Keep Texans Talk Google Ad Free!
Venmo Tip Jar | Paypal Tip Jar
Thanks for your support! 🍺😎👍
Sexual Assault Suits Against Watson
- Thread starter Texansballer74
- Start date
NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson liked to go somewhere special when he wanted to relax as a player for the Houston Texans.
It’s called The Houstonian, an upscale hotel and club that once served as the residence of former President George H.W. Bush. According to court records, Watson had an account there, liked to get massages there in his room and had his marketing manager arrange those rooms in advance.
But it’s also where at least two women say he exposed himself to them and touched them with his genitals during massage sessions in 2020.
And now it’s part of the fight for pretrial evidence after 22 women sued him last year and accused him of sexual misconduct during massage sessions, including the two at The Houstonian, according to court documents filed recently in Houston.
“He takes women in some of these cases to The Houstonian, which (offers luxury massage services to customers), but he’s bringing in women who aren’t even licensed in massage?” the attorney for the women, Tony Buzbee, said to USA TODAY Sports earlier month.
Watson's activity there has been subject to increased scrutiny in recent weeks as the pretrial discovery process has intensified. In one case, two weeks after meeting a woman on Instagram, he flew her in from Atlanta to give him a massage in his suite at The Houstonian, where she said he exposed himself and caused his genitals to touch her inappropriately on Aug. 28, 2020, according to her lawsuit against him.
Instead of arranging to have this unlicensed therapist come all the way to Houston, there were easier massage options available to him that day, when his team, the Houston Texans, did not practice after holding a scrimmage the day before. The Houstonian offered professional luxury massage spa services at the Solaya Spa & Salon by The Houstonian, just three miles away from the hotel. The hotel even provided a free shuttle to get there and back, plus discounts to all guests in 2020 and gifts with treatments to hotel guests, according to the hotel.
In another case, Watson suggested another unlicensed therapist come to his suite at The Houstonian in July 2020, weeks before Texans training camp opened on Aug. 14, 2020. He first contacted this woman on Snapchat and saw the women for four sessions from July to September 2020, with Watson’s behavior getting “progressively worse,” including exposing himself, touching her with his genitals and ejaculating in front of her, according to her lawsuit.
Watson, 26, denies any wrongdoing, and two grand juries declined to indict him on criminal charges in 10 cases that were reported to police. But the 22 civil lawsuits march on separately and have proceeded to dig for evidence that still could affect his future even after getting a record contract with the Cleveland Browns worth $230 million guaranteed over five years. The NFL has said it is monitoring developments and could suspend him for a violation of it personal conduct policy.
“The fact that he went to such lengths to obtain massages tends to bolster the credibility of the plaintiffs,” said Kenneth Williams, professor at South Texas College of Law Houston. “The plaintiffs probably want the jury to think that a star NFL quarterback wouldn't have to go to such lengths to obtain a massage unless the massages were a pretext for something else.”
His attorney, Rusty Hardin, said Watson took to Instagram and social media to find massages because of his busy schedule and because “spas shut down” during the pandemic. In the case of The Houstonian, the famed spa there called Trellis Spa did shut down for much of that year because of a renovation project starting Feb. 2, 2020 – before the pandemic. But The Houstonian still wanted to make sure its guests and members could access these services. So it opened its sister spa, Solaya, that same month three miles away.
That spa and others were ordered closed during a pandemic shutdown ordered by the state governor in March 2020 but reopened in May 2020, after which all but only a few of the alleged incidents took place among the 22 women. In pretrial testimony, Watson “couldn’t say any place was shut down because of COVID,” Buzbee previously told USA TODAY Sports. “He didn’t reach out to any place that shut down. He didn’t even ask.”
