resolve it during the 2024 season? Or will it be content to wait and move on in the offseason?
Still, there are signs that the Browns are preparing for the possibility of being asked for, and getting, a suspension this season. Some believe they are evaluating available quarterbacks, even though they currently have Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson on the roster.
For one, any suspension gives the Browns a potential avenue to void the remaining guarantees on Watson’s deal, if he did not previously disclose this statement to the team. The league, given the widespread consternation regarding Watson’s contract, might not want to give the Browns an escape route from the $92 million that expires in 2025 and 2026.
On the other hand, an in-season suspension guarantees the Browns another season less than a full one with Watson.
Another question is the length of the suspension. The allegations in the new case appear to be much more compelling than those in the four specific cases that triggered an 11-match suspension in 2022.
There’s also a chance Watson could settle the case quickly by getting the accuser to agree not to talk to anyone without a subpoena. Since the league can’t force non-employees to cooperate with these investigations, a deal with a broad confidentiality agreement would shorten the process.
That is the biggest flaw inherent in the NFL’s internal justice system. Without cooperation, this case will go nowhere. A settlement guarantees that outcome, which would also protect the $92 million in guaranteed money to be paid in 2025 and 2026.
