Cleveland Browns Deshaun Watson stood trial on Wednesday morning. Here’s what happened and what it means for the NFL.
Note: This story contains graphic accounts of domestic violence, threats and sexual assault. If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault or domestic violence, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
Watson admitted that his first accuser — massage therapist Ashley Solis — cried after their encounter. He later stated that he did not know why this was the case. However, Watson did text her after the fact apologizing.
“Sorry about you feeling uncomfortable,” Watson texted. “Never were the intentions. Lmk if you want to work in the future. My apologies.”
When asked why he sent an apology, Watson explained: “Yes, because she was teary-eyed. And I was trying to figure out what was going on. So, I assumed that she was uncomfortable in whatever reason. And we talked about working in the future. And so, I said, `We can work in the future. Just let me know.’ And then I sent my apologies as whatever reason she was teary-eyed for.”
Solis’s account of the incident accuses Watson of touching her with the tip of his penis, which caused her to cry. She is suing him for civil assault.
Deshaun Watson trial: What does this mean for NFL’s investigation?
Because this portion of Watson’s case was made public, it corroborates at least one part of an allegation against the Browns QB.
In a Twitter thread regarding the kind of suspension Watson could be looking at from the NFL in response to this news, ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported the following:
League source on if the NFL issues discipline for the 2022 season with civil cases unresolved, referred to Antonio Brown 8G suspension in 2020 for violations unrelated to Brown’s pending civil dispute: “An example of an initial ruling & a warning delivered more could come later.”
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) May 18, 2022
Regarding the future of the situation in Cleveland, the word I keep hearing over & over again is ‘precedent’: “You have to look at every single case that touched those areas in the Personal Conduct Policy on sexual misconduct, that precedent is either the floor, or the minimum.”
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) May 18, 2022
NFL source on Trevor Bauer: “Look at what baseball did. If people don’t think that’s on people’s radar, then. Public opinion matters. You think the NFL wants to be the organization that says sexual misconduct against women means more to one league than the other? Think about it.”
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) May 18, 2022
From revised Personal Conduct Policy in 2014 issued pursuant to Roger Goodell’s authority: “It’s a privilege to be part of the National Football League. Everyone who is part of the league must refrain from conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the NFL.”
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) May 18, 2022
These accounts are just several sources’ opinions from within the league, but it does speak to the fact that many with knowledge of the situation believe Watson could be facing severe punishment from the NFL.
For context, MLB suspended Trevor Bauer 324 games for violating its domestic violence policy. While these two cases are different, the court of public opinion may hold Watson to a similar standard given the timing of said allegations against him.
