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Sexual Assault Suits Against Watson
- Thread starter Texansballer74
- Start date
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
"I done told you".............. "I never touched: no woman ever touched me" What happened now to the consensual sex??
Besides his lack of the king's English................lies slowly are coming out.
Besides his lack of the king's English................lies slowly are coming out.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
TexansBull
Hall of Fame
It will interesting how they report and how much into the details they get.
With several accusers set for national interview, Deshaun Watson could meet with NFL investigators again
Watson's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said the QB's three days of questioning this week were part of a "very detailed and aggressive investigation."
League source says the NFL could seek to interview these plaintiffs again
With several accusers set for national interview, Deshaun Watson could meet with NFL investigators again
Watson's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said the QB's three days of questioning this week were part of a "very detailed and aggressive investigation."sports.yahoo.com
michaelm
vox nihili
‘NFL Source’ Says Deshaun Watson Could Face Unprecedented Suspension Because of Trevor Bauer, According to NFL Insider Josina Anderson
As we enter the doldrums of the NFL offseason, there are a few more league issues that need settling. One of those is the fate of new Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. The former Houston Texans QB still faces nearly two dozen civil lawsuits from women — namely female masseuses — alleging sexual misconduct, and a suspension from the league seems immanent.
As the NFL decides how much discipline it doles out to Watson, a recent ruling from Major League Baseball looms large. MLB suspended pitcher Trevor Bauer for a historic number of games as a result of sexual assault allegations. Now, the NFL may do the same to Watson.
'NFL Source' Says Deshaun Watson Could Face Unprecedented Suspension Because of Trevor Bauer, According to NFL Insider Josina Anderson
After MLB suspended Trevor Bauer for two seasons, new Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson could face a lengthy suspension of his own.
www.sportscasting.com
Hopefully as detailed as Derrick likes 2-3 fingers crammed up his butt.
OptimisticTexan
2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
I think Buzbee is once again going the media route prematurely. Some of the women are going in front of cameras to give their version of what took place. This approach may bite Buzbee in the arse…..again.
Again? When did it happen the first time? They were always going to speak publicly. Most people did not read the lawsuits. This will hurt Watson.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
All of a sudden, Hardin is turning into a "Chatty Cathy."
******************************
Deshaun Watson’s lawyer expects to hear something from NFL in June
May 21, 2022, 9:14 AM EDT
The clock is ticking on the NFL, when it comes to the possible imposition of discipline on Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. And Watson’s camp has an idea as to when the process may get started.
“We should know what their position is initially sometime in June, and then everybody will figure out if there’s going to be a hearing about it or can people work things out, or whatever,” attorney Rusty Hardin told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Friday. “The only thing that’s certain is that they want to try to get everything done this summer — and earlier than later in the summer. Past that, we don’t really have any firm dates or possibilities.”
Hardin also said that he believes that the league will want to talk to Watson again, presumably before initiating the disciplinary process.
Hardin told Cabot that Watson was questioned for three days this week, by NFL investigators Lisa Friel and Jennifer Gaffney.
“This idea that [the NFL] hasn’t aggressively investigated this is totally, totally false as evidenced by the fact he’s already spent three days with them,’’ Hardin said. “They’ve obviously done a bunch of research and done a lot of work themselves and they say need to do some more.”
That’s fine, but the time is coming for a decision. The process will take time. Under the new procedure adopted in 2020, the league will propose a punishment. The Disciplinary Officer, former federal judge Sue L. Robinson, will take it from there, issuing an initial decision. Then, the Commissioner would handle any appeal — unless Judge Robinson finds that no discipline of any kind should be imposed on Watson. If that happens, the case would end. If any discipline is imposed, the Commissioner has the power on appeal to change the discipline to anything he wants, with no further appeal by Watson or the league.
Before this procedure officially ends, it has to officially start. The sooner it officially starts, the sooner it officially finishes. The sooner it officially finishes, the sooner everyone knows whether and to what extent Watson will be playing in 2022.
******************************
Deshaun Watson’s lawyer expects to hear something from NFL in June
May 21, 2022, 9:14 AM EDT
The clock is ticking on the NFL, when it comes to the possible imposition of discipline on Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. And Watson’s camp has an idea as to when the process may get started.
