The Cleveland Browns reportedly restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson’s contract this past offseason so it no longer features some of the protections it previously did.
Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer reported Sunday that the AFC North team “quietly” restructured Watson’s deal and didn’t include the same protections that were in his previous contract. The previous protections were put in place so he didn’t lose guaranteed money if he was suspended during the 2022 or 2023 campaigns.
“If he has a suspension moving forward, there could be a chance they could go back and get some of those guarantees,” Glazer said.
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These details are all the more notable after a woman filed a civil lawsuit Monday that accuses him of sexual assault and battery.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi reported the woman, who was identified as Jane Doe, said the actions happened in October 2020. Her attorney, Tony Buzbee, said the plan is for her to talk to the NFL within the next two weeks.
“We will be scheduling a meeting with the NFL and hope that can be accomplished in the next two weeks,” Buzbee said. “We have a video and two additional witnesses for the NFL to speak with. I’ve personally never had confidence in the NFL’s disciplinary process but my client has chosen to engage it.”
Watson has denied the allegations.
He will play in Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, as the NFL said it was not placing him on the commissioner’s exempt list since there are no formal charges. However, the league is reviewing the complaint and could still ultimately suspend him based on its personal conduct policy.
“Watson served an 11-game suspension in 2022 after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions,” Oyefusi wrote. “A pair of Texas grand juries declined to pursue criminal charges against Watson, but he served his suspension after the NFL and the NFL Players Association reached a settlement in his disciplinary matter.”
The latest lawsuit is unrelated to those previous lawsuits.
Cleveland acquired Watson from the Houston Texans via trade ahead of the 2022 season, but he has played just 13 games for the team due to time missed because of the suspension and injuries.
The Browns also signed him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal.
