The NFL will not fine or suspend Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson again for the latest sexual assault allegations against him.
“The matter is closed,” league spokeswoman Mary Kay Cabot told the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Friday. “There was insufficient evidence to support a finding of a breach of the personal conduct policy.”
As a result, the remainder of Watson’s contract is no longer in danger of being voided. He has two years remaining on the fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract he signed with the Browns in 2022 after being acquired from the Houston Texans. He will be paid $46 million in each of the final two years of the contract.
Watson (29) was charged with sexual assault and battery in a civil lawsuit filed in early September. Attorney Tony Buzbee said his client would meet with the NFL to discuss the allegation and argued that he was to provide the “relevant” video.
The dispute was resolved in October. Buzbee told The Associated Press that the settlement was confidential. That likely means the NFL was unable to obtain evidence from Watson’s accuser, effectively ending the investigation, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.
Watson was suspended 11 games and fined $5 million by the NFL in 2022 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy in connection with 23 civil lawsuits filed against him by massage therapists. Those lawsuits alleged sexually inappropriate behavior that occurred during meetings when Watson played for the Texans. The lawsuit filed in September was separate from those other proceedings.
The seven-year veteran tore his Achilles in the Browns’ Week 7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and will be out for the rest of the 2024-25 season. He is expected to recover and be ready to play next season.
“We are pleased to put this matter behind us so that Deshaun can focus on recovering from his injury and preparing for next season,” Watson’s attorney Rusty Hardin said in a statement via Cleveland.com.