Deshaun Watson reportedly 'adamant and steadfast in his belief that he doesn't believe he did anything wrong'
Deshaun Watson has been suspended for six games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. That's a suspension that the league is appealing, which means that a larger punishment could ultimately be handed down to the new Cleveland Browns quarterback.
In fact, ESPN is reporting that the NFL is appealing for an indefinite suspension with a minimum of one year, a monetary fine and mandatory treatment for Watson.
For the uninitiated, the quarterback has been facing allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions in civil lawsuits from 24 separate women. Watson has settled the majority of the civil lawsuits out of court, and two grand juries in Texas decided not to press criminal charges against the quarterback, who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Houston Texans before being traded to the Browns.
Throughout this whole process, including during the NFL's investigation, Watson has maintained his innocence, and that hasn't changed even now that he's suspended. This, despite the fact that the NFL is still looking to add to the suspension.
In fact, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter recently said on television that Watson "has been adamant and steadfast in his belief that he doesn't believe he did anything wrong."
That report does seem to contradict a recent statement from Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam.
"We know Deshaun is remorseful that this situation has caused much heartache to many and he will continue the work needed to show who he is on and off the field, and we will continue to support him," they said, according to ESPN.
The statement does say that Watson is remorseful for the "situation" and not necessarily his alleged actions. It is worth noting that disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson, a former judge, was the one who recommended the six-game suspension in the first place and one of the factors in the quarterback being suspended was his "lack of expressed remorse."
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