Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing 22 women suing Deshaun Watson, says four of his clients have met with NFL lead investigator Lisa Friel (Twitter link via Mark Berman of FOX26). Meanwhile, “eight to ten of his clients” have met with the Houston Police Department. 
[RELATED: Pats, Bears, Washington, Dolphins Pursued Watson]
Furthermore, Buzbee says four additional clients may want to speak with the league, but he may advise them against it (“Some of the women did not feel like they were being respected by the NFL,” Buzbee explained.) And, across the board, Buzbee insists that his clients will not agree to a settlement with the Texans quarterback.
Before the accusations came to light, Watson was pushing the Texans front office to trade him. The Patriots, Bears, Dolphins and the Washington Football Team all expressed interest in the three-time Pro Bowler, but later backed out. It’s unlikely that trade talks will resume until there’s some clarity on Watson’s off-the-field situation and his on-the-field availability.
Meanwhile, Watson’s attorney Rusty Hardin says that the lawsuits are a “money grab.”
“It was not until the plaintiffs saw an opportunity for a money grab that they changed their stories to convert therapy sessions they bragged about to friends and family to something much more nefarious,” Hardin wrote in April.
Not sure the “money grab” excuse will work when they aren’t going to settle. I could be wrong…
While true that the “money grab” excuse won’t work because they won’t currently settle, it can still be considered a money grab since they all reported these stories of sexual abuse right after he signed his $160 mil extension with the Texans.
What other high paid QB did this happen to, also? Brees, Mahomes, Rivers, et al? I think the old ‘smoke/fire’ adage applies here.
Another good point that WindyCityKid89 fails to see
It probably does but Big Ben is still playing. Unfortunately, video is probably required. The one player who had no prior record or offenses since had his career ruined by a video from a hotel elevator with his now wife who stood by him then and throughout his rehabilitation – Ray Rice. It’s likely DeShaun Watson’s activity went out for a lot longer time period than Rice’s.
That’s a trick question because they are all well compensated.
My guess is that Hardin made an insultingly low buy-out offer to the accusers and this is simply Buzbee’s response. Watson has plenty of future earning potential, thus he should make a serious offer…
And this ‘guess’ is based on…?
Not sure just because they will not settle doesn’t mean it is or isn’t a money grab, because they could always get more money the longer this thing goes.
I just hope they are getting a fair shot to share their stories and experiences.
They could just be holding out for a larger settlement amount
Well, first they’d need to be offered a settlement and I haven’t seen any offered by Watson. If he did, then it would be admission, and I’d also suspect they’d probably settle.
Plenty-most-cases settle. It has nothing to do with guilt or liability. It has everything to do with avoiding trial. This doesn’t prove money grab or no money grab. A criminal case, however, may do that.
If Watson can’t buy off the women like Kobe did then there goes his career.
If he wouldn’t settle for no why should they
Rusty Hardin is a despicable human being. Trying to turn victims into criminals. Absolute scum of the earth
Do you live under a rock? That’s how defense attorneys get paid.
BloodySox –
No genius, I don’t live under a rock. I understand that’s how they get paid…did I ever state otherwise? Still makes someone who does that the scum of the earth. I don’t give a crap if they’re getting paid to be scum. Does that make it ok for hitmen to kill people as long as their getting paid for it? Try to keep up
BloodySox –
How are you going to feel if you have a daughter who unfortunately gets sexually assaulted one day, and someone like Rusty Hardin comes along to tell the whole world that it was her fault, consensual, or that she asked for it. You’d be ok with that…just because the guy was getting paid to ruin your daughters life? Think man.
@KCJ Glad to know you don’t actually live under a rock. No, you never stated anything about him getting paid, but you did say he turns “victims into criminals”. Which is wrong. First you need victims (right now they’re not even plaintiffs). Second, he never stated they were criminals unless your talking about lying, which isn’t a crime until they enter a court room. I’m not here to defend anyone but when you start jumping to conclusions, I have to troll. I wont even address your second comment.
