Roger Goodell - Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson still could face NFL discipline but commissioner's exempt list unlikely

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson may be clear of criminal charges, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made it clear Tuesday that Watson still could face discipline under the league's personal conduct policy as a result of the 22 pending civil suits accusing him of inappropriate sexual conduct.

Speaking at the conclusion of the owners' meetings here, Goodell said Watson was still under investigation by the league for potential violations of its personal conduct policy. League investigator Lisa Friel is overseeing the investigation, which Goodell said has no timetable for conclusion at this time. Once the investigation is concluded, it will be referred to a jointly appointed NFL/NFLPA disciplinary officer who will determine whether Watson should be suspended and/or fined for any violations of the personal conduct policy the investigation finds.

«Obviously these are serious charges, so we're looking at it seriously,» Goodell said. «The personal conduct policy is something that is very important to us, and it does not need a criminal violation in order to pursue it.»

Two separate grand juries in Texas recently declined to indict Watson on criminal charges resulting from the complaints against him by multiple massage therapists who allege he engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior. But 22 women still have civil complaints pending against him, and Watson said at a news conference last week that he did not plan to settle them.

Asked specifically whether Watson could end up on the commissioner's exempt list — a device the league has used in the past to impose paid leave on players under league investigation — Goodell said the lack of criminal charges make that far less likely. That means Watson,