Tag: Deshaun Watson lawsuits

Browns QB Deshaun Watson suspended 11 games; returns against the Texans

Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson has been suspended 11 games, and his first game back is Week 13 at the Houston Texans.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s suspension was increased from six games to 11 games Thursday.

According to Aaron Wilson from the Pro Football Network, the suspension is the result of a negotiation between the NFL and the NFLPA regarding a personal conduct policy matter. Watson will pay a $5 million fine and also be subject to mandatory counseling as part of the settlement.

With Watson getting 11 games, that means that his first NFL game since Jan. 3, 2021, will be in the same venue: NRG Stadium. Watson’s first game back is Week 13 at the Houston Texans.

Watson originally was suspended six games at the beginning of August surrounding multiple lawsuits from women who allege he committed sexual assault.

The former 2017 first-round pick from Clemson was the solution to the Texans’ quarterback woes. However, the three-time Pro Bowler became disgruntled with the direction of the franchise following the hiring of general manager Nick Caserio and coach David Culley in January 2021.

The sexual assault allegations began in March 2021 on the eve of free agency and the new league year. The Texans rostered Watson on their 53-man squad for the entire 2021 season; the 2020 NFL passing champion was not placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, and part of the Texans’ salary cap went towards Watson’s contract.

Houston traded Watson to the Browns on March 18, 2022, and received a hefty compensation package that included a first-round pick through the 2024 NFL draft.

Caserio told reporters on March 19 that teams were interested in Watson and they had to determine the market as the quarterback also had a no-trade clause in his contract.

“I think there was a certain threshold that I had established in order to make it a legitimate discussion, and if we got to that point then we could engage further,” Caserio said. “I don’t want to get into the exact number, but there was a few more, however many teams than what everybody was reporting towards the end.”

[pickup_prop id=”27016”]

Texans coach Lovie Smith on Deshaun Watson trade: ‘Sometimes divorce is good’

Houston Texans coach Lovie Smith says that moving on from quarterback Deshaun Watson was in the best interest of both parties.

The Houston Texans needed a clean break from Deshaun Watson.

Whether it was the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback’s trade request from January 2021 shortly after the hiring of general manager Nick Caserio, or his being named as a defendant in a lawsuit wherein 22 women allege he committed sexual assault, Watson had worn out his welcome in Houston.

Texans coach Lovie Smith sees the separation from Watson, finalized with a trade with the Cleveland Browns, as a fresh start for both sides.

“You know, sometimes divorce is good,” Smith told Cris Collinsworth on his eponymous podcast. “That’s my statement that I’ve made a lot of times when a split is going to happen. Both parties are going to win once it does. Again, I don’t know what all happened, the accusations are there. If they have merit, that will all come out in time, but for our football team, we needed to move on.”

The Texans unofficially moved on from Watson in the 2021 NFL draft when they selected former Stanford quarterback Davis Mills with the No. 67 overall pick in Round 3. Selecting Mills was also the first pick ever in the Caserio era, which was also another signal that the club was moving on from their former 2017 first-round pick.

Houston gathered quite the haul in dealing Watson to the Browns. The Texans have the Browns’ first-round pick through the 2024 NFL draft, which means even if Mills isn’t the solution under center, Caserio will have the capital to ultimately address the position.

[listicle id=73526]

QB Deshaun Watson scrubbed from ‘Texans 360’ video intros on team website

The Houston Texans’ official team website has taken QB Deshaun Watson out of its intros for a series called “Texans 360.”

Another subtle change has occurred that signals the Deshaun Watson era will inevitably be over for the Houston Texans.

The team’s official multimedia arm, “Texans TV,” produces a weekly series entitled “Texans 360.” No doubt Watson has featured prominently in the video intro to the series. When you have a franchise quarterback, you feature him.

Whether due to Watson’s demands to be traded and intentions to never play for Houston again, despite general manager Nick Caserio adamant they won’t deal him, or the quarterback’s own legal issues, the Texans have decided to scrub Watson from the video intro, as evidenced by the latest “Texans 360” released on Sunday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLdBpgqJf_s

The move is another subtle demarcation of the dramatic rollercoaster the franchise has been on since the regular season ended on Jan. 3. No doubt when the regular season gets underway and “Texans TV” has stock footage to pull from Tyrod Taylor, the Texans will find a way to feature their starting quarterback position again.

Nike suspends endorsement of Texans QB Deshaun Watson

Nike, the official outfitter of the NFL, has suspended its endorsement of Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.

One of the key points throughout the flurry of sexual assault lawsuits filed against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was that no one had dropped him from their endorsements. However, that particular fact is starting to change

According to Jabari Young of CNBC, Nike released a statement indicating they will be suspending their endorsement of Watson as the lawsuits and investigations from the Houston Police Department and the NFL unfold.

“We are deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations and have suspended Deshaun Watson. We will continue to closely monitor the situation,” the statement from Nike read.