Another attorney for the plaintiffs, Cornelia Brandfield-Harvey, recently told a judge at a hearing in Houston they were seeking evidence that shows Watson had a pattern and motive when scheduling these massages through social media – that it was to get sex and not just a massage, even if that desire wasn’t mutual. Brandfield-Harvey sought documentation from Watson of where he got massages in 2019 and 2020, how they were paid and any excerpts from his Texans contract in which obtaining massages was discussed.
“The burning question in the jury’s mind, I believe, will be why did he not use the facilities that were available” to him instead of looking for massages with people he didn’t know on social media, Brandfield-Harvey told the judge.
Despite an objection from one of Watson’s attorneys, the judge agreed to compel Watson to provide massage location history and payment information from late March 2019 to late March 2020, as well the massage information sought from his Texans contract.
Another recent court filing shows the plaintiffs also are seeking other documentation involving The Houstonian and another hotel. They filed a notice in court that shows they are seeking information from the Texans, including records of payments to The Houstonian for Watson, records of rooms at the Houstonian for use by players and any correspondence between the Texans and The Houstonian regarding Watson from 2019-2021.
It was not the only place this alleged misconduct occurred, according to the lawsuits. Other locations describe incidents at Watson’s house, the house of a woman’s mother and other incidents in California, Georgia and Arizona. Most happened in or near Houston from early 2020 to March 2021.
Hardin has said the women are lying, out for money and there were “sometimes consensual encounters.”
Citing hotel policy, The Houstonian said it does not provide information on customers and declined comment on Watson.
“Watson can argue he simply wanted a private place for a massage (and) did not want to go to a spa,’ said David Ring, a Los Angeles attorney who has represented sexual assault victims but is not involved in the Watson case. On the other hand, Ring called it “highly suspicious conduct.”
“This evidence could be used to show that Watson’s plan was to lure a masseuse to the hotel under the guise of a massage, when his real intention was to engage in sexual activities,” Ring said.
The hotel also came up several times during a pretrial deposition in February for Watson’s marketing manager, Bryan Burney, who testified he sometimes arranged to get hotel rooms for Watson to have massages.
“Where would you get these rooms for him?” Buzbee asked him. “Were they all at The Houstonian or different places?
“Mostly at The Houstonian,” Burney answered.
Buzbee circled back to it.
“When Deshaun Watson asks you, 'Hey, man, get me a room at The Houstonian; I want a massage,' how do you bill him for that, or do you?” Buzbee asked.
“I don't bill him because he had an account with The Houstonian, so there was nothing to bill him on,” Burney said.
Buzbee then asked if he knew how Watson found the women who provided him with massages on those occasions.
Burney said he didn’t know.
Watson is required to provide the massage history and location information by about May 6, according to the judge's ruling this month. Meanwhile, the cases might not go to trial until after February 2023 unless they are settled out of court before then.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. E-mail: bschrotenb@usatoday.com
Geez, aren't you ever going to let it go???
Get a life!!!
He's gone!!! Take it to the Browns board!
maverick512000
Hall of Fame
Did you really just compare posting on a football forum to counseling a sexual assault victim? I don’t care if you post or not as people don’t have to read it but completely off the wall takes and comparisons like that are why so many find it hard to take your posts seriously.
Let's please keep it about posts and not the poster. Nobody is forced to read this stuff.
Big picture. It’s an insensitivity towards the topic. Why let go a topic about sexual assault? You don’t have to answer that because I’m not going to stop discussing.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Dee needs to give him a massage.
Carr Bombed
Hall of Fame
I think he was talking to a specific poster for a specific reason.
If you’re here to talk about the Texans & things that relate to the Texans I don’t think anyone has any issue with that.
but if you want to talk about whatever subject regardless how it relates to the Texans, that’s adifferent thing
not healthy imo (non-professional)
The subject relates to the thread which is in the NFL forum.....No one has to read it nor respond to it. Period. Yet they do and that is their choice to get upset. There have been plenty of “non-professional” responses on this board though.
Last edited:
WTF???
It does. I'm not denying that.
