Tag: Deshaun Watson lawsuit

Report: Texans QB Deshaun Watson to give answers at deposition

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson will provide answers at his March 15 deposition, according to a new report.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson won’t be pleading the Fifth Amendment again.

According to a report from Aaron Wilson of the Pro Football Network, the three-time Pro Bowler will not take the Fifth Amendment when he sits down for his deposition on March 15.

Watson previously pled the Fifth during his first deposition on March 11, the same day that a Harris County grand jury convened to decide whether or not to indict the 26-year-old referencing criminal complaints of sexual assault to the Houston Police Department. The grand jury declined to indict Watson.

The former 2017 first-round pick is still the defendant in a civil lawsuit wherein 22 women have made similar allegations. The NFL is also conducting their own investigation into the allegations to determine if Watson violated the league’s personal conduct policy.

Watson’s future is Houston is all but used up as he has sought a trade since January 2021. The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints are two teams that are heavily interested in Watson, who signed a four-year, $177.5 million contract extension in September 2020 to remain with the Texans. A no-trade clause in Watson’s contract gives him additional say as to where he will continue his NFL career.

Count the Buccaneers as a team interested in Texans QB Deshaun Watson

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have emerged as a team interested in Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.

The Houston Texans may have another trade partner in the NFC South for quarterback Deshaun Watson.

According to the Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson via Luke Easterling of the Bucs Wire, the Buccaneers have emerged as a team interested in the three-time Pro Bowler.

The interest in Watson has heated up after a Harris County grand jury declined to indict him following criminal complaints to the Houston Police Department accusing him of sexual assault. Watson is still the defendant in a civil suit wherein 22 women have made the same allegations. The NFL is conducting their own parallel investigation to determine whether Watson violated the league’s personal conduct policy and if any punitive action will be carried out.

The Buccaneers have a need at signal caller following the retirement of Tom Brady. Watson would give the Buccaneers a franchise-caliber talent under center and keep Tampa Bay’s championship hopes alive.

Watson has sought a departure from the Texans since January of 2021 when he requested a trade following the hiring of general manager Nick Caserio and then-coach David Culley, who lasted one season and posted a 4-13 record.

Report: Browns emerging as wild-card in trade for Texans QB Deshaun Watson

The Cleveland Browns are emerging from the shadows as an outside candidate to trade for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson cleared a hurdle on Friday when it comes to his departure from the Houston Texans.

A Harris County grand jury decided not to indict the three-time Pro Bowler in reference to criminal complaints referred to the Houston Police Department that allege he committed sexual assault. As such, the business of pro football is firing back up for the signal caller who requested a trade in January 2021.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Pro Football Network, a team that has emerged as a wild-card in the Watson sweepstakes is the Cleveland Browns. The Browns exercised the fifth-year option on former 2018 first-round quarterback Baker Mayfield, but there still questions as to his future with the organization, especially since the former Texas Tech and Oklahoma quarterback underwent labrum surgery at the end of the 2021 season.

Watson is not finished with the civil suit wherein 22 women allege he committed sexual assault. The NFL is also still conducting its own parallel investigation into the matter, which carry the weight of a suspension depending on how the NFL evaluates.

Texans QB Deshaun Watson will not face criminal charges

Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson will not face any criminal charges stemming from a civil suit wherein 22 women allege he committed sexual assault.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson will not face criminal charges as it relates to lawsuits from 22 women who allege he committed sexual assault.

According to Sarah Barshop of ESPN, the grand jury in Harris County returned nine no bills on the nine criminal complaints, and the three-time Pro Bowler will not be prosecuted.

Johna Stallings, the division chief of adult sex crimes and trafficking at the Harris County District attorney’s office, said that they presented evidence for over six hours on the proceedings.

“Beginning at 9 o’clock this morning, we presented evidence for over six hours for the grand jury to consider, as well as having witnesses available for those persons to testify in front of the grand jury,” Stallings said. “And the grand jury considered all of that evidence and returned nine no bills against Deshaun Watson involving these nine criminal complaints. We respect the grand jury’s decision and … conclude the criminal proceedings in Harris County.”

There were 10 criminal complaints that had been filed with the Houston Police Department against Watson. The FBI conducted its own investigation. The civil suits are still ongoing and the NFL has been conducting its own parallel investigation as it relates to a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy.

Report: Up to 10 teams monitoring Texans QB Deshaun Watson situation

According to a report, there are up to 10 teams monitoring Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson’s legal matters, which could get some clarity on March 11.

There may be more teams interested in Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson than was originally thought.

According to Aaron Wilson from the Pro Football Network, up to 10 teams are monitoring the Watson situation, which will have some clarity on March 11 as the grand jury meets for the criminal case and also Watson gives a separate deposition in the civil case.

