Deshaun Watson could be suspended, Commissioner's Exempt list unlikely

Before the Cleveland Browns introduced Deshaun Watson as their new starting quarterback last Friday, a pair of grand juries decided not to indict the 26-year-old regarding allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.

Watson still faces 22 civil lawsuits, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made it clear when speaking with media members at the league's annual meetings on Tuesday the three-time Pro Bowl selection is now subject only to a suspension and not the commissioner's exempt list. 

"The civil cases were in play over the last year," Goodell explained, according to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. "The only thing that’s changed is the criminal element has been at least resolved, and that was an important element in the context of the commissioner exempt list as discussed with the Players Association. So that was an important (decision as it relates to the commissioner exempt list).

"If the criminal had proceeded, that more than likely would have triggered the commissioner exempt. I think at this point, the civil case in and of itself would not do that. If there’s a violation of the personal conduct policy, that may trigger something, but that more than likely trigger some kind of discipline in some fashion." 

Goodell added there is no timetable for when the Browns may learn about Watson's eligibility for the 2022 season but vowed the league will "get to the bottom of the facts" to determine if the signal-caller violated the often-discussed personal conduct policy. 

"Our people are working on it," Goodell remarked. "Obviously, these are serious charges. We’re looking at this seriously. We now have obviously, at least on the criminal side of it, obviously there are still civil charges that are going on, so our investigators hopefully will have access to more information and that will be helpful obviously at getting to the conclusion of what are the facts and was there a violation of the personal conduct policy, but that determination will be made by a joint discipline officer established by the NFLPA and the NFL. She will make that decision when the facts are all in and we’ll see. There’s no timeframe on that." 

The Browns officially signed journeyman veteran Jacoby Brissett this past Friday, and head coach Kevin Stefanski admitted on Monday he understands Brissett could be his QB1 for Week 1 if Watson is banned.

It's assumed Cleveland will eventually part ways with 2018 first overall draft pick Baker Mayfield this spring or summer.