I agree. Unfortunately I have to read through this thread from time to time. I normally do not respond.
maverick512000
Hall of Fame
Just out of curiosity have you posted all this stuff on the Browns forums? If so can you link it because I'm sure those replies are hilarious. Despite what people think the mods around here actually keep things very polite, most team forums sound like a bunch of kids that just figured out that their parents aren't around to hear them swear.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
wrong thread
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Interesting that Hardin and Buzbee on April 12 agreed to no trials being set for the inseason............well after Watson's March signing. He knew Watson was signing up for a "full-time" job when he excluded the offseason/preseason from the agreement.
**************************************************************
SPORTS
Deshaun Watson's new 'full-time job' in Ohio creates conflict with court cases in Houston
Brent Schrotenboer
USA TODAY
The legal trouble that Deshaun Watson is facing in Houston already is threatening to get in the way of his new job in Cleveland.
Lawyers for the 22 women who are suing Watson last week filed a notice of their intention to take his pretrial deposition testimony on five different days in early May at the Houston office of Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin. But Hardin is fighting it, noting that Watson recently changed jobs after being traded by the Houston Texans to the Cleveland Browns.
“Mr. Watson recently moved out of state and currently lives in Ohio,” said a document submitted by Hardin’s firm in court Friday. “He also has a full-time job that requires his presence in Ohio Monday through Friday. As a result, Mr. Watson is not available for depositions in Texas on the dates unilaterally noticed by Plaintiffs. Counsel for Mr. Watson offered multiple dates for Mr. Watson’s deposition that were rejected by Plaintiffs’ counsel.”
Hardin has filed a motion to quash those depositions, leading to a court hearing set for next week in Houston, where Judge Rabeea Collier could decide the matter.
The 22 women have accused Watson of sexual misconduct during massages sessions from early 2020 to March 2021 often after he contacted them for the first time on Instagram. They say he exposed himself to them, caused his genitals to touch them and in some cases coerced them into oral sex. Watson, 26, has denied wrongdoing. Hardin said they are lying, out for money and that there were “sometimes consensual encounters.”
The women’s attorneys, led by Tony Buzbee, had set those deposition dates in May on behalf of 10 of the 22 women. In Watson’s defense, Hardin pointed out that two of those women have not sat for depositions themselves to assert their allegations under oath.
“As this Court has already ruled, Mr. Watson is not — and should not be — required to respond in a deposition to allegations that have not yet been asserted under oath,” Hardin’s motion stated. “Stated differently, until (the two women) appear for deposition, Mr. Watson should not be required to respond to the allegations drafted by the lawyers for which these Plaintiffs have not verified or confirmed under oath. Mr. Watson’s counsel is currently working in good faith to identify and provide alternative dates for Mr. Watson’s deposition.”
Watson has sat for some depositions already, but the battle for pretrial discovery evidence recently has intensified. Under an agreement between the two parties, most or all of these cases might not go to trial until after February 2023 unless he settles them out of court. Two grand juries declined to indict him on criminal charges in 10 cases that were reported to police.
**************************************************************
SPORTS
Deshaun Watson's new 'full-time job' in Ohio creates conflict with court cases in Houston
Brent SchrotenboerUSA TODAY
The legal trouble that Deshaun Watson is facing in Houston already is threatening to get in the way of his new job in Cleveland.
Lawyers for the 22 women who are suing Watson last week filed a notice of their intention to take his pretrial deposition testimony on five different days in early May at the Houston office of Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin. But Hardin is fighting it, noting that Watson recently changed jobs after being traded by the Houston Texans to the Cleveland Browns.
“Mr. Watson recently moved out of state and currently lives in Ohio,” said a document submitted by Hardin’s firm in court Friday. “He also has a full-time job that requires his presence in Ohio Monday through Friday. As a result, Mr. Watson is not available for depositions in Texas on the dates unilaterally noticed by Plaintiffs. Counsel for Mr. Watson offered multiple dates for Mr. Watson’s deposition that were rejected by Plaintiffs’ counsel.”