Be careful with the MLBTR comment “tough guy” right here…he’s very aggressive.
And Buzbee’s doing this out of the kindness of his heart.
Bingo.
Sure is funny that the NFL has done nothing in terms of a suspension. Remember the Ezekiel Elliott case? No lawsuit was ever filed yet he got a 6 game suspension.
Video. They are probably waiting to drop the spy cam footage.
Why should they rush a punishment? The story is on-going and I don’t know if you’re aware, but this is the offseason. There’s almost literally nothing going on. They can reserve judgment and as the season approaches, put Watson on the exempt list like they did with AB. Ezekiel Elliott has absolutely nothing to do with this.
It says nfl is investigating as well, so they are doing the process….
I guarantee you they have already conducted a thorough investigation. The NFL’s investigators can sometimes be more efficient and successfully effective than the Federal, State, and local law enforcement investigators, because their investigative methods are not necessarily constrained by Constitutional Rights limitations and Due Process. They probably know of the damning evidence against him and the likelihood of criminal charges and trials, but, are refraining from taking action, just yet.
When the NFL suspended him, Ezekiel Elliott’s case had already been determined that it was not going to be a matter of criminal prosecution, nor civil action; so, the NFL enacting discipline against him was not going to have any potential influence on the outcome of either of those matters.
With the likelihood that Watson’s charges will end up in, both, criminal and civil courts, the NFL is not going to interfere and potentially obstruct justice by publicly “convicting” him with their own administrative and civil penalties. The NFL will wait, likely by their own choice in addition to the instructions of the investigating law enforcement agencies or prosecutor’s office, before they levy punishment. Otherwise, they might be charged with obstruction of justice, or even just face civil action for defamation of character, because of hindering Watson’s right to a a fair and impartial trial and causing undue influence on the outcome of the verdicts. If the NFL indicts him by administering punishment, it could be argued that public perception is so tainted that a fair and unbiased trial is impossible. Furthermore, in a civil trial, the NFL’s actions could be presented as evidence of a finding of guilt and thereby influence a predisposition against him. Their attorneys are not going to permit the NFL to put themselves in a position of civil liability with the risk of pecuniary losses.
And, before you argue about, “how could the NFL administer punishment for allegations that didn’t even result in criminal charges, or a conviction?” I can tell you with certainty, after having a 25 year law enforcement career, with over a decade as a detective, that many guilty people are never able to be successfully charged or convicted of crimes they absolutely, positively committed. It’s not what you know, but, what can be irrefutably proven in trial court, beyond the exclusion of any and all reasonable doubt, based upon the lawfully permitted evidence available.
Judgments based on civil law and, in the case of the NFL, procedural justice via administrative and civil action, are subject to a much lower standard of proof which accepts that a preponderance of the evidence ( i.e. If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and waddles like a duck, then it must be a duck! ) is sufficient to prove a person’s guilt or innocence.
Cmon now last I checked in America – Money to buy quality representation always and I mean always has these problems go away. It will cost Watson some loot and endorsements plus then the NFL shield will hit him too. Maybe 12-24 months from now he will be preparing to get back on the field. The truth will not matter either way!
Both of these lawyers are really good, so curious to see how it goes.
I find this quite interesting. Tony Buzbee is playing the media like a fiddle. And he’s doing a damn good job of using social opinion to bring light to his case. The NFL has a WOMAN in LISA FRIEL investigating the situation – yet he attacks the NFL for not moving at the pace HE wants.
But NONE of YOU are counting the fact its a woman who’s interviewing these other women. She’s going to see through the nonsense; and if she believed in her PROFESSIONAL opinion that he needed to be removed, he would’ve been.
The same goes for the Houston Police Department. If HPD believed they had a strong criminal case against him – they would’ve indicted him and he’d be under arrest.
