Deshaun Watson's agent blasted initial six-game suspension in deleted tweet
Before it was learned on Thursday that the NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to an 11-game suspension and fine of $5 million for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson regarding numerous allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions, the league appealed an initial recommendation from disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson that said Watson should receive a six-game ban.
Members of Watson's personal team clearly remain upset about Robinson's ruling despite Thursday's developments.
Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, David Mulugheta, Watson's agent, took to Twitter following the league's announcement of the suspension to lash out at Judge Robinson's findings via a post that has since been deleted.
"To be clear, Judge Robinson repeated the NFL’s narrative," Mulugheta wrote. "She received a brief from the NFL weeks before we had the opportunity to talk to her. In our 1st call with the Judge she referred to 'Deshaun’s pattern of behavior.' Her mind was made up before we ever presented a counter."
Mulugheta somewhat altered his tone later in the afternoon:
Before Cleveland's preseason opener at the Jacksonville Jaguars last Friday, Watson offered a public apology "to all of the women that I have impacted in this situation." On Thursday, however, he maintained his innocence and suggested he did nothing worthy of a suspension.
"I've always stood on my innocence and always said I've never assaulted anyone or disrespected anyone, and I'm continuing to stand on that," Watson said, per the NFL's website. "But at the same time, I have to continue to push forward with my life and my career. For us to be able to move forward, I have to be able to take steps and put pride to the side, and I'm going to continue to stand on my innocence and keep pushing forward, and I've always stood on not disrespecting or sexual assaulting anyone."
According to Mark W. Sanchez of the New York Post, ESPN's Dianna Russini reported that Watson's camp was "never happy with the six games" and "wanted zero" because "they truly stand by the fact that he did not assault any women."
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