Hardin has filed a motion to quash those depositions, leading to a court hearing set for next week in Houston, where Judge Rabeea Collier could decide the matter.
The 22 women have accused Watson of sexual misconduct during massages sessions from early 2020 to March 2021 often after he contacted them for the first time on Instagram. They say he exposed himself to them, caused his genitals to touch them and in some cases coerced them into oral sex. Watson, 26, has denied wrongdoing. Hardin said they are lying, out for money and that there were “sometimes consensual encounters.”
The women’s attorneys, led by Tony Buzbee, had set those deposition dates in May on behalf of 10 of the 22 women. In Watson’s defense, Hardin pointed out that two of those women have not sat for depositions themselves to assert their allegations under oath.
“As this Court has already ruled, Mr. Watson is not — and should not be — required to respond in a deposition to allegations that have not yet been asserted under oath,” Hardin’s motion stated. “Stated differently, until (the two women) appear for deposition, Mr. Watson should not be required to respond to the allegations drafted by the lawyers for which these Plaintiffs have not verified or confirmed under oath. Mr. Watson’s counsel is currently working in good faith to identify and provide alternative dates for Mr. Watson’s deposition.”
Watson has sat for some depositions already, but the battle for pretrial discovery evidence recently has intensified. Under an agreement between the two parties, most or all of these cases might not go to trial until after February 2023 unless he settles them out of court. Two grand juries declined to indict him on criminal charges in 10 cases that were reported to police.
austins23
Hall of Fame
In other words......
This clown knew he was going to get a chubby during these sessions and would want them to "take care of it"? And he didn't disclose this to the masseuses?
This guy, wow. Glad he's the Browns' problem now.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
A couple of interesting tidbits in the podcast with legal analyst Schreotenboer of USA TODAY, who has followed the Watson saga closely. Judge Collier is getting frustrated with the bickering between the attorneys, especially Hardin. Schreotenboer does feel that each complainant will go to separate trial..............and very likely Judge Collier herself will preside over each one of them.
********************************************************************************************
Brent Schrotenboer: I have a hard time believing any cases involving Deshaun Watson will be heard before football season
Listen to the 15 minute podcast
********************************************************************************************
Brent Schrotenboer: I have a hard time believing any cases involving Deshaun Watson will be heard before football season
Listen to the 15 minute podcast
Very interesting. Judge Collier presiding over each case would not be good for Watson. I hope she denies Hardin’s motion/claim of Watson being a full time employee in Ohio so therefore he can’t travel back on those dates.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
And that's beyond the year he has already not been able to play. BTW, he was never charged criminally. And the D.A. stated that despite victim's photos demonstrating facial traumas and contemporaneous accounts by witnesses, the state did not bring an indictment because they didn't think they could prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.........Sound familiar.
********************************************************************************
Trevor Bauer will not face criminal charges in Los Angeles court system: Sources
By Britt Ghiroli and Fabian Ardaya
February 9, 2022Updated 12:38 PM CST
Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer will not face any criminal charges in Los Angeles County stemming from allegations of sexual assault made against him last summer, sources told The Athletic on Tuesday.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office’s decision came after five months of review by the Pasadena Police Department into two sexual encounters that occurred at Bauer’s Pasadena home. During that review, a temporary ex parte restraining order against Bauer was lifted.
“After a thorough review of the available evidence, including the civil restraining order proceedings, witness statements and the physical evidence, the People are unable to prove the relevant charges beyond a reasonable doubt,” the Los Angeles County district attorney wrote in a declination provided to The Athletic.
********************************************************************************************
Yet the shear contrast between how the MLB and NFL handle things are now so obviously stark.
