NFL appeals six-match suspension Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson on Wednesday, according to a union spokesman.
The union challenged the punishment imposed by a third-party disciplinary officer on Monday as a result of a hearing on allegations that Watson committed sexually coercive and lascivious acts against two dozen women. woman he hires for a massage. The NFL is contesting an indefinite suspension with a one-year reinstatement option, according to a person with knowledge of the league’s appeal, who is not authorized to speak publicly.
The union also recommended a fine and treatment for Watson and cited concerns about his lack of remorse in the summary filed Wednesday, the person said.
The union, declined to comment, until the end of business on Friday to respond.
According to the process agreed upon in the collective bargaining agreement between the federation and the NFL Players Association, Commissioner Roger Goodell or a person of his choice will hear the appeal. The federation did not immediately say who would oversee the appeal, which will be heard on a “fast track” basis.
There is no definite timeline given in the CBA for making a ruling.
Sue L. Robinson, a retired federal judge appointed jointly by the NFL and the players’ union to oversee the disciplinary hearing, found that Watson had violated the league’s personal conduct policy by engaging in unwanted sex with another person, jeopardizing the safety and well-being of others, and undermining the integrity of the NFL. She suggested in her 16-page report that Watson’s conduct, which she called “predatory” and “severe” behavior, may have deserved more severe punishment but she was limited by policies. of the federation and past discipline.
Watson has denied the charges against him, and two grand juries in Texas have refused to indict him. He settled all but one of 24 lawsuits brought against him by women he hired for massages. Jimmy and Dee Haslam, owners of the Browns, said they will “continue to support” the quarterback they have awarded 5-year, $230 million contract fully guaranteed March.
Robinson said in her report that Watson’s denials did not appear to be credible and that he showed no remorse.
The players’ union said in advance of Robinson’s decision that it would not appeal, but after the suspension was announced on Monday, the NFL said it would review her findings and “make a decision.” next steps” within the three business days CBA authorizes the challenge.
The six-match suspension has been criticized by Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing most of Watson’s accusers, as well as sports law experts and advocates for sexual abuse victims. The league argued with Robinson that Watson deserved a suspension of at least a full year while the federation fought for a lighter punishment.
Robinson said that her decision to suspend Watson for six matches was based on penalties the federation has imposed in other cases involving gender-based violence.
The league began investigating Watson in March 2021, when Ashley Solis, a licensed massage therapist in Houston, filed the first lawsuit against him. The women say he assaulted or harassed them during massage appointments in 2020 and 2021, when Watson played for the Houston Texans. In a brief filing with Robinson, the federation wrote that Watson had “used his status as an NFL player as an excuse to engage in a premeditated pattern of predatory behavior against many women.” .”
Watson’s case was handled for the first time under a new process established in CBA 2020 By appointing an arbitrator to oversee the review of the facts and the initial penalty determination, the revision aims to block criticism of Goodell’s overwhelming and sometimes capricious authority in the disciplinary process.
If Robinson finds that Watson did not violate the personal conduct policy, there will be no discipline and neither party may appeal. But she concluded that there was enough evidence, including the accounts of four women, who she said were “substantially corroborated”, to support repeated violations of Watson’s policy.
According to the CBA, the decisions of Goodell, or his designee, are “complete, final and complete” and binding on all parties, including players.
The league can challenge its appeal in federal court, as it has made decisions about player behavior in the past. One notable case occurred in 2015, when full-back Tom Brady challenged his 4-match suspension in the so-called Deflation scandal. A district court judge sided with Brady, saying Goodell exceeded his authority by suspending the quarterback’s role in an alleged scheme to take air out of game balls to improve improve their ball handling. However, Goodell’s decision was upheld in 2016 by a federal appeals court panel asserting his broad authority to discipline players.
Michael LeRoy, an arbitrator who teaches employment law at the University of Illinois, says the CBA’s language provides a “highlight” on the finality of the process to which both parties have agreed.
“I think it’s mostly airtight to combat judicial subversion,” LeRoy said. “The court attaches great importance to the actual results as well as the conclusion about whether the contract was breached or not. So I think Watson will lean against the windmills if he challenges this in federal court.”
Watson may continue to practice with the Browns in training camp as the protest continues.