“We should know what their position is initially sometime in June, and then everybody will figure out if there’s going to be a hearing about it or can people work things out, or whatever,” attorney Rusty Hardin told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Friday. “The only thing that’s certain is that they want to try to get everything done this summer — and earlier than later in the summer. Past that, we don’t really have any firm dates or possibilities.”
Hardin also said that he believes that the league will want to talk to Watson again, presumably before initiating the disciplinary process.
Hardin told Cabot that Watson was questioned for three days this week, by NFL investigators Lisa Friel and Jennifer Gaffney.
“This idea that [the NFL] hasn’t aggressively investigated this is totally, totally false as evidenced by the fact he’s already spent three days with them,’’ Hardin said. “They’ve obviously done a bunch of research and done a lot of work themselves and they say need to do some more.”
That’s fine, but the time is coming for a decision. The process will take time. Under the new procedure adopted in 2020, the league will propose a punishment. The Disciplinary Officer, former federal judge Sue L. Robinson, will take it from there, issuing an initial decision. Then, the Commissioner would handle any appeal — unless Judge Robinson finds that no discipline of any kind should be imposed on Watson. If that happens, the case would end. If any discipline is imposed, the Commissioner has the power on appeal to change the discipline to anything he wants, with no further appeal by Watson or the league.
Before this procedure officially ends, it has to officially start. The sooner it officially starts, the sooner it officially finishes. The sooner it officially finishes, the sooner everyone knows whether and to what extent Watson will be playing in 2022.
Hmm timeline moves back a little. HBO special would tend to do that.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Deshaun Watson’s lawyer “not optimistic” about HBO’s treatment of the case
Posted by Mike Florio on May 21, 2022, 1:45 PM EDT
On Tuesday night, HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel will debut a story that includes interviews with “several” of the women accusing Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, does not have high expectations for the finished product.
“I don’t know what it’s going to be like, but I’m not optimistic,” Hardin told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I believe they’ll air the accusations of the women without attempting to look behind it to see what kind of merit do they have.”
Hardin has tried in the past to get the media to focus on the merits, or lack thereof, of the specific allegations. His efforts didn’t take. He eventually stopped trying.
“My approach all along was that we were not going to win the battle of public opinion,’’ Hardin told Cabot, not mentioning the fact that did indeed tried to sway media and fans Watson’s way in 2021, with multiple press conferences and the release of evidence that potentially undermines the allegations, such as text messages.
“And my goal has always been to have these cases examined by law enforcement and I strongly believed that trained investigators would ultimately conclude that there was nothing to them from a criminal standpoint and that’s where my focus has always been.”
The problem was, frankly, that attorney Tony Buzbee seized the early momentum in the court of public opinion.
By the time Watson’s camp tried to join the battle, the battle had in many respects already been lost. So now the story has become that the strategy has always been to forget about public opinion and focus on the strict legal principles that determine whether misconduct did or didn’t happen.
“I thought that’s what the NFL teams cared most about and with the exception of Miami, that’s true,” Hardin told Cabot. By singling out Miami, Hardin is alluding to the fact that the Dolphins refused to trade for Watson in 2021 unless all 22 civil cases were settled.
Regardless of the reasons for Hardin’s abandonment of any effort to win in the court of public opinion, the fact remains that public opinion ultimately fuels every decision made by the NFL under the Personal Conduct Policy.
The vast majority of American businesses don’t take action against employees for off-duty misconduct, especially if there is no arrest or conviction. Even then, most employers as to most offenses allow the employee to remain employed, as long as the employee is physically able to show up for work.
The NFL’s effort to police the private lives of players comes entirely from P.R. considerations. Fans and media expect real consequences for certain type of behavior, regardless of whether it’s irrelevant to the player’s work responsibilities. Thus, at the end of the day, public opinion and fan/media expectations will influence the decisions made by the league.
For example, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was never arrested or even sued. He was still suspended six games in 2017, based on allegations of domestic violence. Why? Because it happened three years after the Commissioner nearly lost his job due to the perception that he was not aggressive enough in punishing former NFL running back Ray Rice.
The Commissioner, as explained in detail in Playmakers, won’t make that same mistake again. Thus, regardless of what happens in a court of law, the verdict in the court of public opinion will greatly influence the Commissioner. Anyone who doesn’t realize that doesn’t understand how the NFL metes out its specific brand of gridiron justice.