Boris
All Pro
a real piece of work this guy
Trevor Bauer Faces New Allegations, Woman Claims He Choked Her Unconscious During Sex
A third woman has come forward and accused Trevor Bauer of crossing the line during sex ... claiming the pitcher choked her unconscious and slapped her in the face without consent back in 2013 and 2014.
www.tmz.com
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Will MLB’s two-year suspension of Trevor Bauer impact NFL’s handling of Deshaun Watson?
April 30, 2022, 11:28 AM EDT
Major League Baseball stunned the sports world on Friday by suspending Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer for two full seasons, based on allegations of domestic violence. Although the facts are very different, it’s difficult not to wonder whether the extent of the punishment will influence the NFL’s ultimate handling of Browns quarterback.
Bauer was accused of sexual assault that occurred when he allegedly went too far with consensual rough sex during a pair of encounters in April and May 2021. The allegations resulted in no criminal charges. A request for a permanent restraining order also was denied.
That doesn’t prevent the MLB from taking action. The league interviewed other women who claimed they had been assaulted by Bauer. One woman accused Bauer of choking her to the point of unconsciousness “dozens of times” during a relationship that spanned years.
Bauer was placed on paid leave last July. He has appeal rights, and he intends to exercise them. He has vehemently denied any and all wrongdoing.
The alleged facts are disturbing. More detail is available in this item from ESPN.com. The broader point, as it relates to the NFL, is whether Commissioner Roger Goodell will feel compelled to take stronger action against Watson, based on the two-year suspension imposed on Bauer.
These are fair and appropriate considerations. The entire Personal Conduct Policy is a P.R. tool, aimed at creating a vehicle for the league to take proper action against players who do things while not working that prompt fans and media to ask, “Why doesn’t the league take proper action?” Whether the action taken is or isn’t proper is determined not by any formula or calculation but by how fans and media react to it.
Already, some in the league office are privately advocating harsh action against Watson, who is accused by 22 women of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. He has not been charged with any crimes, but 22 lawsuits are pending and proceeding. Some in the league office believe that Watson should be placed on paid leave until the cases are resolved, with a decision made thereafter as to a possible unpaid suspension.
Last month, the Commissioner seemed to rule out paid leave, explaining that if the league concludes there’s enough to justify paid leave, Watson would simply be suspended without pay. For more than a year, there has been a sense in league circles that Watson will be suspended from four to eight games. Last October, for example, the Dolphins believed that, if they had finalized a trade for Watson following the settlement of all cases (18 of the 22 were ready to be resolved), he would have been suspended six games.
The Bauer case requires a fresh look at the question. Those in the league office who believe he shouldn’t play until the cases are resolved could also be inclined to push for a much harsher suspension, if/when the Commissioner decides to impose one. Could Watson be suspended for a full year?
April 30, 2022, 11:28 AM EDT
Major League Baseball stunned the sports world on Friday by suspending Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer for two full seasons, based on allegations of domestic violence. Although the facts are very different, it’s difficult not to wonder whether the extent of the punishment will influence the NFL’s ultimate handling of Browns quarterback.
Bauer was accused of sexual assault that occurred when he allegedly went too far with consensual rough sex during a pair of encounters in April and May 2021. The allegations resulted in no criminal charges. A request for a permanent restraining order also was denied.
That doesn’t prevent the MLB from taking action. The league interviewed other women who claimed they had been assaulted by Bauer. One woman accused Bauer of choking her to the point of unconsciousness “dozens of times” during a relationship that spanned years.
Bauer was placed on paid leave last July. He has appeal rights, and he intends to exercise them. He has vehemently denied any and all wrongdoing.
The alleged facts are disturbing. More detail is available in this item from ESPN.com. The broader point, as it relates to the NFL, is whether Commissioner Roger Goodell will feel compelled to take stronger action against Watson, based on the two-year suspension imposed on Bauer.
