Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson apologized Friday "to all the ladies I've impacted" after being accused by two dozen ladies of sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage remedy periods.
Watson, who's going through a possible year-long NFL suspension, spoke earlier than Cleveland’s exhibition opener in Jacksonville — his first sport since Jan. 3, 2021, with the Houston Texans.
Watson was suspended six video games earlier this month by unbiased arbiter Sue L. Robinson, who concluded he violated the league’s private conduct coverage with "egregious" and "predatory" conduct.
As a part of her determination, the retired federal choose famous Watson’s lack of regret.
Watson was requested in a pregame interview with the workforce’s in-house TV crew Friday for his response to Robinson’s place that he hasn’t been contrite.
"Look, I need to say that I’m really sorry to the entire ladies that I've impacted on this scenario," Watson mentioned within the interview. "The selections that I made in my life that put me on this place I might undoubtedly wish to have again, however I need to proceed to maneuver ahead and develop and study and present that I'm a real individual of character and I'm going to maintain pushing ahead."
That is the primary time Watson has publicly apologized for his alleged conduct. In his two media interviews since becoming a member of the Browns in March, he had mentioned solely that he had "no regrets" whereas acknowledging his actions had negatively impacted "so many individuals."
Watson was accused of sexually harassing or assaulting the ladies through the remedy periods in 2020 and 2021. He has all the time denied wrongdoing and grand juries in two Texas counties declined to indict him on legal complaints.
The three-time Professional Bowler settled 23 of 24 civil lawsuits.
Nonetheless, he’s nonetheless going through self-discipline from the league, which appealed Robinson’s penalty and is looking for a full-season ban together with a big effective over $5 million and for Watson to endure analysis and remedy earlier than he might be reinstated.
The attraction is now with Peter C. Harvey, a former New Jersey legal professional basic appointed by Commissioner Roger Goodell.
There’s no timetable on Harvey’s determination. It’s additionally doable the perimeters might work out a settlement. On Thursday, an individual acquainted with Watson’s protection advised AP that the 26-year-old would comply with an eight-game suspension and $5 million effective.
The individual spoke on situation of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the high-profile case.
Watson has continued to apply and was enthusiastic about making his debut with Cleveland, which traded three-first-round picks to Houston for him in March and signed him to a five-year, $230 million contract.
Relying on Harvey’s ruling, Watson might be away from the Browns for an prolonged interval. He was requested what sort of private development he hoped to make.
"I do know I've plenty of work to place in, particularly on the sphere to have the ability to be sure I’m able to play each time that point comes each time I can step again on the sphere," he mentioned. "But in addition, the most important factor is I need to proceed counseling and I need to guarantee that I’m rising as an individual, as a person for my decision-making on and off the sphere.
"I need to guarantee that I’m simply evolving in the neighborhood as a lot as doable, and that's for the Cleveland neighborhood, that's the NFL neighborhood and past."
If Watson is suspended indefinitely, he wouldn't be capable of apply or play within the preseason so he was wanting ahead to going through the Jaguars.
"I’m tremendous excited," he mentioned. "I’m excited to get on the market with my new teammates and go on the market and compete. Each snap, I need to be sure I cherish that as a result of I’m unsure when the following time I’ll be capable of get on the market with these guys."
Reporting by Related Press.
