As rumors swirl of a possible settlement of the NFL’s attempt to discipline Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, he finally showed remorse for the massage therapists who accused him of wrongdoing. “Look, I want to say that I’m really sorry for all the women that I’ve affected in this situation,” Watson told Aditi Kinkhabwala in an interview that aired during Channel 5’s pregame show to kick off the team’s preparations, via Jake Trotter of ESPN.com. “The decisions that I made in my life that got me to this position, I certainly wish I could take them back, but I want to keep moving forward and growing and learning and showing that I’m a real person of character and you’re going to keep pushing in front”. Watson had previously shown no remorse for his alleged victims. Judge Sue L. Robinson found that Watson engaged in non-violent sexual assault on four women who were giving him private massages. 24 women sued, with 23 of them having settled to date. It is a significant change of approach for Watson, who was criticized by Judge Robinson for categorically denying wrongdoing in his version of events provided to the league. Whether it will help his case before appeals officer Peter Harvey remains to be seen. Before that happens, the two sides will have an opportunity to work out an agreed solution.
