Cleveland Browns’ Deshaun Watson Hit With 11-Game Ban, $5M Fine

In today’s edition of the Front Office Sports newsletter, we’re taking a look at the upcoming suspension for an NFL quarterback.

Final Decision

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson saw his suspension increased to 11 games as punishment for allegations of sexual misconduct.

Watson also accepted a $5 million fine and must undergo a?professional behavioral evaluation?and follow a treatment program — part of a deal announced Thursday between the NFL and NFLPA.?

While Watson?apologized?last week and again in a statement?released?by the Browns, he again told reporters after the settlement was announced that he “stood by [his] innocence” and that he “didn’t assault anyone or disrespected anyone.”?

Watson’s?original?six-game suspension?was handed down earlier this month, which led the NFL to appeal the decision as it sought a ban of one year or longer.

The settlement came before a decision was rendered on the NFL’s appeal.?

Breakdown of Settlement

Watson received a fully guaranteed?five-year, $230 million?extension when he was acquired via a trade with the Houston Texans in March.

• Watson’s base salary this season was?$1 million, meaning that he will be out about?$600,000.?
• Factoring in the fine, Watson will lose about?$5.6 million?—?roughly 2.4%?of the total value of contract with the Browns.
• Watson’s fine — along with $1 million each from the Browns and the NFL — will go toward a new fund aimed at efforts to prevent sexual assault and misconduct.?

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam told reporters Thursday that the team would “absolutely” have still made the deal despite the fallout.

Conversation Starters

• Penn Entertainment has exercised its rights to purchase the 50% of Barstool Sports that it didn’t already own, according to an SEC filing on Wednesday.
• Hear about the day's most important business of sports stories in five minutes or less by listening to our daily podcast The Leadoff.
• Quarterback Malachi Nelson — the No. 1 recruit in ESPN’s Class of 2023 rankings — is signing with Klutch Sports agency, according to the network.
• Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon made previously unrecorded contributions totaling $5 million to the now-dissolved Donald J. Trump Foundation, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• Vernon Davis reached the pinnacle in the NFL, winning Super Bowl 50 alongside Peyton Manning. Now he’s focused on his businesses and burgeoning Hollywood career. In a new episode of our My Other Passion podcast, he gets into investments, what he learned from Morgan Freeman on set, and much more. Check it out on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube!

Front Office Sports covers the influence of sports on business and culture. Sign up for the full edition of the Front Office Sports newsletter, delivered to your inbox daily.