As much as Friday marks an important day in the case with that outcome remaining unclear, the level of interest around the NFL isn’t. Up to 10 NFL teams are actively monitoring the Watson situation, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.

Three of those teams, according to Wilson, are the Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, and New Orleans Saints.

Carolina makes the most sense as they are close to where Watson grew up in Atlanta, Ga., and also where he played college ball at Clemson. The Panthers also have a need at quarterback given that the Sam Darnold experiment didn’t work out.

The Seahawks are another team that seems like a good landing spot as they have an opening at quarterback. Seattle has been exploring scenarios wherein they could acquire the three-time Pro Bowler.

A surprise team among the 10 are the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have a need at quarterback following the departure of Drew Brees, but they also are salary cap-strapped and may not be able to take on Watson’s $40 million cap hit for this season — at least not without some maneuvering on their part.

Watson’s trade request has been active since January 2021. The civil suit against Watson wherein 22 women allege he committed sexual assault has stymied his move to a new NFL city, especially considering there have been criminal complaints filed with the Houston Police Department, the FBI has conducted its own investigation, and the NFL is still investigating the complaints as they relate to its personal conduct policy.

Report: Seahawks to explore trade scenarios for Texans QB Deshaun Watson

The Seattle Seahawks, who now have a void at starting QB, are expected to explore trade options for the Houston Texans’ Deshaun Watson.

The Houston Texans may have another suitor for quarterback Deshaun Watson’s services.

According to Aaron Wilson from the Pro Football Network, the Seattle Seahawks are exploring scenarios wherein they could acquire the three-time Pro Bowler.

Now that the Seattle Seahawks have traded franchise quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, they’ve created a huge void at the most important position in the NFL. The Seahawks, if they’re going to be a contender, can’t rely on former Broncos first-round draft pick Drew Lock as the answer under center. The Seahawks are interested in Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Seattle is expected to explore trade scenarios for the three-time Pro Bowl passer, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.

The Watson-to-Seattle possibility was one that the Texans Wire posited the day of the the Wilson-to-Denver trade.

What is complicating Watson’s move to any NFL city is his being named as a defendant in a lawsuit wherein 22 women allege he committed sexual assault. Until a resolution manifests, Watson will be tethered to the AFC South club.

General manager Nick Caserio told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on March 1 that the organization is taking the Watson situation “day to day.”

“I would say that situation, we’ve talked about this with our group, we’re day to day in terms of handling that,” said Caserio. “Once the information becomes more relevant or prevalent, then we’ll handle it accordingly. My philosophy from the beginning has always been to do the right thing by the Houston Texans organization, and we’re going to continue to do that here moving forward.”

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Report: Texans QB Deshaun Watson to use the 5th Amendment for deposition

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson plans to take the Fifth Amendment when he undergoes his scheduled deposition on March 11.

Deshaun Watson may be known as DW5 after his first deposition.

The Houston Texans quarterback is scheduled to have his first deposition on March 11 in the lawsuit wherein 22 women allege he committed sexual assault. After almost a full year since the first civil suit was filed in Harris County district court, the former 2017 first-round pick will be eligible to answer questions under oath regarding the combined suit.

According to Aaron Wilson from the Pro Football Network, Watson’s plan to take the Fifth Amendment is from his lawyer, Rusty Hardin. The grand jury will also hear presentation from the district attorney on Friday. A request to delay was denied.

General manager Nick Caserio told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on March 1 that the situation with Watson is something the organization takes “day to day.”

“I would say that situation, we’ve talked about this with our group, we’re day to day in terms of handling that,” Caserio said. “Once the information becomes more relevant or prevalent, then we’ll handle it accordingly. My philosophy from the beginning has always been to do the right thing by the Houston Texans organization, and we’re going to continue to do that here moving forward.”

Watson requested a trade from the Texans in late January 2021. Shortly before the start of free agency in March 2021, the first lawsuit was filed. The Houston Police Department has also fielded criminal complaints against Watson, some of which are already included in the combined suit. The FBI has conducted its own investigation, and the NFL is also conducting its own investigation, possibly to determine if Watson violated the league’s personal conduct policy.

The new league year kicks off on March 16 at 3:00 p.m. The quarterback market is already starting to take shape as the Denver Broncos traded for Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson on Tuesday.

Have the Seahawks now entered the chat regarding trade for Texans QB Deshaun Watson?

The Seattle Seahawks have a need at quarterback and newfound draft capital. Would they be interest in Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson?

Two things happened when the Seattle Seahawks traded nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos: they made quarterback a need and they acquired draft capital.