Nike is also the official outfitter of the NFL.

Watson has had 22 women file lawsuits against him alleging sexual assault. April 6 saw one of the women speak publicly at a press conference with the attorney representing her and the other 21 women, Tony Buzbee.

The three-time Pro Bowler is represented by Rusty Hardin, who has previously represented other former NFL stars including Adrian Peterson and Warren Moon.

Dolphins WR Will Fuller expresses support for former teammate, Texans QB Deshaun Watson

New Miami Dolphins receiver Will Fuller showed support for Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson, who is currently embroiled in a series of lawsuits.

Former Houston Texans’ wide receiver Will Fuller met with the media for the first time since joining the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday. Among the many topics discussed, Fuller took time to express his support for Deshaun Watson, who has currently been sued by 16 different women for allegations of sexual assault.

Fuller and Watson spent four seasons together as teammates in Houston from 2017-20. The two formed a special chemistry between the lines but created a closer bond as friends off-field.

“I fully support Deshaun,” Fuller said via the Palm Beach Post. “I don’t know any of the specifics, but I fully support him. I’ve been talking to him. And to me, it seems like his head is completely straight. I am just looking forward to seeing where everything goes. Hopefully, he’s okay.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, a total of 16 lawsuits have been filed against the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

Fuller signed a one-year deal to join the Dolphins after spending the previous five years with the Texans. He closes his career in Houston with a total of 3,110 yards on 209 receptions and 24 touchdowns.

A collegiate product of Notre Dame, Fuller was a first-round pick (No. 21 overall) by the Texans during the 2016 NFL Draft.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney responds to lawsuits filed against Texans QB Deshaun Watson

Clemson Tigers football coach Dabo Swinney has commented publicly on the lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct by Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson.

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney urges patience as the legal process plays out with the sexual assault allegations surrounding Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Swinney won a national championship with Watson under center at Clemson at the end of the 2016 season, and provided remarks to a Greenville, South Carolina, television station on March 22.

“Certainly we were disappointed to see his name in the news and all that’s going on,” Swinney told WYFF-TV. “But look, hey, I love Deshaun Watson. He’s like a son to me. And that’s how I love him. As far as all the legal stuff and all that, that’ll all take its course and all that stuff. Certainly can’t speculate or comment on any of that stuff.”

Swinney says he has known Watson since the ninth grade and that he has been “nothing but exemplary in every area that I’ve ever known him in.”

Said Swinney: “Three years here as a player, I think I had a chance to yell at him one time. He was five minutes late to a team meeting that he overslept for and that’s it. That’s the Deshaun I know and I can only base my thoughts on my experiences with him, which have been just wonderful. Again, I love him like a son and we’ll just have to see where everything else goes from there.”

As of March 23, there were 14 lawsuits filed against Watson in Harris County district court. Attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the women, says there are more suits to follow. Watson is represented by Rusty Hardin, who previously represented other pro athletes including Roger Clemens, Warren Moon, and Scottie Pippen.

NFL investigating lawsuits against Texans QB Deshaun Watson

The NFL stated to Tony Buzbee, a lawyer representing plaintiffs suing Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson, that they are investigating said lawsuits.

The NFL stated in a letter sent to the attorney representing plaintiffs who have filed civil suits against Deshaun Watson that the league has opened an investigation.

In a since-deleted social media post, Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing three separate Jane Does in misconduct suits filed against the Houston Texans’ starting quarterback, posted a letter from NFL special counsel of investigations Lisa Freil.

“I am the Special Counsel for Investigations at the National Football League and it is my job to look into allegations that might involve a violation of the League’s Personal Conduct Policy,” Freil wrote. “I became aware of the lawsuits you filed yesterday, as well as the one you filed this morning, which contain various allegations of misconduct by Houston Texans player Deshaun Watson. I am writing to let you know that the League has opened an investigation into these allegations and to request the cooperation of your clients in our investigation. Such cooperation would begin with engaging in Zoom interviews with myself and another League investigator at which, of course, you would be present.

“Please let me know at your earliest convenience if your clients are willing to assist us with our investigation of their allegations. Thank you.”

Buzbee took to Instagram on the evening of March 16 to state he would be filing lawsuits against Watson, who later responded on social media.

The Texans released a statement on March 17 when the first lawsuit was filed.

“We became aware of a civil lawsuit involving Deshaun Watson through a social media post last night,” the statement read. “This is the first time we heard of the matter, and we hope to learn more soon.

“We take accusations of this nature that involve anyone within the Houston Texans organization seriously. We will await further information before making any additional statements on this incident.”

All three separate lawsuits involve Watson seeking a massage and turning the sessions into episodes of sexual misconduct. USA TODAY’s coverage of the lawsuits can be read in detail below.

First lawsuit.

Second lawsuit.

Third lawsuit.