Obviously, the evidence coming forth hasn’t been substantial enough to this point to indite him on charges.
Because of it, Tony Buzbee is throwing a fit – and doing everything he can to use public opinion to force this case to move faster.
All of your speculation here is based on nothing but bizarre victim- and woman-hating.
First of all – don’t over make a comment like that. My mother was sexually assaulted. I’m the product it produced. So, I’m very understanding of the situation.
Secondly, LEGALLY, the HPD CAN NOT make an arrest UNLESS theres substanstial evidence to prove these women were assaulted.
With the NFL, Lisa Freil, is the LEAD investigator. They assigned her to the Investigation because it would be easier for a woman to to speak to another woman. She’s the individual meeting with every victim and to her she hasn’t received enough evidence to close her investigation on DeShaun Watson and Tony Buzbee, a male Lawyer, is pushing heat onto her to act in the way he wants her to.
Unfortunately, for all of the women involved there were several women who bragged about their encounter with friends. Others who tried to extor his marketing team for money, after they told his Managers their experiences were consensual.
And the money grab situation is difficult. Yes, DeShaun leaped into the 9 figure range – so the timing is difficult. Secondly, all of their businesses were affected by Covod 19 like the rest of the nations – so there’s always ground to look into it. Does that mean its true – no. But, it has to be examined.
Get over yourself
@James LaGrow: While I empathize with what you and your mother went through, that doesn’t excuse your victim- and woman-hating nonsense. You are explicitly stating that Lisa Friel can’t or won’t do a proper job because she is a woman. You even capitalized woman, like it’s some slur. Or something. It’s difficult to suss out exactly what you’re saying because you seem hung up on her being a woman and Busbee being a man, both facts of which are completely irrelevant.
If you don’t want people like me to ‘over make a comment like that’, perhaps you should re-think the nonsense you’re pumping out.
There has been no charges yet because this kind of case can take awhile to set up. Cadillac could say more about this but even with Kraft who they had on camera what happened to that case? Money and a lawyer who will push the envelope can muddy the waters and make it take longer to prosecute. I am more inclined too be on the victims side because I was one at ten. It was much more than any off these accounts.You might think a hey you want touch my snake is no big deal. Even for someone who might have seen a few on accident. At the time it is not funny and is worse over time.
The other reason women didn’t come forward because there are idiots like many on here that still blame the women. Here is a secret a lot of women don’t find your little worm attractive. They are not visual like the male for the most part. They don’t find it funny or a turn on. I will side with the women until it is absolute it is false.
Lastly it is hard to come forward because of the fear of shame and blame. It takes one to come forward then another and it spirals from there. If you have ever paid attention you would see this. The blame the women because my favorite athlete could never be a scumbag. Let me tell you he or anyone can be that.
I guess I should have read further because Cadillac answered what I said he could give more insight into below.
It’s interesting then how Buzbee said some of the women didn’t feel respected by the nfl who has a woman investigatory talking to these women.
@GetBuckets – Lisa Friel is a lawyer herself. She was the Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. That’s whom these women are being interviewed by in the NFL.
Again, as I commented above, for the reasons I explained, regardless of what their independent findings are at this point, the NFL won’t take any actions until the criminal and civil matters are concluded. You cannot use the lack of any actions at this point by either the NFL or law enforcement as an indication of whether or not Watson is guilty or innocent of the allegations being made against him.
The NFL is refraining because of the reasons I explained. Law enforcement has not shown its cards yet because it is still an ongoing investigation. If they had already been able to exonerate him, or conclusively determined that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate probable cause for an arrest, I guarantee you that we would know. Even if they did that, it wouldn’t mean he was innocent. These type of “he said-she said” cases are very difficult to prove beyond the exclusion of any and all reasonable doubt with admissible evidence lacking because of the amount of time that has elapsed since the crime occurred as a result of delayed reporting of the alleged events.