Such are the conditions any team needs to qualify for the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes.

The former Houston Texans 2017 first-round pick has wanted out of the Bayou City since January 2021. His being named as a defendant in a lawsuit wherein 22 women allege he committed sexual assault has complicated matters, and it reasonable to presume he won’t be on the move until litigation concludes.

When Watson is able to move, a team that could be interested is Seattle.

Drew Lock isn’t going to be their franchise quarterback. At best, he could have a nice first month to the season like Sam Darnold had with the Carolina Panthers in 2021. If Lock were the answer, Denver wouldn’t have given up a franchise quarterback’s ransom for Wilson, nor would they have traded for Teddy Bridgewater last offseason.

With two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and players to consider such as safety Jamal Adams, linebacker Bobby Wagner, and defensive tackle Poona Ford, the Texans would find the capital necessary to complete the rebuild.

If the Texans wanted a reliable backup quarterback, they could include Lock in the trade. The former 2019 second-round pick from Missouri would also. be a decent challenger for Davis Mills as he seeks to retain his starting job following a promising conclusion to his rookie season.

Texans coach Lovie Smith echoed the sentiments of the organization on March 2 at the NFL Scouting Combine when he mentioned he is a “patient man” regarding the resolution of the Watson fiasco both off the field and in the courtroom.

“We understand this is year two, and I know Deshaun wants to play, and it will come to a head,” said Smith. “I have faith in that. We just have to give it a little bit of time, and hopefully everybody will be happy with it. I’m sure that will be the case.”

If Watson, who has a no-trade clause, sees Seattle as a contender, they at least have the roster spot and capital to acquire him.

Russell Wilson trade to the Broncos sets baseline for Deshaun Watson trade

The Denver Broncos’ trade for Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson indicates what the Houston Texans can expect for trading Deshaun Watson.

The Denver Broncos pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks to acquire nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson.

Although a franchise quarterback is on the move and has taken a potential destination for Deshaun Watson, it does indicate what the Houston Texans can expect in return when they finally follow through on the three-time Pro Bowler’s trade request.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Seahawks will get a “massive haul” that includes multiple first-round picks, additional draft picks, and even players.

The first element to take into consideration is the contract. Over the Cap shows that Wilson will count $37 million against the salary cap in 2022 and then $40 million in 2023. The Broncos are paying this amount to get the services of a proven signal caller at age 33 who has a couple more prime years ahead of him.

Watson’s contract has him making $40 million in 2022 and then $42 million in 2023. The numbers go down and provide relief to any team’s salary cap at $37 million in 2024 and then $32 million in 2025. The salary cap is expect to still increase throughout the rest of Watson’s contract. The former 2020 NFL passing champion will also be 27 years old through the first couple weeks of this season.

The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback has some accolades and has a 28-25 record with a 104-36 touchdown to interception ratio and a 104.5 passer rating. However, it doesn’t compare to what Wilson has produced since Seattle drafted him the third round in 2012. What Watson has to offer is more potential years in his prime. However, that may be in question given he hasn’t played football in a year. How susceptible would Watson be to soft tissue injuries?

Of course, Watson is going anywhere so long as he is remains embroiled in a lawsuit wherein 22 women allege he committed sexual assault. Watson’s depositions in the lawsuit are scheduled to begin March 11.

Texans coach Lovie Smith stays patient amid Deshaun Watson ordeal

Houston Texans coach Lovie Smith isn’t giving in to any anxiety regarding the process of the Deshaun Watson situation.

Deshaun Watson doesn’t want to play for the Houston Texans. The organization is ready to move on from him. The big holdup has been his ongoing legal issues wherein 22 women allege he committed sexual assault.

Before any team commits significant investment commensurate with the talent of a franchise quarterback, they want to see the civil lawsuit resolved.

Although the ordeal engenders frustration for all sides, Texans coach Lovie Smith remains patient.

“We would like a prompt resolution to it,” Smith told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on March 2. “But I’m also a patient man, too, and time normally takes care of everything.”

Watson sat out the entire 2021 season, although he did attend mandatory training camp practices. However, he was not part of any of the team portions of practice in the summer.

Smith knows that the three-time Pro Bowler would like to get back out on the field.

Said Smith: “We understand this is year two, and I know Deshaun wants to play, and it will come to a head. I have faith in that. We just have to give it a little bit of time, and hopefully everybody will be happy with it. I’m sure that will be the case.”

Free agency opens March 16 at 3:00 p.m. Central Time. The tampering period is a 48-hour window prior to that. The Texans can field inquiries about Watson before then, but the off-field issues are a stumbling block to reseting Watson’s career in a new NFL city.