********************************************************************************
Hardin now complaining of the probability of a positive look at the complainants, when an entire Watson team has continually tried to "rehabilitate" Watson's image (while not even trying to be subtle in denigrating his accusers) from day one...........not to even mention the concentrated all-out image rehab program that Haslam and the Browns have promoted since the trade..........no doubt guided in the background by Hardin and team Watson.
And Florio's attempted comparison of the NFL to "the vast majority of American businesses" is laughable.
Posted by Mike Florio on May 21, 2022, 1:45 PM EDT
On Tuesday night, HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel will debut a story that includes interviews with “several” of the women accusing Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, does not have high expectations for the finished product.
“I don’t know what it’s going to be like, but I’m not optimistic,” Hardin told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I believe they’ll air the accusations of the women without attempting to look behind it to see what kind of merit do they have.”
Hardin has tried in the past to get the media to focus on the merits, or lack thereof, of the specific allegations. His efforts didn’t take. He eventually stopped trying.
“My approach all along was that we were not going to win the battle of public opinion,’’ Hardin told Cabot, not mentioning the fact that did indeed tried to sway media and fans Watson’s way in 2021, with multiple press conferences and the release of evidence that potentially undermines the allegations, such as text messages.
“And my goal has always been to have these cases examined by law enforcement and I strongly believed that trained investigators would ultimately conclude that there was nothing to them from a criminal standpoint and that’s where my focus has always been.”
The problem was, frankly, that attorney Tony Buzbee seized the early momentum in the court of public opinion.
By the time Watson’s camp tried to join the battle, the battle had in many respects already been lost. So now the story has become that the strategy has always been to forget about public opinion and focus on the strict legal principles that determine whether misconduct did or didn’t happen.
“I thought that’s what the NFL teams cared most about and with the exception of Miami, that’s true,” Hardin told Cabot. By singling out Miami, Hardin is alluding to the fact that the Dolphins refused to trade for Watson in 2021 unless all 22 civil cases were settled.
Regardless of the reasons for Hardin’s abandonment of any effort to win in the court of public opinion, the fact remains that public opinion ultimately fuels every decision made by the NFL under the Personal Conduct Policy.
The vast majority of American businesses don’t take action against employees for off-duty misconduct, especially if there is no arrest or conviction. Even then, most employers as to most offenses allow the employee to remain employed, as long as the employee is physically able to show up for work.
The NFL’s effort to police the private lives of players comes entirely from P.R. considerations. Fans and media expect real consequences for certain type of behavior, regardless of whether it’s irrelevant to the player’s work responsibilities. Thus, at the end of the day, public opinion and fan/media expectations will influence the decisions made by the league.
For example, Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was never arrested or even sued. He was still suspended six games in 2017, based on allegations of domestic violence. Why? Because it happened three years after the Commissioner nearly lost his job due to the perception that he was not aggressive enough in punishing former NFL running back Ray Rice.
The Commissioner, as explained in detail in Playmakers, won’t make that same mistake again. Thus, regardless of what happens in a court of law, the verdict in the court of public opinion will greatly influence the Commissioner. Anyone who doesn’t realize that doesn’t understand how the NFL metes out its specific brand of gridiron justice.
********************************************************************************
Hardin now complaining of the probability of a positive look at the complainants, when an entire Watson team has continually tried to "rehabilitate" Watson's image (while not even trying to be subtle in denigrating his accusers) from day one...........not to even mention the concentrated all-out image rehab program that Haslam and the Browns have promoted since the trade..........no doubt guided in the background by Hardin and team Watson.
And Florio's attempted comparison of the NFL to "the vast majority of American businesses" is laughable.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Finally someone else recognizing Watson's ridiculously contradictory defense of his multitude of necessitated massages, replying to the other Browns beat writer besides Mary Cabot.
“The vast majority of American businesses don’t take action against employees for off-duty misconduct, especially if there is no arrest or conviction. Even then, most employers as to most offenses allow the employee to remain employed, as long as the employee is physically able to show up for work.”
This is demonstrably false. Employers will fire you for a tweet that’s considered derogatory, racist, or undermining the business. Employers will also fire you and it doesn’t have to result in an arrest or conviction. Erotic pictures surfacing on the net, etc. Fired. Also, most employers have a policy handbook in which it states what kind of conduct can get you fired even when not at work.
