Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been suspended by the NFL for six games. Watson’s suspension stems from twenty-four massage therapists coming forward detailing sexual misconduct by the quarterback while he was with the Houston Texans.
In an offseason in which DeAndre Hopkins was given a six-game PED suspension and Calvin Ridley will miss the entire season for betting on games, Watson getting a six-game suspension after being on the receiving end of 25 civil lawsuits from women accusing him of sexual misconduct just doesn’t seem right.
On top of that, he is not going to lose very much money.
Watson is in line to miss games against the Panthers, Jets, Steelers, Falcons, Chargers, and Patriots. The way his contract is structured, Watson will lose just $345,000 based on his base salary:
The arbiter for this case, Sue Robinson, came back with a six-game suspension. Both the NFL and Watson are allowed to appeal the decision. Watson is unlikely to appeal, but the league may want more games and are expected to appeal as they were pushing for a 12-game suspension and hefty fines. Commissioner Roger Goodell is the final arbitrator.
The Browns traded for Watson back in late March. The Texans sent him there for the 13th and 107th overall selections in the 2022 NFL Draft along with a first and third-round pick in 2023 and a first and fourth in 2024. The Browns went on to give Watson a historic contract with $230 million in guaranteed money.
If no appeal happens, Watson will return to the Browns in Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
