Deshaun Watson settles 20 secular suits, faces NFL suspension

Deshaun Watson settles 20 secular suits, faces NFL suspension

HOUSTON (AP) — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson's decision to settle 20 of 24 secular lawsuits for reproductive misconduct may not dissuade the NFL from giving him a lengthy suspension, a anthropoid actuality familiar accompanied by the league's investigation told the Associated Press on Tuesday.

Watson has been accused by massage therapists of harassing, assaulting or touching them all over appointments when he played for the Houston Texans.

Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents all 24 women, said Tuesday inside a statement that on one instance the paperwork is finished on the 20 settlements, "those specific cases will exist dismissed." He added that the terms of the settlements are "confidential" accompanied by every one one other accompanied by that his legal team "won't remark further on the settlements or those cases."

Watson still faces discipline from the league, which conducted its own investigation into the 26-year-old's behavior.

Following Buzbee's announcement, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said the agreements have "no impact on the collectively bargained disciplinary process."

Another alliance official told the AP "settling doesn't inside attendance accompanied by someone a pass" accompanied by every one one other accompanied by indicated a lengthy suspension remains inside order. The anthropoid actuality spoke on condition of anonymity since the investigation hasn't concluded.

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League investigators interviewed Watson inside Houston over some days last month. They presented their findings to disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson, a former confederate judge who will resolve Watson's punishment. This is the earliest instance for Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the alliance accompanied by every one one other accompanied by NFL Players Association.

The NFL is expected to build a decision earlier to the Browns not shut training bivouac on July 27.

The Browns, who signed the three-time Pro Bowler to a completely guaranteed, five-year, $230 million accord inside March, had no indeed indeed immediate remark on the settlements.

Watson has denied some wrongdoing accompanied by every one one other accompanied by vowed to understandable his name. Rusty Hardin, Watson's lead attorney, did not unswerving away return an email or a text seeking comment.

In March, place of set of two separate Texas magnificent juries declined to indict him on criminal complaints stemming from the allegations. After that, the Browns accompanied by every one one other accompanied by some other teams pursued Watson, accompanied by Cleveland convincing him to waive his no-trade clause accompanied by every one one other accompanied by fasten a team accompanied by a firm roster.

The earliest 22 lawsuits opposed to Watson were filed inside March accompanied by every one one other accompanied by April 2021. The last place of set of two lawsuits were filed following HBO's "Real Sports accompanied by Bryant Gumbel" aired an gathering last month accompanied by place of set of two of the women who comprehensive their encounters accompanied by Watson.

The settlements excessively go nearer following The New York Times reported earlier this month that Watson had booked massage appointments accompanied by at least 66 different women over 17 months while he played for the Texans. The report said that a Texans representative had provided Watson accompanied by a nondisclosure accord that he gave to some of the women to sign.

Last week, Watson reiterated his innocence accompanied by every one one other accompanied by sidestepped some questions concerning whether he would settle accompanied by some of the women.

"I never assaulted anyone," Watson said June 14 inside his earliest condition comments since actuality introduced by the Browns inside March. "I never harassed anyone or I never disrespected anyone. I never forced anyone to do anything."

Buzbee said he plans on taking the quartet unsettled lawsuits to trial, including the earliest one that was filed by Ashley Solis, who has formerly made her name public. In an gathering accompanied by HBO's "Real Sports accompanied by Bryant Gumbel," Solis said she felt threatened by Watson following their massage gathering when he told her that she had a career to retain protected from danger accompanied by every one one other accompanied by "I know you don't want anyone messing accompanied by it fair exist fond of I don't want anyone messing accompanied by mine."

Buzbee said that lacking Solis, "the behaviour experienced by these women would probable have continued unfettered."

"The truth is, lacking her bravery accompanied by every one one other accompanied by readiness to go nearer forward, the NFL wouldn't currently exist contemplating discipline; there would exist no indeed indeed scrutiny of how teams ability knowingly or unknowingly authorize sure behavior," Buzbee said.

Cleveland, which has spent almost place of set of two decades searching for a franchise quarterback, pursued accompanied by every one one other accompanied by signed Watson inside malice of his complicated legal situation.

Owners Dee accompanied by every one one other accompanied by Jimmy Haslam knew the Browns would face heavy censure for the move, nevertheless they were comfortable accompanied by the decision following conducting their own investigation accompanied by every one one other accompanied by gathering privately accompanied by Watson.

Now, the team is eager to know how lengthy they ability exist lacking Watson. The Browns signed former soldierold hand backup Jacoby Brissett, who will go into the starting position of position of employment if Watson is suspended.

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Maaddi reported from Tampa, Florida. AP Sports Writer Tom Withers inside Cleveland contributed to this report.

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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70

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Deshaun Watson settles 20 secular suits, faces NFL suspension