HOUSTON (AP) – Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s decision to settle 20 of 24 civil lawsuits for misconduct cannot deter the NFL from giving him a long suspension, a person familiar with the investigation said Tuesday of the league in Associated Press.
Watson has been accused by massage therapists of harassing, assaulting or touching them during dates while playing with the Houston Texans.
Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the 24 women, said in a statement Tuesday that once the documentation on the 20 agreements is completed, “these particular cases will be dismissed.” He added that the terms of the agreements are “confidential” and that his legal team “will not comment further on the agreements or such cases.”
Watson still faces discipline in the league, which conducted its own investigation into the 26-year-old’s behavior and is expected to make a decision before the Browns’ open training camp on July 27. .
Following Buzbee’s announcement, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the agreements “have no impact on the collectively negotiated disciplinary process.”
Another league official told the AP that “the settlement does not give a pass to anyone” and indicated that a prolonged suspension was still in order. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation has not been completed.
NFL investigators interviewed Watson in Houston for several days last month. They have spoken to 11 of Watson’s accusers, according to a person familiar with the investigation, who said Buzbee refused to make more women available for interviews.
The league will present its findings to disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson, a former federal judge who will decide Watson’s punishment. This is the first case of Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the league and the NFL Players Association.
The Browns, who signed the three-time Pro Bowler with a five-year, $ 230 million, fully guaranteed contract in March, made no immediate comment on the deals.
Watson has denied any wrongdoing and pledged to clear his name. Watson’s attorney general, Rusty Hardin, did not immediately return an email or text message asking for comments.
In March, two Texas grand jurors refused to charge him with criminal charges arising from the charges. After that, the Browns and several other teams chased after Watson, and Cleveland persuaded him to drop his no-change clause and join a team with a solid roster.
The first 22 lawsuits against Watson were filed in March and April 2021. The last two lawsuits were filed after HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” aired an interview last month with two of the women who went detail his encounters with Watson.
The deals also come after The New York Times reported earlier this month that Watson had booked massage dates with at least 66 different women for 17 months while playing with the Texans. The report said a Texan representative had provided Watson with a confidentiality agreement that he gave to some of the women to sign.
Last week, Watson reiterated his innocence and dodged any questions about whether he would settle for any of the women.
“I never assaulted anyone,” Watson said on June 14 in his first public comment since being introduced by the Browns in March. “I never harassed anyone or disrespected anyone. I never forced anyone to do anything. “
Buzbee said he plans to sue all four unresolved lawsuits, including the first filed by Ashley Solis, who has previously made his name public. In an interview with HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” Solis said she felt threatened by Watson after her massage session when she told him she had a career to protect and “I know you don’t want anyone “I don’t want anyone to mess with mine.”
Buzbee said that without Solis, “the behavior experienced by these women would probably have continued without restrictions.”
“The truth is that without his courage and willingness to show up, the NFL would not be contemplating discipline right now; it would not examine how teams could allow, knowingly or unknowingly, certain behaviors, “Buzbee said.
Cleveland, who has spent nearly two decades looking for a quarterback in the franchise, chased and signed Watson despite his complex legal situation.
Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam knew the Browns would face strong criticism for the move, but they were comfortable with the decision after conducting their own investigation and meeting privately with Watson.
Now, the team is eager to know how long they could be without Watson. The Browns have signed veteran substitute Jacoby Brissett, who will step down if Watson is suspended.
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Maaddi reported from Tampa, Florida. AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.
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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
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