Carr Bombed
Hall of Fame
Exactly, Hardin is a damn liar. (Remember, the man lives in Texas) At the last plant I worked at, there had to be 5 to 6 people fired due to Facebook alone. Some cases it wasn't even because something they posted, but because something that was posted on their page.
These are people not facing criminal charges here Rusty.. Your employer can
your ass anytime they want. 
Last edited:
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Deshaun Watson’s lawyer says “no settlement talks are in the offing”
Posted by Mike Florio on May 21, 2022, 7:29 PM EDT
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson still faces 22 civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. At one point last year, 18 of the cases were ready to be settled; currently, none are.
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson still faces 22 civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. At one point last year, 18 of the cases were ready to be settled; currently, none are.
Lawyer Rusty Hardin told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that “no settlement talks are in the offing.”
If the cases don’t settle, they’ll eventually have to go to trial. It’s now likely that the trials won’t begin until 2023. And it will be difficult if not impossible to conduct 22 trials during the 2023 offseason, especially if Watson intends to participate fully in the offseason program.
So what will the NFL do? Wait for the cases to end? Impose discipline now and be done with it? Discipline Watson now, while keeping the door open to discipline him later, based on how the cases unfold?
Regardless of what the league does, the cases will linger. It’s a burden that Texans fans previously had to carry. Browns fans get to deal with it now, even though Watson has more than enough money to end these cases today, if he wanted to.
******************************************************************************************
Florio keeps pushing for settlement. With all that has recently come out and will continue to come out, settlement will hardly be a consideration on the part of Buzbee and his clients. For many reasons that should be obvious, the complainants are now very much more incentivised to get their day in court than Watson.
Then there is the false narrative that Florio keeps bringing up, i.e., that all but 4 complainants were prepared to settle before the trade deadline last year. In fact, none of the complainants ever were going to agree with settlement...................4 making it clear that would occur under no circumstances............the other 18 felt the same way, saying that no settlement would ever occur if any non disclosure agreement requiring them to be silenced in the future about the particulars of their cases and Watson.................full-well knowing that Watson/Hardin would never accept that stipulation. None of the complainants even at that time were ever going to agree to settlement.
Posted by Mike Florio on May 21, 2022, 7:29 PM EDT
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson still faces 22 civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. At one point last year, 18 of the cases were ready to be settled; currently, none are.
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson still faces 22 civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. At one point last year, 18 of the cases were ready to be settled; currently, none are.
Lawyer Rusty Hardin told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that “no settlement talks are in the offing.”
If the cases don’t settle, they’ll eventually have to go to trial. It’s now likely that the trials won’t begin until 2023. And it will be difficult if not impossible to conduct 22 trials during the 2023 offseason, especially if Watson intends to participate fully in the offseason program.
So what will the NFL do? Wait for the cases to end? Impose discipline now and be done with it? Discipline Watson now, while keeping the door open to discipline him later, based on how the cases unfold?
Regardless of what the league does, the cases will linger. It’s a burden that Texans fans previously had to carry. Browns fans get to deal with it now, even though Watson has more than enough money to end these cases today, if he wanted to.
******************************************************************************************
Florio keeps pushing for settlement. With all that has recently come out and will continue to come out, settlement will hardly be a consideration on the part of Buzbee and his clients. For many reasons that should be obvious, the complainants are now very much more incentivised to get their day in court than Watson.
Then there is the false narrative that Florio keeps bringing up, i.e., that all but 4 complainants were prepared to settle before the trade deadline last year. In fact, none of the complainants ever were going to agree with settlement...................4 making it clear that would occur under no circumstances............the other 18 felt the same way, saying that no settlement would ever occur if any non disclosure agreement requiring them to be silenced in the future about the particulars of their cases and Watson.................full-well knowing that Watson/Hardin would never accept that stipulation. None of the complainants even at that time were ever going to agree to settlement.
Florio keeps pushing this narrative, I wonder why. Maybe he should go back and look at why they aren’t settling and blame the liars comment for being a reason as well. No way any settlement like you said was going to happen with the stipulation that they could never talk about it. The HBO special puts the nail in that coffin.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Deshaun Watson’s lawyer: Trevor Bauer suspension “has no logical connection” to Watson
Posted by Mike Florio on May 22, 2022, 11:31 AM EDT
When Major League Baseball suspended Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer for two full seasons based on allegations of off-field sexual misconduct, the harsh punishment caused some to wonder whether it would prompt the NFL to impose an even greater suspension on Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson than the six-to-eight game ban that many in league circles have been expecting.
Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer recently asked Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, whether the Bauer suspension will influence the Watson discipline.
Hardin said he hopes Bauer’s suspension won’t impact Watson.
“I’m going to try to be an optimist and say it will have no effect at all,” Hardin said. “Because it has no logical connection.”
Logic doesn’t matter, however. What matters is P.R. The entire Personal Conduct Policy apparatus arises from P.R. considerations.
So if baseball suspends Bauer for two years and there’s no real outcry against the harshness of the penalty (and there hasn’t been), NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell could indeed be influenced to apply a stronger punishment to Watson. Even though the cases are different and the allegations are different and the sports are different, the two-year suspension of Bauer sets a new bar. Whatever the NFL does to Watson necessarily will be judged in comparison to that standard.
Without Bauer’s two-year suspension, a Watson penalty in the range of six or eight games creates one impression. Post-Bauer, six or eight games for Watson creates a different vibe entirely.
Ultimately, Goodell will try to balance the criticism for not suspending Watson enough against the criticism for being too harsh. Remember, it was Goodell’s failure to be sufficiently harsh with Ray Rice that nearly brought Goodell down in 2014.
That’s where logic comes into play. Goodell, knowing full well the fallout from a perception that he didn’t go far enough with Rice, becomes more likely to err on the side of going too far with Watson.
It’s not about right or wrong. It’s not about fairness or equity. It’s not about law or legalities. It’s about the reaction that the league anticipates from possibly being too lenient to possibly being too strict.
And, yes, the Bauer suspension becomes an important factor in figuring out the right punishment for Watson.
Posted by Mike Florio on May 22, 2022, 11:31 AM EDT
When Major League Baseball suspended Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer for two full seasons based on allegations of off-field sexual misconduct, the harsh punishment caused some to wonder whether it would prompt the NFL to impose an even greater suspension on Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson than the six-to-eight game ban that many in league circles have been expecting.
Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer recently asked Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, whether the Bauer suspension will influence the Watson discipline.
Hardin said he hopes Bauer’s suspension won’t impact Watson.
“I’m going to try to be an optimist and say it will have no effect at all,” Hardin said. “Because it has no logical connection.”
Logic doesn’t matter, however. What matters is P.R. The entire Personal Conduct Policy apparatus arises from P.R. considerations.
So if baseball suspends Bauer for two years and there’s no real outcry against the harshness of the penalty (and there hasn’t been), NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell could indeed be influenced to apply a stronger punishment to Watson. Even though the cases are different and the allegations are different and the sports are different, the two-year suspension of Bauer sets a new bar. Whatever the NFL does to Watson necessarily will be judged in comparison to that standard.
Without Bauer’s two-year suspension, a Watson penalty in the range of six or eight games creates one impression. Post-Bauer, six or eight games for Watson creates a different vibe entirely.
Ultimately, Goodell will try to balance the criticism for not suspending Watson enough against the criticism for being too harsh. Remember, it was Goodell’s failure to be sufficiently harsh with Ray Rice that nearly brought Goodell down in 2014.
That’s where logic comes into play. Goodell, knowing full well the fallout from a perception that he didn’t go far enough with Rice, becomes more likely to err on the side of going too far with Watson.
It’s not about right or wrong. It’s not about fairness or equity. It’s not about law or legalities. It’s about the reaction that the league anticipates from possibly being too lenient to possibly being too strict.
And, yes, the Bauer suspension becomes an important factor in figuring out the right punishment for Watson.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
HARDIN:
****************************************************
"Hearing about it or can people work out things out or whatever"? Hardin with more of his double talk. Besides an appeal of the punishment handed down by arbitrator, the NFL Personal Conduct Policy does not provide for a "hearing" or the like. The player cannot have his attorney in attendance for any of the process. The player may only be accompanied by an NFLPA representative.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Tony Buzbee’s firm confirms two clients spoke to HBO about Deshaun Watson
Be sure to listen to the video.
Be sure to listen to the video.
I would say that this says it all.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
That's the reason it makes the NFL's decision so hard??? Could it possibly be Watson's actions that makes it so hard for the NFL to hand down anything but a harsh decision?
The arrogance is astounding to be honest. That’s a statement I don’t think he makes if there is no suspension.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
[CORRECTION]:
The player is allowed his own counsel only during his appeal process. NFL and NFLPA representation will be present. The Commisioner may serve as hearing officer in any appeal at his discretion.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
The NFL still hasn’t handed down a decision on whether or for how long to suspend Browns’ quarterback Deshaun Watson following 23 accusations of sexual misconduct. That is a problem, according to Boomer & Gio, and the WFAN morning duo thinks that problem is only about to get worse.
On Monday morning, Gregg Giannotti mentioned that HBO is set to air an episode of Real Sports on Tuesday. It will feature an interview with multiple women that have filed civil suits against Watson.
Watson’s lawyers believe that the league will make its decision regarding punishment in the next two months. Giannotti thinks the fallout from the HBO show may force it to act quicker.
“Let’s say it’s a horrible piece against Deshaun Watson,” Gregg Giannotti suggested. “Now that’s gonna be a part of the decision-making process. You know it is, because the NFL from a PR standpoint is always very conscious of those kinds of things. And Real Sports is a very reputable TV news sports show and if they’ve got this 20-minute piece on how horrible a person Deshaun Watson is, that’s gonna factor into a lot of these other things.”
Deshaun Watson sat out all of last year. Boomer Esiason said the fact that it is May and we do not have a decision on discipline only makes sense because of the team involved. He laughed saying that only the Cleveland Browns could guarantee a record amount of money to a player they have no idea will be available.
He agreed with Gio’s assessment. Watson’s lawyers have already acknowledged that they do not expect the Real Sports segment to do their client any favors. Esiason said there will be a whole new group of people waking up on Wednesday questioning league leadership.
“It’s gonna further inflame a fan base maybe, or female fans, against Deshaun Watson. It’s not gonna be good. It’s just not.”
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Deshaun Watson Reportedly Makes Decision On HBO Interview
2022/5/23 14:32 (EDT)
© The Spun
By Tzvi Machlin
HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 06: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans reacts during the first half against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium on December 06, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
This Tuesday HBO will have a bombshell episode of Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel as several of the plaintiffs in lawsuits against Deshaun Watson will be interviewed. But will Watson himself be featured on the interview too?
According to Watson's lawyer Rusty Hardin, he won't be. But that's not for a lack of trying on HBO's part.
Speaking to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Hardin said that HBO requested an interview with Watson for their upcoming feature. Hardin said that the NFL's ongoing investigation prevented them from accepting HBO's request.
However, representatives of Watson will still be featured on the show. Hardin noted that an attorney on the legal team spoke to HBO for eight minutes and the rest of the team has sent "mountains of material to review."
*************************************************************************
After Hardin acting as though the segment will not be fair, we now find out that Watson turned down the interview.........with Hardin saying that it's because of the NFL investigation. If Hardin was not just worried about Watson's ability to come across well, it shouldn't make a difference............since Hardin and his office spent time with the HBO crew and supplying them with who knows what (accurate or not) in defense of Watson.
2022/5/23 14:32 (EDT)
© The Spun
By Tzvi Machlin
HOUSTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 06: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans reacts during the first half against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium on December 06, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
This Tuesday HBO will have a bombshell episode of Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel as several of the plaintiffs in lawsuits against Deshaun Watson will be interviewed. But will Watson himself be featured on the interview too?
According to Watson's lawyer Rusty Hardin, he won't be. But that's not for a lack of trying on HBO's part.
Speaking to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Hardin said that HBO requested an interview with Watson for their upcoming feature. Hardin said that the NFL's ongoing investigation prevented them from accepting HBO's request.
However, representatives of Watson will still be featured on the show. Hardin noted that an attorney on the legal team spoke to HBO for eight minutes and the rest of the team has sent "mountains of material to review."
*************************************************************************
After Hardin acting as though the segment will not be fair, we now find out that Watson turned down the interview.........with Hardin saying that it's because of the NFL investigation. If Hardin was not just worried about Watson's ability to come across well, it shouldn't make a difference............since Hardin and his office spent time with the HBO crew and supplying them with who knows what (accurate or not) in defense of Watson.
badboy
Hall of Fame
About 1:30 today John Lopez said that he has changed his mind and now believes Watson will be suspended at least 8 games as Goodell will be pressured to do "something significant as he (messed up) on other situations.
