The NFL never lacks for drama, even in its offseason.
There will be plenty of tension on Tuesday when the disciplinary hearing for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is scheduled to start.
Watson is facing potential discipline from the NFL, which is independently investigating whether he violated the league’s personal-conduct policy after being accused of sexual assault and misconduct during massage sessions. He was not criminally charged.
Deshaun Watson’s hearing before the NFL and NFLPA’s jointly appointed disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson is scheduled to begin Tuesday, league sources told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/nUzSQsUI45
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 25, 2022
Robinson will listen as the NFL expects to push for a “lengthy” suspension for Watson while the NFLPA defends the Cleveland Browns quarterback, who has been accused of harassing, assaulting or touching 26 women during massage appointments when he was with the Houston Texans. However, the NFL is likely to base its proposed discipline on only a fraction of those women’s testimony, per one source, as the league was unable to speak with a number of women who interacted with Watson.
Once Robinson rules, Watson will have the option to appeal, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could either rule on that appeal or call on an independent ruler.
Watson recently settled 20 of the 24 lawsuits brought against him. The alleged actions took place while he was with the Houston Texans, who dealt the quarterback to Cleveland this offseason.