These are fair and appropriate considerations. The entire Personal Conduct Policy is a P.R. tool, aimed at creating a vehicle for the league to take proper action against players who do things while not working that prompt fans and media to ask, “Why doesn’t the league take proper action?” Whether the action taken is or isn’t proper is determined not by any formula or calculation but by how fans and media react to it.
Already, some in the league office are privately advocating harsh action against Watson, who is accused by 22 women of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. He has not been charged with any crimes, but 22 lawsuits are pending and proceeding. Some in the league office believe that Watson should be placed on paid leave until the cases are resolved, with a decision made thereafter as to a possible unpaid suspension.
Last month, the Commissioner seemed to rule out paid leave, explaining that if the league concludes there’s enough to justify paid leave, Watson would simply be suspended without pay. For more than a year, there has been a sense in league circles that Watson will be suspended from four to eight games. Last October, for example, the Dolphins believed that, if they had finalized a trade for Watson following the settlement of all cases (18 of the 22 were ready to be resolved), he would have been suspended six games.
The Bauer case requires a fresh look at the question. Those in the league office who believe he shouldn’t play until the cases are resolved could also be inclined to push for a much harsher suspension, if/when the Commissioner decides to impose one. Could Watson be suspended for a full year?
MLB’s Trevor Bauer suspension now looms over the NFL’s Deshaun Watson investigation
There's now a measuring stick for punishing a high-profile athlete who isn't facing criminal charges but is engulfed in disturbing allegations of violence and misconduct against women. Will Roger Goodell pay attention?
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
This simply affirms the several posts that I have made on this subject.
*******************************************************************************
Understanding the NFL’s new process for imposing discipline under Personal Conduct Policy
Posted by Mike Florio on May 5, 2022, 10:34 AM EDT
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
In 2020, the NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to make real changes to the manner in which discipline is imposed under the Personal Conduct Policy. As a potential suspension of Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson continues to loom, it’s important to understand how the rules are different — and more importantly how they aren’t.
The latest CBA, finalized in March 2020, incorporates a Disciplinary Officer who makes the threshold decision as to whether a player will be suspended, and for how long. The Disciplinary Officer is jointly hired and compensated by the league and the NFLPA, a key change to the prior protocol that was run completely by the Commissioner and/or those who report to him.
The process begins with the league notifying the player of the potential violation for which discipline may be imposed. And while it’s not spelled out expressly in the policy, the league undoubtedly will recommend or request a specific duration of suspension. The Disciplinary Officer then proceeds to evaluate the situation. The process can, but is not required to, culminate in a full-blown evidentiary hearing.
Things get interesting once the Disciplinary Officer issues a decision. The Commissioner, or his hand-picked designee, continues to have full authority over the appeal. Based on the language of the policy, the
Commissioner has broad powers when it comes to reviewing, revising, or reversing the Disciplinary Officer’s decision: “The decision of the Commissioner or his designee, which may overturn, reduce, modify or increase the discipline previously issued, will be final and binding on all parties.”
There’s an important caveat. While the Commissioner has the power to “overturn, reduce, modify or increase the discipline previously issued,” the Commissioner cannot alter a decision to not discipline the player at all.
The league office has indeed confirmed that, if the Disciplinary Officer finds that there should be no discipline at all, the case is over.
That said, if any discipline whatsoever is imposed by the Disciplinary Officer (including, presumably, even a fine), the Commissioner has the power to “modify or increase” the punishment to whatever he wants it to be.
Thus, the Commissioner continues to have full and final say over all discipline under the Personal Conduct Policy. The Commissioner’s powers become short-circuited only if/when the Disciplinary Officer concludes that the player should experience no discipline. If any discipline is imposed, the Commissioner can change it in any way that he wants. With no appeal rights beyond that.
The changes to the policy would have been much more meaningful if the Commissioner made the first decision and then independent appeal rights activated. The policy as revised simply cuts the Commissioner out of the middle of the process, putting the bulk of the work on the Disciplinary Officer before the Commissioner (or his designee) swoops in with full and complete power to do whatever he wants, unless the Disciplinary Officer decides that the player should not be punished in any way.
