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Reports: Deshaun Watson suspended for 6 games for violating NFL personal conduct policy

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Gainesville native and Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will be suspended for six games during the upcoming season, according to reports.

ESPN and NFL Network reported Monday that Sue L. Robinson, a former federal judge, found that Watson violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy after sexual misconduct accusations were made against Watson.

ESPN reports the league pushed for a one-year suspension for Watson. On Sunday night, the NFL Players Association released a statement indicating it would not appeal any decision made by Robinson. The NFL has not released a statement.

“In advance of Judge Robinson’s decision, we wanted to reiterate the facts of this proceeding,” the union said in a statement. “First, we have fully cooperated with every NFL inquiry and provided the NFL with the most comprehensive set of information for any personal conduct policy investigation. A former Federal Judge — appointed jointly by the NFLPA and NFL — held a full and fair hearing, has read thousands of pages of investigative documents and reviewed arguments from both sides impartially. Every player, owner, business partner and stakeholder deserves to know that our process is legitimate and will not be tarnished based on the whims of the League office. This is why, regardless of her decision, Deshaun and the NFLPA will stand by her ruling and we call on the NFL to do the same.”

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Watson has been accused by 24 massage therapists in Texas of sexual misconduct during his time with the Houston Texans. Last month, he settled 20 of the civil lawsuits filed against him.

Attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents all 24 women, told ESPN Monday that Watson agreed to settle three of the four remaining lawsuits.

In March, two separate Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal complaints stemming from the allegations.

Cleveland signed Watson to a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract in March after he was traded to the Browns.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Deshaun Watson: What you need to know Deshaun Watson: What you need to know (NCD)

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