Attorney Tony Buzbee generated headlines earlier this week when he announced that 20 of the 24 active civil lawsuits regarding allegations of sexual misconduct during massage sessions that Cleveland Browns star quarterback Deshaun Watson had been facing were now settled.
An official NFL statement later confirmed that update had « no impact on the collectively bargained disciplinary process » as it pertains to a suspension Watson is expected to receive this summer for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. However, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio previously explained the NFL Players Association, which will defend Watson against any ban, could work on « a negotiated resolution » with the league.
According to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, the NFL, NFLPA and Watson’s advisors attempted to come to a « discipline settlement. » Anderson added, however, that such talks « fell apart » after the sides couldn’t agree on how many games Watson would miss while suspended: