Content warning: This article contains depictions of alleged sexual assault.
A woman who accuses Cleveland Browns back Deshaun Watson sexual assault and abuse in a civil suit will meet with the NFL to discuss the allegations within the next two weeks, according to her attorney.
Attorney Tony Buzbee said Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that his client and the two people who spoke with her would speak with the league immediately after the alleged attack. Buzbee also said there is video to offer “that will be relevant.”
Buzbee added via email to ESPN that he does not look favorably on the NFL’s disciplinary process, but his client has decided to speak with the league and cooperate with the investigation.
“We will set up a meeting with the NFL and hopefully we can get that done in the next two weeks,” Buzbee wrote to ESPN. “We have video and two additional witnesses that the NFL needs to talk to. Personally, I have never trusted the NFL’s disciplinary process, but my client chose to get involved.”
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Harris County, Texas, says the incident in question happened in October 2020 while Watson was playing for Houston Texans. According to the lawsuitWatson and the plaintiff planned to have dinner at her apartment, but Watson became angry and aggressive when he could not find her address.
After inviting him in, the woman finished getting ready, then left her bathroom to find Watson naked on her bed, lying on his stomach. Watson then insisted on massaging his rear, and when she refused, he asked to massage his groin. She again refused, after which Watson allegedly sexually assaulted her. The woman eventually ran away and yelled at Watson to get out of her apartment.
Through his lawyer Watson he denied the accusations on Wednesday. Attorney Rusty Hardin said Watson will “defend this case in court” but will not do so through the media.
The NFL said it did investigating the claim per the league’s personal conduct policy. However, the league will not place Watson on the commissioner’s exception list because no formal charges have been filed and the NFL has just begun its review of the case.
Statement of #Brown on Deshaun Watson from a Browns spokesman:
“We will follow the due process afforded by our legal system regarding the recently filed civil lawsuit and follow the NFL’s guidance on this matter.”— Fred Greetham (@FredGreetham9) September 10, 2024
Watson was subsequently suspended for 11 games in 2022 more than 20 allegations of sexual assaultmany of the massagers, while playing with the Texans. He has not been criminally charged in any of the cases and has consistently denied all allegations, including this week’s press conference. Houston traded Watson to the Browns before the 2022 season.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Watson will start as scheduled for the team’s Week 2 matchup with Jacksonville Jaguars. IN Week 1 33–17 loss on Dallas CowboysWatson added 169 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on 24-for-45 passing.
“We will follow the due process allowed by our legal system regarding the recently filed civil complaint and follow the NFL’s guidance on this matter,” the Browns said in a statement.