Browns QB Deshaun Watson was suspended for six games and settled three more lawsuits. 49ers and Deebo Samuel reached $73.5M deal. Plus, Bengals McPherson's 65-yard field goal, and more top stories in NFL news
Browns QB Deshaun Watson suspended 6 games
A ruling has been handed down by disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson on Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for his violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy. Watson will serve a six-game suspension and will not be fined, ESPN reported.
Robinson was jointly appointed by the NFL and the players' union. The union will "stand by" the ruling and is urging the NFL to do the same. Both sides have three days to submit an appeal in writing.
Watson settles 3 more lawsuits
Prior to the NFL disciplinary officer Sue Robertson making a decision on the suspension of Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShawn Watson, Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents Watson, told ESPN that three of the remaining four civil lawsuits against the quarterback have been settled. That brings the total to 23 settlements out of the 24 lawsuits against him.
49ers & Deebo Samuel reach $73.5M 3-year extension deal
After requesting a trade in April, Pro Bowl wide receiver Deebo Samuel has agreed to a three-year contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers for a reported $73.5 million, with 58.1 million in guarantees, ESPN reported.
Samuel is the seventh wideout this offseason to sign a deal worth at least $24 million per year. Prior to the season, only one receiver reached that dollar mark: DeAndre Hopkins of the Arizona Cardinals. Samuel was selected by the 49ers in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft.
In 2021, Samuel led the league with an average of 18.2 yards per reception and set an NFL record with eight rushing touchdowns. He is the third receiver in NFL history to have at least 1,000 yards in a season.
Bengals' Evan McPherson boots 65-yard field goal
Cincinnati Bengals placekicker Evan McPherson, 23, was drafted by the team in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft, the only kicker selected that year. During last year's playoff run, he tied Adam Vinatieri for most field goals made in a single postseason, (with 14) and set the record for most postseason field goals made without any misses.
During practice on Saturday, he wowed a crowd of 30,000 fans by drilling a 65-yard kick, which would be the second-longest in NFL history had it occurred during a regular-season game. McPherson's kick cleared the crossbar by several yards, CBSSports reported.
Rams' Aaron Donald will stay as long as Sean McVay remains
After helping the Los Angeles Rams win a Super Bowl, defensive tackle Aaron Donald was contemplating retirement. He won defensive player of the year three times and has gone to the Pro Bowl in all of his eight seasons. Donald, 31, says he has a retirement plan, CBSSports reports.
"As long as he's [Rams head coach Sean McVay] here and I got the ability to still play at a high level, I'm going to be here," Donald said in an interview. "When he's gone and it's all said and done, that probably will be when I'm hanging it up, too."