New Deshaun Watson lawsuit may expose Browns QB to additional punishment by NFL

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson faces another civil lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct filed Monday in Texas. And because it pertains to the NFL and his employment standing, what’s at subject is whether or not he violated the phrases of his August 2022 settlement with the league.

Sources inform CBS Sports activities it’s believed that the allegations within the newest civil lawsuit wouldn’t be coated below his reinstatement settlement. And if a violation of the league’s private conduct coverage is discovered, Watson may once more face punishment from the NFL together with a high quality and/or suspension.

Watson, who beforehand settled 23 of 24 civil lawsuits in 2022 alleging comparable sexual misconduct throughout massages, has maintained his innocence all through. Two Texas grand juries declined to indict him two years in the past, and he has by no means been criminally charged. The most recent lawsuit, filed by a Jane Doe and represented by the identical lawyer as nearly all of accusers two years in the past, alleges forcible penetration in an incident in October 2020, however there are not any legal expenses.

“Deshaun strongly denies the allegations within the Jane Doe lawsuit filed Monday,” Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, mentioned in a press release this week. “Now we have requested him to not remark additional whereas this matter works its manner by way of the courts, however are snug he’ll in the end be vindicated.

“We might be able to defend this case in court docket on the acceptable time however do not intend to conduct our protection within the media. We might ask that folks be affected person whereas the authorized course of runs its course.

“Within the meantime, Deshaun goes to focus his power and focus on soccer.”

After the Browns traded for Watson in March 2022 and signed him to a record-breaking contract extension, Watson reached a settlement settlement with the league the place he served an 11-game suspension, paid a $5 million high quality and was instructed to observe a therapy program offered by behavioral specialists.

The settlement, signed on Aug. 17, 2022, stipulated Watson couldn’t be additional disciplined for any alleged private conduct coverage violations arising from the “identical or considerably comparable conduct” that passed off earlier than the date of the settlement, in keeping with a supply.

However the settlement does not forestall the NFL from investigating or imposing self-discipline for any incident “involving the use or menace of bodily drive or a weapon, or which turns into the topic of a legal cost,” no matter whether or not the incident passed off earlier than the settlement date.

The questions going through Watson are whether or not the allegations are true, and if the alleged conduct is “considerably comparable” to what was alleged by the earlier girls. Sources have indicated that, as evidenced by the league launching an investigation, that the allegations can be thought-about “considerably” totally different.

Tony Buzbee, the lawyer representing Jane Doe, reportedly mentioned his shopper plans to satisfy with the NFL inside the subsequent two weeks and could have “pertinent video” to point out the league. A supply tells CBS Sports activities the NFL initiated contact with Buzbee shortly after he filed the lawsuit. NFL Particular Counsel for Investigations Lisa Friel will lead the investigation, and a supply mentioned the interview with the accuser doubtless will not happen till October.

Sometimes in NFL investigations, the accused participant is interviewed towards the tip of the method. There may be at the moment no timeline on when Watson would speak to investigators.

There are not any plans to position Watson on paid depart throughout the investigation. The league has little interest in setting a precedent of suspending gamers or inserting them on the Commissioners Exempt checklist based mostly off allegations filed in civil lawsuits.

“As odious as [these allegations are,] there does should be due course of,” one supply famous.

A violation of the private conduct coverage would open Watson as much as doubtlessly seeing his ensures void. Such a transfer would open the door to the Browns to flee from his contract in the event that they so select.

If ensures void and the Browns launch Watson earlier than the 2025 season, Cleveland must take care of a cap cost of almost $27 million subsequent season and almost $54 million in 2026. That complete would nonetheless be lower than what the Denver Broncos needed to eat by reducing Russell Wilson within the offseason.

However a number of sources inform CBS Sports activities that speak is untimely for any variety of causes, with due course of being close to the highest of the checklist.

“This is able to be one of the crucial fascinating grievances of all time,” mentioned one staff govt, anticipating a authorized battle that will be waged for months if it ever got here to move.

Watson has struggled since his return to play with the Browns late within the 2022 season. He was a three-time Professional Bowler with the Texans and led the league in passing yards in 2020 earlier than sitting out the complete 2021 season.

He hasn’t thrown for greater than 300 yards in a recreation but with the Browns, and has solely accounted for that complete twice in 13 begins for Cleveland. His greatest recreation got here final 12 months towards the Titans when he went 27 of 33 for 289 yards and two touchdowns, however he suffered a rotator cuff harm in that recreation that in the end required season-ending surgical procedure.

Watson struggled in his 2024 debut final week towards the Cowboys, throwing for simply 169 yards and tossing two interceptions. The Browns face the Jaguars on Sunday.