Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was officially suspended for six games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy following accusations of sexual misconduct, disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson ruled on Monday.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Watson will not be subjected to a fine, and the ruling relied on 32 previous suspensions under the league’s personal conduct policy since 2015, which included the cases of Derrius Guice and Johnny Manziel.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Robinson’s comprehensive 15-page conclusion stated that though Watson violated the personal conduct policy, there was not enough evidence to justify an indefinite suspension.
The NFL Players Association issued a statement on Sunday saying it will “stand by” Robinson’s ruling and urged the league to do so as well.
The severity of the claims, coupled with the optics, have been a talking point surrounding Watson for over a year.
This ruling has opened a can of worms on social media, where fans are expressing frustration over the ruling, with some comparing it to the suspension of Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
