Deshaun Watson suspension news (2024)

The NFL announced Wednesday that it planned to appeal the ruling that Browns QB Deshaun Watson should be suspended six games for violating terms of the league’s personal conduct policy.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will determine who hears the appeal.

More information on the appeal and what's next can be found here.

(Photo: Ken Blaze / USA Today Sports)

The attorney representing several accusers in the sexual assault and misconduct civil suits against Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson said his clients felt “invisible” during the investigation and “defeated” after Watson received a six-game suspension earlier this week.

Attorney Tony Buzbee said in a Thursday press conference that one of his clients said, “six games isn’t even a slap on the wrist. It’s a kiss on the cheek.” He added that his clients felt the league didn’t care about the truth or care about victims of sexual assault.

Read more here.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will not preside over the league’s appeal in the suspension process for Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, according to reports. He will hand over the duties to someone who is not in the league office.

Judge Sue L. Robinson, the independent disciplinary officer jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA handed down a six-game suspension for Watson earlier this week for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. The league is seeking an indefinite suspension that would last a minimum of one year, a source told The Athletic.

Read more here.

On Monday, Sue L. Robinson, the NFL and NFL Players Association’s appointed disciplinary officer, recommended Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson be suspended six games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

The decision came down after more than a month of deliberation following a three-day hearing from June 28-30 for the 26-year-old QB.

On Wednesday, the NFL notified the NFLPA that it will appeal Robinson’s decision.

Here’s what we know about the ruling, the NFL’s decision to appeal, and what it all means for Watson and the Brown.

Two days after the Cleveland Browns were informed that quarterback Deshaun Watson would serve a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, the NFL appealed the decision made by independent arbitrator and former federal judge Sue L. Robinson.

That means this new and collectively bargained discipline system moves on to a new stage: a final decision made by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell or someone Goodell designates. It remains uncertain exactly who will oversee the NFL process and when an amended decision will be released, but the NFL is expected to seek a yearlong suspension according to multiple reports.

The Browns signed up for this. They traded three first-round picks for Watson and gave him a record-setting contract while knowing he had civil lawsuits that were unsettled and that NFL discipline was almost certainly coming. Obviously, the Browns hoped Monday’s ruling of six games would mark the end. It clearly has not.

The NFL will appeal the six-game suspension handed to Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, the league announced Wednesday.

The NFL notified the NFLPA that it will appeal the disciplinary decision made by Judge Sue L. Robinson, the independent disciplinary officer jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA. According to a statement from the league, Commissioner Roger Goodell will determine who will hear the appeal.

Read more here.

Commissioner Roger Goodell or his designee will hear the NFL's appeal.

The findings in Judge Sue Robinson's ruling are not part of the appeal process. The recommended punishment -- the six-game suspension -- is solely what the NFL will be appealing.

Goodell or his designee can alter the recommended punishment as they see fit based on the findings outlined in Robinson's ruling ("overturn, reduce, modify or increase the discipline").

This piece isn’t about the horrifying allegations made against Deshaun Watson over the last 16 months. We all know what women have alleged and their staggering numbers.

It’s about the Cleveland Browns and the “five-month odyssey” that general manager Andrew Berry referenced the day Watson was introduced. It is now a nine-month odyssey, but it’s realistically a best-case scenario for the Browns at this point.

Read more here.

With Deshaun Watson set to serve a six-game suspension — barring an appeal by the NFL — the Cleveland Browns will go forward with Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback for now.

When the Browns completed their surprising and controversial trade for Watson in March, they were looking both for a backup quarterback and a backup plan given the possibility that Watson could be suspended for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Brissett signed a one-year deal with the Browns the day after the Watson trade was agreed upon.

Read more here.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is facing a proposed six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, the NFL confirmed Monday.

The recommendation by Sue L. Robinson, the NFL and NFL Players’ Association’s appointed disciplinary officer, comes down after more than a month of deliberation following a three-day hearing from June 28-30.

Read more here.

Following a six-game suspension, Deshaun Watson would be eligible to return on the road against the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 23.

Browns first six games

Sept. 11: at Panthers

Sept. 18: Jets

Sept. 22 (Thu.): Steelers

Oct. 2: at Falcons

Oct. 9: Chargers

Oct. 16: Patriots

John Harbaugh: “I do have a lot of opinions on it. I’m just not at liberty to share them at this time. That’s for the league to decide. I respect what (Ravens owner) Steve Bisciotti has created here and (former Ravens president) Dick Cass really almost 10 years ago. Basically, what we decided - Steve and Dick decided and we’re all still here, (EVP) Ozzie Newsome, (GM) Eric, (Sr. Advisor) Pat Moriarty that were involved in that - and basically it’s we’re kind of zero tolerance (following the Ray Rice suspension).

"You got to know the truth, you got to try and understand the circ*mstances. But we’ve stayed away from that particular situation when we draft players and when we sign them as free agents. We just haven’t dealt with it. That’s Steve’s decision and I’m glad we have that policy.”