The Cleveland Browns lost their first game of the 2024 NFL regular season 33-17 at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys. Quarterback Deshaun Watson was especially underwhelming and disappointing, completing 24 of 45 passes for 169 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. He also fumbled once, but it was recovered by offensive lineman Joel Bitonio.
As bad as Watson’s play was, though, he is currently in the headlines for reasons off the field. As NFL fans are well-aware, Watson did not play in 2021 and was suspended 11 games in 2022 (and fined $5 million) due to the 22 lawsuits brought against him for sexual misconduct by various massage therapists. He settled all of these suits out of court with monetary settlements.
On Monday, Watson was served with another suit, one with more serious allegations.
Cleveland Browns Quarterback Deshaun Watson Is Accused of Sexual Assault in Latest Lawsuit
On Monday morning, news broke that another woman, who claims she agreed to go out on a date with Watson on October 10, 2020, brought a civil lawsuit against the Browns quarterback accusing him of sexually assaulting her.
A portion of the complaint reads, “Watson roughly sexually assaulted Jane Doe for several minutes in a ‘missionary position’ before grabbing her and flipping her over. Watson continued to assault Doe aggressively from behind. Jane Doe finally gathered the courage and strength to escape Watson. Jane Doe quickly ran to her dresser to grab a heavy piece of décor for self-defense, and yelled at Watson [to] get out of her apartment. Enraged, Watson stormed out of Jane Doe’s apartment.”
Browns and other NFL fans were enraged by the news. Many of them felt that Watson should have been banned from the NFL back in 2021 or 2022, and certainly should not have been given $230 million guaranteed by Cleveland after they acquired him via trade.
On Tuesday, they were once again disappointed by the NFL’s most recent decision regarding Watson.
NFL Fans Respond to Cleveland Browns Quarterback Deshaun Watson Being Left Off the Commissioner’s Exempt List
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, “The NFL doesn’t plan to place Browns QB Deshaun Watson on the commissioner’s exempt list in light of a new civil lawsuit stemming from a 2020 allegation, since there have been no criminal charges and the league’s review has just begun.”
Because the suit is a civil one, the NFL does not yet view it was a criminal act and, therefore, has decided not to suspend Watson. That could change, though, depending on the outcome of the lawsuit and/or various investigations into the allegations.
Fans were not happy:
Josh Gordon can never play football again because he smoked weed
Deshaun Watson sexually assaulted AT LEAST like 30 women and is making 250 MILLION DOLLARS
The NFL is a wild league
— Josh Schreiber (@Jschreiber272) September 10, 2024
I’m just beyond exhausted with this guy, on and off the field.
This is going to continue to linger around well into the offseason.
Deshaun Watson is a complete joke and we’re stuck with him. I want this experience to be over. https://t.co/M6fdnWp9gy
— Watson Garrett Stefanski Era 🐶 (@MylesOffTheEdge) September 10, 2024
Two thoughts:
1) I think that Watson knew this suit was coming to light, and it impacted his play on Sunday. As @JOEL9ONE said yesterday, Watson’s mind is not in the right place.
2) I wonder how much Robert Kraft tarnished Goodell’s enforcement of the personal conduct policy. https://t.co/HDkATrHpSs
— Matt Bagley (@BagleySports) September 10, 2024
Suspend Watson .@NFL this is bull crap https://t.co/ghxGdjyYos
— Griff (@Spartian22) September 10, 2024
Now if he had smoked weed (or god forbid KNELT) while sexually assaulting 20+ women, the NFL might have a problem.
But they’re cool with this because they don’t care about women. https://t.co/V9maL4z0pf
— hmm 🏳️⚧️ 🦖 ✊🏿 (@veverkap) September 10, 2024
The fans do have a point. How has the NFL allowed Watson to continue to play while others who have been deemed guilty of far less serious offenses are suspended or out the league?
Something needs to change.
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