Furthermore, even if probable cause has already been developed, law enforcement and prosecutors may not be ready to file charges because the investigation and collection of evidence is still ongoing. A smart prosecutor will not file the charges until they are almost trial ready, or can be very soon, because once charges are filed and an arrest is made, speedy trial requirements can be enacted which could otherwise preclude them from adequately being prepared to present the case at trial. If that happens, it could adversely effect their efforts to obtain a successful prosecution. Just because they may be waiting to “get all of their ducks in a row” before making an arrest, doesn’t mean that it’s not coming.
He can’t settle and has to take it all the way. Unless he is exonerated, criminally and civilly, he won’t ever play in the NFL again.
I agree. I could definitely see Watson never playing again.
Yes he will.
If he is never “cleared” criminally and civilly, and public speculation remains as to whether or not he is guilty, which team do you think is ever going to risk the scrutiny from their own fan base, and the rest of the NFL, by having him on their team?
Not to mention his displayed tendency to lack the integrity to commit to his team, and making even Aaron Rodgers look humble and unselfish?
I would agree with you, especially since we live in a different world today than the example that I am about to use happened, but Donte Stallworth killed a man. Literally killed him, while driving drunk. He played again with New England. So yeah, I could see Watson playing again if his civil case ends. It’ll take a while. The real question, barring a criminal conviction, how long his repatriation would take, and what details come out during his civil trial. The details, that every reporter from ESPN to Mike Florio will capitalize in bold on their front pages, will hurt more than the determination of Watson’s liability would.
The real damage is mostly done. The rest is not going to come from the determination of either civil or criminal court, it will be from the details that are alleged and/or facts that are leaked during the proceedings that will get reported. Some will be true, some will just be allegations, but they’ll all get reported.
Unless Hardin has a magic wand to explain them all away in a satisfactory manner, Watson will suffer no matter the determination of the court actually is, because in all likelihood, some of the details he is admitted or proven to have done will be at the very minimum embarrassing and distasteful. At the most, he obviously will be observed to be predatory. No matter what, public reporting of these details will damage him more than whatever judgement the court makes in terms of his career.
Hardins claim that these women “bragged” about their sessions with Watson is huge statement.
Is there any evidence of that???
If not, then that is awful for him to say that.
Zero criminal charges filed. Not one claimant went to the police when any of the said incidents occurred. Super fishy. So seems like it is a money grab. So in the end it’s not a crime to be a creep. Reputation is valuable so they are injuring his professional life. No evidence of anything has been presented. So everyone with negative comments about Watson are shytheads. I hope he holds out and pays none of these women anything unless they have proof of being wronged. If they do then fair is fair.
I can’t stand the ignorant stupid comments by so many on here. If you have never been through it you have no clue. I didn’t tell anyone until I told my wife. I still don’t tell many people. I have 8 brothers and sisters only 2 know. I have repressed memories and when I remember a new thing I wake up in a sweat. So excuse me for siding with the women but if you have been unlucky enough to live this you would agree with me. I am glad you haven’t lived the nightmare. I am not asking for pity or anything just saying you have no idea the trauma this can cause. The women who supposedly joked about it was a way to deal with it maybe. We all deal with traumas differently.
So you are siding with WOMEN. GROWN WOMEN. Your repressed memories are from childhood. I think the death penalty is not adequate enough for someone who molests children. That being said it’s 2021 and women know their rights. So if they were wronged then they should have notified the local authorities. The Me too movement is nothing new.
It is absolute ignorance from guys like you that make my point. You don’t know the mindset grown or not. If you were taken someplace and raped would you turn the person in? I know you will say yes but you have no idea. There is embarrassment shame fear just to name a few emotions. Some women who are brutally raped won’t go to the authorities for days some not at all. Because they didn’t go in or went in a week later did it not really happen? Like I said I will always take the side of the abused until proven wrong. I don’t want to ruin the life of the accused but I do want archaic masculine feelings like yours changed.