For Watson, the good news is that if he can persuade the Disciplinary Officer that no violation occurred, the Commissioner can’t do anything about it. If the Disciplinary Officer disagrees and imposes any discipline at all, the Commissioner can rip up the decision and replace it with his own. And Watson will have no recourse.
*******************************************************************************
Understanding the NFL’s new process for imposing discipline under Personal Conduct Policy
Posted by Mike Florio on May 5, 2022, 10:34 AM EDT
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
In 2020, the NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to make real changes to the manner in which discipline is imposed under the Personal Conduct Policy. As a potential suspension of Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson continues to loom, it’s important to understand how the rules are different — and more importantly how they aren’t.
The latest CBA, finalized in March 2020, incorporates a Disciplinary Officer who makes the threshold decision as to whether a player will be suspended, and for how long. The Disciplinary Officer is jointly hired and compensated by the league and the NFLPA, a key change to the prior protocol that was run completely by the Commissioner and/or those who report to him.
The process begins with the league notifying the player of the potential violation for which discipline may be imposed. And while it’s not spelled out expressly in the policy, the league undoubtedly will recommend or request a specific duration of suspension. The Disciplinary Officer then proceeds to evaluate the situation. The process can, but is not required to, culminate in a full-blown evidentiary hearing.
Things get interesting once the Disciplinary Officer issues a decision. The Commissioner, or his hand-picked designee, continues to have full authority over the appeal. Based on the language of the policy, the
Commissioner has broad powers when it comes to reviewing, revising, or reversing the Disciplinary Officer’s decision: “The decision of the Commissioner or his designee, which may overturn, reduce, modify or increase the discipline previously issued, will be final and binding on all parties.”
There’s an important caveat. While the Commissioner has the power to “overturn, reduce, modify or increase the discipline previously issued,” the Commissioner cannot alter a decision to not discipline the player at all.
The league office has indeed confirmed that, if the Disciplinary Officer finds that there should be no discipline at all, the case is over.
That said, if any discipline whatsoever is imposed by the Disciplinary Officer (including, presumably, even a fine), the Commissioner has the power to “modify or increase” the punishment to whatever he wants it to be.
Thus, the Commissioner continues to have full and final say over all discipline under the Personal Conduct Policy. The Commissioner’s powers become short-circuited only if/when the Disciplinary Officer concludes that the player should experience no discipline. If any discipline is imposed, the Commissioner can change it in any way that he wants. With no appeal rights beyond that.
The changes to the policy would have been much more meaningful if the Commissioner made the first decision and then independent appeal rights activated. The policy as revised simply cuts the Commissioner out of the middle of the process, putting the bulk of the work on the Disciplinary Officer before the Commissioner (or his designee) swoops in with full and complete power to do whatever he wants, unless the Disciplinary Officer decides that the player should not be punished in any way.
For Watson, the good news is that if he can persuade the Disciplinary Officer that no violation occurred, the Commissioner can’t do anything about it. If the Disciplinary Officer disagrees and imposes any discipline at all, the Commissioner can rip up the decision and replace it with his own. And Watson will have no recourse.
Dejaview
All Pro
Anyone who raped, tortured and burned to death their mother wouldn’t face charges in L A these days.
OzzO
.. and then?
Fine on the 9 games.... last 3 this season and 6 next (to put a $ hurt on him, Mr. $1M first season)
The suspension could just go beyond 1 season and 2 full ones. Possibly.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
It's difficult for me to see how this "throwing a football" obligation is not seen as an insult to anyone's intelligence, including the judge's. Whenever subpoenaed to testify in deposition for my patients, I could never "adjust" the court's scheduled dates stating that I was wielding a scalpel and patients were depending on me to be there for their scheduled surgeries. My depositions were never been capped at 2 hrs, several running all day, and some into the next day. And it was in contrast to Watson's case where his guaranteed salary ensured that he would not be financially affected by his absence. In most states (including Tx), state law does not require private employers to pay employees for absences caused by jury duty or court appearances.......something that would have affected most complainants.
