Agreed resolution between NFL, NFLPA on Watson 'could still happen'

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson played in Friday's preseason opener at the Jacksonville Jaguars over backup Jacoby Brissett, as planned. 

After it was learned on Thursday that "a person familiar with" Watson's camp claimed the signal-caller "would accept an eight-game suspension and $5M fine to avoid missing the entire season," Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio suggested the NFL wouldn't agree to such a settlement, in part because it "has the deck fully stacked in its favor — as evidenced by Watson’s willingness to miss nearly half the season and surrender half the salary he earned last year."

The situation may have changed hours before the start of Friday's exhibition contest. 

Florio reported Friday afternoon that "a source with knowledge of the situation" claims "an agreed resolution between the NFL and the NFL Players Association could still happen." 

NFL disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson initially recommended that Watson be suspended for six games over allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. This punishment would allow him to practice and play through the end of the preseason portion of the calendar. However, the NFL subsequently asked former New Jersey Attorney General Peter C. Harvey to ban Watson for an entire year and make him immediately ineligible, even for the Jacksonville matchup. 

However, that did not come to fruition. Florio speculated Harvey's delayed ruling could be "so that the two sides can try to work something out."

While the NFLPA reportedly is willing to fight a one-year ban in federal court, if necessary, a settlement between the union and league would put discussions over Watson's status to bed. 

Watson didn't feature for the Houston Texans during the 2021 campaign following an offseason trade request. Houston traded him to Cleveland this past March, and Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said last week that "we’ve got to get Deshaun ready to play" by putting him on the field for preseason action, if possible.