What do we know about Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s latest sexual misconduct lawsuit?
The Browns quarterback recently faced another lawsuit that accused him of sexual assault. Though it’s now been settled, it only highlights his struggles.
It would be safe to say that Deshaun Watson’s career has gone off the rails. While there is no doubt that the signal caller possesses great talent, it has not been showcased since his immense off-field issues have taken center stage. Add to that an injury and a subsequent operation and what we find is a player struggling to hold on to his starting spot.
Deshaun Watson settles yet another lawsuit
According to reports on Monday, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has now settled a lawsuit that was filed in September that accused him of sexual assault and battery. The alleged victim’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, confirmed the development, explaining that his client’s case has now concluded and that the accompanying “settlement is confidential.”
Where details are concerned, the lawsuit alleged that the former Pro-Bowler exposed himself, and then sexually assaulted a woman while on a date at her apartment in 2020, a year in which Watson was still on the roster of the Houston Texans. Worth noting is the fact that Watson “strongly denied” the allegations through his attorney, Rusty Hardin, while also stating that he had the support of the Browns.
“I can’t speak for the fans, I can’t speak for anybody outside this building,” Watson said, “but I know that, hearing from [ownership] and [general manager Andrew Berry] and those guys, I know that they tell me each and every day that they support me and they got my back and they want me to focus on being the best quarterback I can be. ... They know my character. They see me each and every day. They know exactly who I am. And I think that’s the difference. When you’re around me each and every day, you know my aura, you know my energy, you know my character, I think you would understand who I really am.”
Of course, this latest case comes two years after Watson faced some 25 separate lawsuits, all of which accused him of sexual assault or misconduct. That he has settled it likely means that his accuser will be unable to give testimony to the NFL itself which in turn means Watson is unlikely to see some form of punishment for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Do recall, that he was banned for the first 11 games of the season back in 2022 just after joining the Browns for violation of said policy. Ultimately, while it seems that his legal issues have subsided for the moment, Watson still faces the task of finding his form once again, something he has so far been unable to do. With the Browns sitting on a 1-4 record, now would be an ideal time for him to do so.