Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s suspension was extended from six games to eleven on Thursday, with Watson also receiving a $5 million fine and an agreement to begin counseling in his settlement with the NFL. Watson has previously settled with dozens of accusers who alleged sexual misconduct, which led to this discipline from the league office. That $5 million penalty may be the largest ever handed out by the NFL, but it’s just 2.1% of the fully-guaranteed $230 million contract Watson signed with Cleveland.
Why eleven games? The NFL could have simply doubled his suspension from six to twelve, but instead this allows his contract to toll (paying the $1 million minimum salary he had signed for in 2022) and ensuring he’ll receive the full $46 million in 2023 that may have been jeopardized, so it’s at least partly a concession by the league to Watson’s camp. Additionally, his first game back will be on the road against the Houston Texans, where he started his NFL career, so there’s a cynical homecoming/redemption narrative readymade for broadcasting. It’s gross all around.
So what has this got to do with the New Orleans Saints, who threw themselves into the middle of Watson’s mess in trade talks earlier this year? Watson is now expected to start in Week 16 when the Saints visit Cleveland for a game on Dec. 24, meaning he’ll avoid facing every NFC South squad except for New Orleans. It’s an ironic twist to this saga, but it can’t be helped. We’ll see if the Saints defense can better guard Watson in this rematch after narrowly escaping with a win during their last meeting, the 2019 regular season opener, which New Orleans won 30-28 off of a last-second Wil Lutz field goal from 58 yards. They’ve got plenty of time to prepare.
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