Deshaun Watson suspension appeal: How long is he suspended for? What are the allegations against NFL star?

Who is Deshaun Watson?

Deshaun Watson, 26, is an American football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, formerly of the Houston Texans. On the field he is widely regarded as one of the brightest young stars in the game.

He was taken in the first round of the 2017 draft by the Texans after playing for college side Clemson, and quickly made a name for himself as a player to watch as he tore up defences across the NFL.

Deshaun Watson previously played for the Houston Texans. Picture: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

At the end of the 2020 season, frustrated by the team's management, he demanded to be traded. The Texans refused, but a huge bidding war ensued from a large number of teams, but most offers quickly disappeared when allegations appeared about his behaviour soon after . . .

What are the allegations?

The claims resolve around alleged sexual misconduct by Watson.

Initial allegations came from several women, who worked as masseuses, saying that he had either touched them inappropriately or urged them to massage his groin area.

Eventually 24 civil lawsuits were filed, many with similar claims from women who were asked to massage the star.

Some allege coercive behaviour, and there have been claims that women were pressured into performing oral sex.

Watson has so far settled with 23 out of the 24 women who have made claims against him.

How does Deshaun Watson respond to the allegations?

The player has consistently denied claims of inappropriate behaviour, but has said there had been consensual sexual relations with some of the women. He’s since begun to settle claims with many of them out of court.

24 women seems like a lot!

It does, though the New York Times claimed after an investigation it had uncovered evidence that he met with 66 different women for massages in a 17 month period, with the Texans often providing non-disclosure agreements to those he made appointments with.

The National Football League (NFL) has been investigating the claims since 2021, amid speculation that Watson would be given some kind of suspension after breaching the NFL’s personal conduct policy, possibly for a year or longer. Now that the full extent of the suspension has been made public, many feel it is not long enough.

Who does Deshaun Watson play for now?

In March 2022, the Houston Texans traded Watson to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for three future first-round draft picks and two additional picks.

Despite the allegations, Watson is set to receive $230 million over five years from the deal. This is the most guaranteed money in league history.

The Cleveland Browns now face the prospect of having paid a hefty about of money and draft capital for a player who now won't be able to take the field.

How long has Deshaun Watson been suspended for?

He was initially given a six game suspension. A curious number for the gravity of the allegations, given that Atlanta Falcons Wide Receiver Calvin Ridley was earlier this year suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games that he hadn’t been playing in.

However, the NFL later appealed the decision and it was widely expected that he would miss at least the entire season. But the league has now announced that

So what happens next for Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns?

Having sat out of the entire 2021 NFL season, Deshaun Watson will have to wait even longer. Though it seems it is not as long as many thought. It had been speculated that he would have to sit out an entire season. But the league reached a settlement with the NFL Players Association on Thursday, August 18, that Deshaun Watson would only serve an 11 game suspension, without pay, along with a £5m fine – which is barely a drop in the ocean after his huge contract with the Browns.

Is there likely to be another appeal?

No, the NFL has said it now considers the matter dealt with, but there is widespread anger that Deshaun Watson appears to show no remorse for his actions.

He previously apologised in the run up to the final suspension, but after it was issued he changed tact to once more maintain his innocence.

However, the NFL has since said it will appeal the decision, which is likely to mean an indefinite suspension, probably somewhere in the region of at least a year.

NFLPA statement in full:

“In advance of Judge Robinson's decision, we wanted to reiterate the facts of this proceeding.

“First, we have fully cooperated with every NFL inquiry and provided the NFL with the most comprehensive set of information for any personal conduct policy investigation.

"A former Federal Judge - appointed jointly by the NFLPA and NFL - held a full and fair hearing, has read thousands of pages of investigative documents and reviewed arguments from both sides impartially.

"Every player, owner, business partner and stakeholder deserves to know that our process is legitimate and will not be tarnished based on the whims of the League office.

"This is why, regardless of her decision, Deshaun and the NFLPA will stand by her ruling and we call on the NFL to do the same.”