NFL officials appealed a six-game suspension for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, seeking a harsher punishment after a disciplinary officer ruled Watson violated the league’s personal conduct policy.
The appeal filed on Wednesday seeks an indefinite suspension of at least a year, an undisclosed monetary fine, and a promise to undergo treatment, according to ESPN, after former Judge Sue Robinson ruled that Watson violated the policy after allegations of sexual misconduct were levied against the football player.
NFL PERSONALITIES FABRICATE A RACIAL CONTROVERSY OVER KYLER MURRAY’S CONTRACT
“On Monday, Judge Sue L. Robinson, the independent Disciplinary Officer jointly appointed by the NFL and NFL Players Association, issued her ruling in the Personal Conduct Policy matter regarding Deshaun Watson,” the league said in a statement. “Under the 2020 NFL-NFLPA collective bargaining agreement (‘CBA’), the factual findings of the Disciplinary Officer are binding and may not be appealed. Judge Robinson found that Mr. Watson violated the NFL’s personal-conduct policy on multiple occasions and suspended him for six games.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will determine who hears the appeal, the league said. Goodell is allowed to consider the appeal himself, or he may pass the responsibility to someone of his choosing.
The NFL successfully proved that Watson violated the league’s policy when he allegedly engaged in sexual assault, Robinson determined Monday, but the judge said she felt bound by precedent to sentence Watson to a six-game suspension despite the NFL’s push to suspend Watson for a year.
Watson, 26, has been accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct after he hired them as massage therapists and personal trainers. Watson denied any wrongdoing and claimed that sexual activity with three of the workers was consensual. Watson has settled with 20 of 24 women who filed lawsuits against him, and his former team, the Houston Texans, settled with 30 women who made claims or intended to make claims against the Texans organization for its role in the allegations against Watson.
Two grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal complaints filed by 10 women. As a result of the league’s investigation, Watson did not play any games last season as the Texans quarterback and was traded in March for a five-year contract with the Browns.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The appeal follows a pledge by the NFL Players Association and Watson on Sunday to support whatever decision was made by Robinson. The union encouraged the league to make the same pledge, but it never did. The league said the union has been informed of the appeal and has two business days to respond.
Cleveland’s Jacoby Brissett will be starting as quarterback if Watson’s suspension is upheld, according to ESPN.
