BEREA, Ohio (WJW) – The FOX 8 I-Team confirmed Thursday that Deshaun Watson will be suspended 11 games. It was the second decision handed down on punishment for the Cleveland Browns quarterback after the NFL appealed the first decision.
Here’s a timeline of the events leading up the final decision.
March 16, 2021
Attorney Tony Buzbee announced he was filing suit against Deshaun Watson on his Instagram page.
“Too many times women have put up with behavior that we all know no one should put up with. Should we make excuses for the famous? Or those who hold special positions, or quarterbacks on a local professional football team? I don’t think so!” he wrote.
He alluded to misconduct but did not reveal any details.
His suit, filed within 24 hours of the post, included 3 women.
March 18, 2021
The NFL opens its investigation into Deshaun Watson.
April 2, 2021
Police in Houston are confirmed to be investigating Watson.
July 26, 2021
As many as 10 women filed police reports against Watson.
September 12, 2021
The Houston Texans decided Watson would not play in the 2021 season.
At this time, the civil lawsuit included 22 women.
March 8, 2022
A grand jury in Texas met regarding the Watson investigation. They decided Watson would not face criminal charges 3 days later.
March 18, 2022
A day after news that the Cleveland Browns were out of the running for Deshaun Watson, the team got the quarterback in a trade from the Houston Texans in a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
March 24, 2022
The FOX 8 I-Team reported a grand jury in another Texas county met to review a complaint against Watson and declined to indict him.
March 25, 2022
Deshaun Watson held his first press conference with the Cleveland Browns.
The I-Team asked questions about the 22 civil lawsuits.
“What can you tell us about what actually happened with these women? Are you saying they all just made this up? They’re all lying?” the I-Team asked.
“All I can say is I never assaulted, I never disrespected, I never harassed any woman in my life. I wasn’t raised that way. My mom and my aunties didn’t raise me that way over the course of my life. That’s not in my DNA,” Watson said in response.
“How did we get from zero to 22 lawsuits?” the I-Team responded.
“I can’t control that,” Deshaun Watson said. “The only thing I can control is continue to clear my name.”
June 6, 2022
The FOX 8 I-Team broke the news that a 24th woman had joined the suit against Deshaun Watson. She described an aggressive encounter in her deposition.
June 14, 2022
Deshaun Watson spoke to the press after the first Cleveland Browns workout.
He answered questions from the FOX 8 I-Team.
He said he never assaulted anyone.
June 17, 2022
The FOX 8 I-Team reported that the NFL was considering a full season suspension against Watson. The NFL has not revealed a timeline for when a decision will be made.
June 21, 2022
The FOX 8 I-Team reported Watson settled 20 of the 24 cases against him.
The NFL told the I-Team that Tuesday’s development has no impact on the collectively bargained disciplinary process.
June 27, 2022
A woman who has accused Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct files suit against the Houston Texans. The suit claims the team enabled “predatory” behavior from the quarterback.
June 28, 2022
Deshaun Watson met with an NFL disciplinary officer.
July 15, 2022
The Houston Texans settle with 30 women who accused Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct claims.
August 1, 2022
Deshaun Watson was given a 6-game suspension after a former federal judge ruled that he violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
The FOX 8 I-Team has also confirmed that three of the four remaining lawsuits filed against him have been settled.
August 3, 2022
The NFL announces it is appealing Watson’s 6-game suspension.
August 12, 2022
Watson makes his first official appearance on the field as a Cleveland Browns player in the Browns’ preseason game against Jacksonville. He issues an apology.
“Look, I want to say that I’m truly sorry to all of the women that I have impacted in this situation,” Watson said in the interview. “The decisions that I made in my life that put me in this position I would definitely like to have back, but I want to continue to move forward and grow and learn and show that I am a true person of character and I am going to keep pushing forward.”
August 18, 2022
The NFL, Deshaun Watson and the player’s union agree to 11 game suspension for the Browns quarterback and a $5 million fine. Watson maintains innocence.
Watson will not play in the final 2 preseason games. His first available game on the field in Dec. 4.
