Reports: Watson to meet with NFL
NFL officials will meet this week with Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson as the league continues to investigate whether he violated its personal conduct policy, according to reports Monday.
Watson, who’s facing 22 civil lawsuits from massage therapists accusing him of sexual misconduct, is scheduled to speak with the league’s representatives in Texas.
Watson is facing potential discipline by the league, which is independently investigating his actions while he was with the Texans. Commissioner Roger Goodell said as recently as April 28 at the NFL draft that there was no timeframe on any possible ruling on Watson.
The meeting with league officials is a significant development for Watson, who signed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract in March with the Browns after initially turning down a trade to the team.
The Browns, who sent three first-round draft picks and six total selections to the Texans for Watson, are eager to find out if they’ll be without him for any portion of this season after making such a major investment in the three-time Pro Bowler.
In March, two Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal complaints from 10 women. He has denied all wrongdoing and said during a news conference with the Browns in April that he “never assaulted or disrespected or harassed any woman in my life.”
Watson has given depositions in several of the civil cases. To this point, he hasn’t missed any of the Browns’ offseason programs.
Lisa Friel, a former prosecutor in New York, has been heading the investigation. Once it’s completed, former U.S. District Court Judge Sue Robinson, a disciplinary officer jointly appointed by the league and NFL Players Association, will decide if Watson violated the conduct policy and will report to Goodell.
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