National

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was suspended for six games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, disciplinary officer and former federal judge Sue L. Robinson announced on Monday. 

Driving the news: More than two dozen women have accused Watson of sexually abusing them during massage therapy sessions, with the first allegation dating back to March 2021.

Watson has settled 23 of the 24 lawsuits filed against him by accusers.

The Houston Texans settled with 30 of Watson's accusers or potential accusers after a New York Times investigation found that the Texans provided him the room for massage therapy and with NDAs. 

The big picture: The decision was made by Robinson, a retired federal judge appointed by the NFL and the NFLPA to oversee player discipline, per the report.

This process for discipline was part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2020. 

The NFL has three days to submit a written appeal, per the New York Times. The NFLPA has already indicated it would not appeal and called on the NFL to do the same, in a statement they released on Sunday. 

Robinson's decision includes no additional fines, according to NFL Network. He must also get any massage therapy from club therapists, according to NFL Network.

Watson was traded to the Browns and signed a 5-year $230 million deal after a Texas grand jury declined to charge him criminally in March.

What they're saying: Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement that they respect "Judge Robinson's decision, and at the same time, empathize and understand that there have been many individuals triggered throughout this process.

"We know Deshaun is remorseful that this situation has caused much heartache to many and he will continue the work needed to show who he is on and off the field, and we will continue to support him."

What's next: The NFL has until Thursday at 9 A.M. to appeal the decision, according to ESPN.

Editor's note: This article was updated with a statement from the Cleveland Browns. 

Deshaun Watson suspended for 6 games over sexual misconduct claims

Deshaun Watson at training camp for the Cleveland Browns 

Deshaun Watson. Photo: Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

National Football League (NFL)

Sports

The NFL is appealing Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson's six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy,  NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed to Axios on Wednesday. 

Why it matters: The appeal would allow Commissioner Roger Goodell or someone he appoints to impose a stiffer penalty on Watson, AP writes. 

The big picture: Disciplinary officer and former federal judge Sue L. Robinson found Watson violated three provisions of the personal conduct policy including sexual assault and conduct posing a genuine danger to the safety and well-being of another person.

The league recommended Watson be suspended for "at least the entire 2022 NFL regular and post-season," but Robinson declined based on precedents and the league’s current policy, per her ruling.

She added that a longer suspension could be justified if it was already outlined in the personal conduct policy.

"Although this is the most significant punishment ever imposed on an NFL player for allegations of non-violent sexual conduct, Mr. Watson’s pattern of conduct is more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL," Robinson wrote in her findings. 

What's next: The National Football League Players Association has two business days to respond in writing. 

The union could challenge the appeal ruling in federal court, setting the stage for a prolonged fight, AP writes. 

McCarthy said there’s no timeline for Goodell or whomever he appoints to make a ruling.

NFL to appeal Deshaun Watson's 6-game suspension

The appeal would allow Commissioner Roger Goodell or someone he appoints to impose a stiffer penalty on Watson.

Deshaun Watson. Photo: Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Image

The NFL is appealing Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/deshaun-watson-nfl-suspension-34fbe200366a02cd1f8d4c6977b0308e" data-vars-content-id="680df9b1-e71e-4be8-be47-0750055b285d" data-vars-headline="NFL to appeal Deshaun Watson&#x27;s 6-game suspension" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/deshaun-watson-nfl-suspension-34fbe200366a02cd1f8d4c6977b0308e" target="_blank">six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy</a>, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed to Axios on Wednesday. Why it matters: The appeal would allow Commissioner Roger Goodell or someone he appoints to impose a stiffer penalty on Watson, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AP writes. " data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/houston-texans-cleveland-browns-nfl-sports-deshaun-watson-8b100c2eda95d64fb5555a4606329c1d" data-vars-content-id="680df9b1-e71e-4be8-be47-0750055b285d" data-vars-headline="NFL to appeal Deshaun Watson&#x27;s 6-game suspension" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/houston-texans-cleveland-browns-nfl-sports-deshaun-watson-8b100c2eda95d64fb5555a4606329c1d" target="_blank">AP writes. </a>

Ahmaud Arbery's hometown of Brunswick, Georgia, this week dedicated a street in honor of his legacy. 

The big picture: The dedication occurred after a federal judge handed down another life sentence to Travis and Greg McMichael, two of three white men already in prison after being convicted in a state court for the Arbery's murder.

The McMichaels' former neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan received an additional 35-year federal sentence, after also already being sentenced to life in state prison, albeit with the chance for parole.

Details: The section of Albany Street will now be named Honorary Ahmaud Arbery Street and it will have signs designating it, per the Associated Press.

Arbery's parents, Wanda Cooper-Jones and Marcus Arbery, were present along with their attorney, Lee Merritt, and other supporters, the Savannah Morning News reports.

The crowd chanted "Long Live Ahmaud Arbery," and "say his name," as the street sign was unveiled. 

Brunswick park will also be renamed after Arbery and Feb. 23 will be Ahmaud Arbery Day in Georgia, per the Savannah Morning News. 

What they're saying: “My only prayer is that you all won’t forget his name,” Cooper-Jones said at the unveiling, according to the Savannah Morning News.  

Merritt added that there was still unfinished business and that he "will not, and the family will not let me, let Glynn County off the hook, and neither should you."

Go deeper: Why the Ahmaud Arbery verdict matters.

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Ahmaud Arbery's hometown dedicates street to him after sentencing in hate crime case

“My only prayer is that you all won’t forget his name."

