Watson to meet with NFL disciplinary officer Tuesday
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will have a hearing with NFL disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson next week, a person familiar with the meeting told The Associated Press on Saturday.
Watson, who is facing a potential suspension from the league stemming from accusations of sexual misconduct by massage therapists in Texas, will meet with Robinson on Tuesday, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the hearing have not been disclosed publicly.
It’s not yet known how long Watson is scheduled to meet with Robinson.
The hearing will be a significant development in Watson’s case as Robinson will decide if the 26-year-old violated the league’s personal conduct policy.
ESPN was first to report Watson’s meeting with Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the league and NFL Players Association in 2020. This is the first case the former federal judge has heard.
Earlier this week, Watson reached undisclosed financial settlements in civil lawsuits filed by 20 of his 24 accusers. The women claimed he had harassed, assaulted or touched them during sessions when he played for Houston.
Watson has denied any wrongdoing and said sex with three of the women was consensual.
The league has said Watson’s settlements will not affect its investigation. If Robinson finds Watson violated the league’s personal conduct
policy, he’ll likely be suspended for multiple games if not longer.
Robinson is expected to rule before the Browns open training camp later next month.
The Browns signed Watson to a five-year, $230 million contract in March after convincing the three-time Pro Bowler
to waive his no-trade clause. He had been pursued by several other teams as well.
ELSEWHERE
Bears: Chicago has signed second-round draft pick Kyler Gordon to a four-year contract.
The cornerback from Washington became the
Bears’ first selection when they took him with the
No. 39 overall pick. The Bears got a potential starter opposite Jaylon Johnson by taking the athletic and hard-hitting Gordon. A first-team, All-Pac-12 pick, he had 46 tackles and two interceptions to go with a team-high seven pass breakups in 12 starts last season.
With Gordon under contract, the Bears’ only remaining unsigned draft pick is Jaquan Brisker. The safety from Penn State was taken in the second round at No. 48 overall.
The Bears went 6-11 last season and missed the playoffs for the ninth time in 11 years. They fired general manager
Ryan Pace and coach
Matt Nagy and hired Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus to replace them.