With just under four minutes left in the second quarter of the Steelers at Browns Thursday Night Football game, the Amazon broadcast finally addressed Deshaun Watson’s suspension. In the game’s opening moments, Al Michaels called the Browns trade for Watson and the massive contract they gave him a “tremendously controversial deal on so many levels, obviously,” but didn’t elaborate further until it was nearly halftime and the camera found Browns owner Jimmy Haslam sitting in his box.
“Jimmy Haslam and his wife Dee own the Cleveland Browns,” Al Michaels said. “Of course, a lot of news, maybe the biggest news of the off season was the trade with Houston. Deshaun Watson, suspended 11 games, fined five million bucks for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.”
While Michaels talked about the suspension without mentioning the reason why Watson was actually suspended, the Amazon broadcast flashed a graphic with a detailed timeline showing the key dates for his return from said suspension.
OCT 10: ELIGIBLE TO RETURN TO TEAM FACILITY FOR MEETINGS AND CONDITIONING
NOV 14: ELIGIBLE TO RETURN TO PRACTICE
NOV 28: ELIGIBLE TO RETURN TO ACTIVE ROSTER
DEC 4: POTENTIAL FIRST GAME VS. TEXANS
Michaels then tossed to sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung, who quickly read off a list of specific details from the settlement but only went so far as to use the word “behavior” to refer to why Watson was suspended.
“Al, part of Watson’s settlement requires that he receive treatment for his behavior, and that is ongoing,” she said. “And the most vital condition for his reinstatement is that his clinician, who was approved by the league and players’ union, has a final determination as to whether Watson is faithful and fully participated in this treatment plan.
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