A woman carries a portrait of Ahmaud Arbery outside the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Ga. Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Georgia

Ahmaud Arbery&#x27;s hometown of Brunswick, Georgia, this week dedicated a street in honor of his legacy. The big picture: The dedication occurred after a federal judge handed down <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="another life sentence" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/08/ahmaud-arbery-murderers-sentencing" data-vars-content-id="68fe0517-707a-45f4-9bb3-9b5ee764bda7" data-vars-headline="Ahmaud Arbery&#x27;s hometown dedicates street to him after sentencing in hate crime case" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/08/ahmaud-arbery-murderers-sentencing" target="_self">another life sentence</a> to Travis and Greg McMichael, two of three white men already in prison after being convicted in a state court for the<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Arbery&#x27;s murder" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/02/22/ahmaud-arbery-killers-guilty-federal-hate-crimes" data-vars-content-id="68fe0517-707a-45f4-9bb3-9b5ee764bda7" data-vars-headline="Ahmaud Arbery&#x27;s hometown dedicates street to him after sentencing in hate crime case" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/02/22/ahmaud-arbery-killers-guilty-federal-hate-crimes" target="_self"> Arbery&#x27;s murder</a>.

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday called for people to remain peaceful and said the White House condems any future "political violence" after former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home was searched by the FBI.

Driving the news: Jean-Pierre was responding to a question about the possibility of violence amid online talk on pro-Trump forums, with some even calling for a "civil war," NBC reports.

What she's saying: "Our message is that [...] there is no place for political violence in this country," Jean-Pierre said.

"We would ask Americans to remain peaceful in this time again," she added. [Violence] is something that we condemn."

Of note: Jean-Pierre said the White House was not briefed on the search, but declined to comment any further, referring the media to the Department of Justice.

Go deeper: Presidential Records Act and Trump search explained

White House stresses peace as online talk of violence ramps up after Mar-a-Lago search

"There is no place for political violence in this country."

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at the White House Press Briefing on Aug. 9. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Mar-a-Lago

Donald Trump

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday called for people to remain peaceful and said the White House condems any future &quot;political violence&quot; after former President Trump&#x27;s Mar-a-Lago home <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="was searched by the FBI" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/09/trump-presidential-records-fbi-warrant" data-vars-content-id="6a8e9cc2-5011-46dd-ace3-6d7c63fffd3e" data-vars-headline="White House stresses peace as online talk of violence ramps up after Mar-a-Lago search" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/09/trump-presidential-records-fbi-warrant" target="_self">was searched by the FBI</a>.Driving the news: Jean-Pierre was responding to a question about the possibility of violence amid online talk on pro-Trump forums, with some even <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="calling for a &quot;civil war,&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna42148" data-vars-content-id="6a8e9cc2-5011-46dd-ace3-6d7c63fffd3e" data-vars-headline="White House stresses peace as online talk of violence ramps up after Mar-a-Lago search" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna42148" target="_blank">calling for a &quot;civil war,&quot;</a> NBC reports.

Hundreds of former Black players whose dementia tests were rescored to eliminate racial bias now qualify for awards as part of the league's $1 billion concussion settlement, AP reports.

Why it matters: The newly approved payouts are a victory for NFL families in the decade-long legal saga over concussions, per AP.

Catch up quick: The NFL's race-adjusted system assumed Black people have lower baseline cognitive skills than white people, meaning that Black players must show a larger cognitive decline to qualify for a settlement, Axios' Jeff Tracy reports.

Tests were rescored after former Washington running back Ken Jenkins and his wife petitioned the federal judge overseeing the settlement to rescore the tests and make the changes.

Details: Of the 646 Black men whose tests were rescored, about half will qualify for dementia awards, per AP.

61 of those men are classified with early to moderate dementia and will receive awards topping $600,000. Around 250 more have milder dementia and will get awards up to $35,000.

The NFL did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment. 

What they're saying: "Now we’re really focused on getting as many players who deserve compensation to be compensated," Jenkins told AP.

Go deeper: Fighting racial bias in NFL brain injury payouts 

More Black NFL former players win dementia cases after rescored tests

The newly approved payouts are a victory for NFL families in the decade-long legal saga over concussions.

NFL offices in Inglewood, Calif. Photo: Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Hundreds of former Black players whose dementia tests were rescored to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="eliminate racial bias" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/05/21/racial-bias-nfl-brain-injury-payouts" data-vars-content-id="d077bc05-cf3d-40dd-9ee7-18539dfbd6dc" data-vars-headline="More Black NFL former players win dementia cases after rescored tests" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/05/21/racial-bias-nfl-brain-injury-payouts" target="_self">eliminate racial bias</a> now qualify for awards as part of the league&#x27;s $1 billion concussion settlement, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AP reports" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-concussion-settlements-more-dementia-cases-4bb73e9d399f3438972f95caaf14d4f4" data-vars-content-id="d077bc05-cf3d-40dd-9ee7-18539dfbd6dc" data-vars-headline="More Black NFL former players win dementia cases after rescored tests" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-concussion-settlements-more-dementia-cases-4bb73e9d399f3438972f95caaf14d4f4" target="_blank">AP reports</a>.Why it matters: The newly approved payouts are a victory for NFL families in the decade-long legal saga over concussions, per AP.

Noah Garfinkel

Stories

More Black NFL former players win dementia cases after rescored tests

Ahmaud Arbery's hometown dedicates street to him after sentencing in hate crime case

White House stresses peace as online talk of violence ramps up after Mar-a-Lago search

NFL to appeal Deshaun Watson's 6-game suspension

Deshaun Watson suspended for 6 games over sexual misconduct claims