I am posting this only as it helps 2023 Texans draft IMO.
I am posting this only as it helps 2023 Texans draft IMO.
TexansBull
Hall of Fame
What did he change his mind from? Was he thinking less than 8 games? Or waiting until next year?
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Hardin with more disinformation...........the NFL testimony of Watson is not complete.
****************************************************************************
Browns’ Deshaun Watson wraps up testimony with NFL investigators: HBO set to air accusers’ interview
MailOnline U.S May 23, 2022
Deshaun Watson’s attorney says the NFL has completed its interviews with the Cleveland Browns quarterback over the sexual misconduct claims contained in the 22 lawsuits he currently faces in Texas ahead, and now HBO is prepared to release interviews with two of his accusers on Tuesday night.
****************************************************************************
Browns’ Deshaun Watson wraps up testimony with NFL investigators: HBO set to air accusers’ interview
MailOnline U.S May 23, 2022
Deshaun Watson’s attorney says the NFL has completed its interviews with the Cleveland Browns quarterback over the sexual misconduct claims contained in the 22 lawsuits he currently faces in Texas ahead, and now HBO is prepared to release interviews with two of his accusers on Tuesday night.
badboy
Hall of Fame
I do not listen to him much anymore but if I remember correctly he was thinking four games or less.
Texian
Hall of Fame
Just thinking out loud here...wondering if 31 other NFL owners have sent a message to Commissioner Goodell to send a very painful message to Jimmy Haslam for the outrageous fully guaranteed contract he gave Watson? Will the HBO Special be enough to justify a 1-year suspension? Would Goodell have the cojones to go full Trevor Bauer suspension on DeShaun Watson, Cortesia 31 NFL owners?
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Deshaun Watson declined to speak to HBO due to pending NFL investigation
Posted by Mike Florio on May 23, 2022, 1:34 PM EDT
HBO did indeed request an interview with Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, regarding the item that will debut Tuesday night on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, tells Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that Watson declined the offer.
Hardin cited the pending NFL investigation.
Of course, the pending NFL investigation didn’t stop Watson from participating in a press conference after he was traded to the Browns. If Watson and Hardin believed the HBO item would paint his version of the events in a favorable light, perhaps Watson would have agreed to do it.
If anything, the 22 pending civil lawsuits should be an even greater reason to pass. Anything Watson says, in any setting, can be used against him in court.
Meanwhile, everything he says in ongoing sworn depositions in the 22 pending cases can be used against him by the NFL. So why, at a time when Watson continues to give periodic testimony about these claims in response to aggressive questioning from attorney Tony Buzbee, would Watson not sit down with HBO?
It’s not a criticism of Watson. It’s a reaction to and analysis of the stated reason, from his lawyer, to not submit to san interview with HBO.
My assessment is that Watson and his team made an assessment as to whether the HBO interview would or wouldn’t be favorable to his situation. They decided it wouldn’t be. And that’s their prerogative.
It’s possibly a good decision. As explained earlier, Buzbee said that two of his clients spoke to HBO. However, HBO said that “several” spoke on the record regarding Watson. “Several” implies more than two. The use of “several” when the truth is two justifies concerns about a possible bias.
Watson’s decision not to be interviewed doesn’t mean Watson’s camp isn’t trying to lobby HBO to be more favorable, or as the case may be less unfavorable. Hardin told Cabot that a member of the Watson legal team spent roughly eight minutes talking to HBO on Monday morning, and that Hardin’s firm “sent mountains of material to review” to HBO.
The overriding problem when it comes to the inherently adversarial nature of litigation is that the two sides become so committed to their version of the events that they actually get upset when someone doesn’t accept the explanation without question. That’s the reality here. Everyone wants “fairness,” but the two sides have dramatically different views as to what is and isn’t fair. From Watson’s perspective, fairness means persistently challenging the credibility of Watson’s accusers — all 22 of them.
But the raw number remains staggering. Twenty-two. If there were one or two, picking nits and quibbling over details would be far more relevant. At some point between two and 22, a microanalysis of each claim becomes tougher to accomplish. At some point, 22 is 22.
Watson insists that he did nothing wrong, and he’s entitled to do that. But, again, the number of accusers is 22. It becomes very difficult to get the average person of reasonable intelligence to react to 22 claims by assuming that it’s all a mistake or a lie or a grand conspiracy.