HOUSTON (WJW) – A judge will soon decide if Browns Quarterback Deshaun Watson needs to sit for more depositions in several of the 22 lawsuits filed against him, and also if his accusers need to hand over their medical records to his attorneys.
A hearing to discuss those issues is set for 10 a.m. Monday in Harris County District Court .
Attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the 22 women accusing Watson of sexual misconduct, had wanted to take more pretrial deposition of Watson last week. However, Watson’s attorneys said he was not available because he started a new job in Ohio.
Watson has already sat for some depositions and is willing to sit for additional depositions at a later time, his attorneys state. He has denied all of the allegations made by the women.
However, on Friday, Buzbee filed a motion in court saying Watson should be ordered to appear for the depositions this month.
“Defendant offers no reason for his failure to appear for deposition, other than rhetoric clearly intended for the press,” Buzbee stated in his brief. “Defendant goes so far to mislead, claiming that his “full-time job” prevents him from appearing for deposition, when in fact he only ‘works’ throwing a football four days a week at this point, not five.”
Attorneys for Watson have stated their client is available for depositions at other times, just not during the Browns off-season workout program that started in April. But Buzbee says his clients have called off work to attend depositions.
“To avoid being deposed during the discovery period, Defendant contends that he ‘has a full-time job that requires his presence in Ohio Monday through Friday’ and is thus unavailable for the dates that Plaintiffs noticed,” the motion states. “But, Defendant’s claim that he is required to be in Ohio Monday through Friday for work is simply false. According to the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement: ‘All other Clubs may schedule or conduct offseason workout programs for no more than nine consecutive total weeks, to be completed over a ten-week period. In either case, Clubs may schedule no more than four workouts per week for any individual player. Such workout programs shall not be permitted on weekends.’ Under the Agreement, players are actually only allowed to do four workouts a week. And as a general rule, teams are off on Fridays. Defendant’s ‘work’ is throwing a football. No doubt that is important work, certainly from his point of view. However, such work is not so critical, vital or crucial that it prevents him from appearing for deposition within this Court’s scheduling order. This Court should deny Defendant’s Motion to Quash and order Defendant to appear for deposition in the month of May.”
Watson’s attorneys, however say two of the accusers have not yet sat for depositions and testified to their allegations under oath and state none of the accusers have turned over their complete medical records.
Watson’s attorneys say they believe there are inconsistencies in the accusers allegations. They maintain that Watson denies all the allegations.
Two of Watson’s attorneys, Rusty Hardin and Leah Graham, filed a motion asking for all the medical records.
Watson is not facing any criminal charges. Two grand juries in Texas declined to indict him on any charges.
There are no trial dates set for the civil lawsuits. However, Buzbee says one client wants to take her case to court in July.
Exactly. I cannot wait to hear the judge’s response. Especially that Watson already forced some of the plaintiffs to take off of work and travel back to Houston for their depositions.
Dejaview
All Pro
Lol, if former chef Mario Batalli is going on trial for forcibly kissing a photographer against her will and reportedly can spend up to 2-1/2 years in jail and that baseball player gets a two year suspension wonder if Buzzbee and Goodell both have more food for thought? Seems to me that DW is starting to get boxed in “by life”.
Texansphan
Football connoisseur
Are we still dissecting this frog?
Nothing creates interest like a scandal.
>10k posts and climbing.
Smdh
Nothing creates interest like a scandal.
>10k posts and climbing.
Smdh
Dejaview
All Pro
Ahhh you are cutting this down to the quick ( gotta have that finger joke in here too ). What increases his suspension has everything to do with our trade picks the next two years.