What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

Welcome to Our Forums. Once you've registered and logged in, you're primed to talk football, among other topics, with the sharpest and most experienced fantasy players on the internet.

QB Deshaun Watson, CLE (7 Viewers)

-OZ- said:
I’d have expected a suspension for hiring a hooker. 
Click to expand...
Depends. If he went to the Bunny Ranch and someone ratted him out, ok - it’s bad look to some people, but it would be perfectly legal.

Maybe it shouldn’t make a difference (and having lived near Amsterdam for a couple years I’m in camp legalize, as it protects women) but to something like the PCP it definitely matters.  Optics. 

 
TheWinz said:
  There are 2 different occupations here - massage therapist and hooker. 
Click to expand...
Not for nothing and I  don't think this applies to all and probably not even most of the "therapist" he booked but it's absolutely true that most professional hookers advertise their services as  either massage services or massage/escort services.

Don't really want to get off tangent with this, have always felt some of the therapist were working girls and some were not and somewhere along the way Watson's fetish with turning massages into sexual release blurred the lines for him.

 
Hot Sauce Guy said:
Depends. If he went to the Bunny Ranch and someone ratted him out, ok - it’s bad look to some people, but it would be perfectly legal.

Maybe it shouldn’t make a difference (and having lived near Amsterdam for a couple years I’m in camp legalize, as it protects women) but to something like the PCP it definitely matters.  Optics. 
Click to expand...
I’m assuming illegal where the act occurred. If anyone found out, that deserves a suspension of some time. 

 
TheWinz said:
Agreed.  There are 2 different occupations here - massage therapist and hooker.  A massage therapist who provides the "extra" service is a hooker; not a massage therapist.  Kraft visited hookers.  Watson visited massage therapists (but some of them may have been hookers, for all I know).
Click to expand...
We're in agreement...

I'll also add that when the Kraft news broke, there were wide spread reports/speculation of human trafficking and the involvement of very young girls.  In the end, the woman turned out to be middle-aged, albeit young compared to Kraft.

Kraft got off on a technicality,  The woman did not... this is considered a typical outcome of such cases.  

The fixation on Kraft is bizarre... but, again, very typical.

 
Faust said:
Harris County district attorney: Lack of indictment by grand jury was not an exoneration of Deshaun Watson
Click to expand...


Neither is it an indication of guilt.

This whole process has been weird. Twenty-six complainants is an awful lot of smoke if there's no fire. But mere allegations shouldn't be enough to support a suspension, just like they wouldn't be enough to support civil liability.

I know the league wants to get this resolved before the season starts, but I think it's hamstringing itself by not waiting until the civil suits play out. The league's investigation can include informal interviews, but it has no subpoena power and can't put people under oath. I'm surprised they got 11 plaintiffs to provide interviews. Anything the accusers say in those interviews, if Watson becomes aware of it, can be used by Watson at trial to bolster his defense (or impeach their credibility), but it cannot help the plaintiffs. I wouldn't want my client(s) to be interviewed by the league if I were interested in maximizing my odds of prevailing at trial.

The league really shouldn't suspend Watson unless its investigation turns up credible evidence corroborating the accusers' complaints. I guess it can look at text messages and other written communications, and it can consider interviews with witnesses (though they'll be worth less when not under oath). But it feels like the process is being rushed if the investigation won't consider whatever is revealed during the full course of the civil litigation. And a rushed, incomplete investigation seems like it would work in Watson's favor.

 
Faust said:
Harris County district attorney: Lack of indictment by grand jury was not an exoneration of Deshaun Watson
Click to expand...
Was listing to Ben Maller last night on the drive home from work, and he went into this in pretty good detail, 

Seems old Rusty Harden & the DA are alleged to have been working together. Potential quid quo pro for [who knows what yet] but it’s shady as hell: 

When the GJ didn’t advance the case I suggested shenanigans. I mentioned my relative attorney’s take as well. It all aligns with shenanigans happening here. There’s little question this should have gone to court, if the DA had the will to present all of the evidence. Apparently he did not.

So on to NFL discipline…unlike the grand jury, the league undoubtedly did  see the evidence.

I’m believing it cold be a year or more at this point. Maller suggested there’s been talk of a suspension for a year, + as long as it takes for all of the civil suits to be resolved. That could be a while.

What a mess. 

 
Maurile Tremblay said:
I don't see how anybody who wasn't in the grand jury room can make this statement.
Click to expand...
Depends what they saw. It’s entirely possible others know more about the case than that group. Of course, none of those people are commenting in here. 

It’s possible the prosecutor intended to shut this case down at the GJ. Maybe nefariously so. It’s also possible he knows there’s insufficient evidence to convict and the trial would be a circus, not worth pursuing. Even with that, it’s possible Watson’s behavior isn’t criminal but still, to borrow a phrase, “conduct unbecoming” which warrants league discipline. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I don't know what the NFL is going to do but whatever the decision is I would make it ASAP. 

Might as well take whatever PR hit they are going to take right now while there are so many other things going on in this country and have it mostly in the rear view mirror before the 2022 season starts.

 
Godsbrother said:
I don't know what the NFL is going to do but whatever the decision is I would make it ASAP. 

Might as well take whatever PR hit they are going to take right now while there are so many other things going on in this country and have it mostly in the rear view mirror before the 2022 season starts.
Click to expand...
Agreed - NFL's nightmare is to have this unresolved and Watson on the field opening day dominating the news with protests.  They need to act now and just do it.  

 
Godsbrother said:
I don't know what the NFL is going to do but whatever the decision is I would make it ASAP. 

Might as well take whatever PR hit they are going to take right now while there are so many other things going on in this country and have it mostly in the rear view mirror before the 2022 season starts.
Click to expand...
why would a premature suspension end the drama?

every week that Baker (or other fill-in) loses or plays bad, the media would re-open the door about how much better it would be if Watson was at QB

 
-OZ- said:
Even with that, it’s possible Watson’s behavior isn’t criminal but still, to borrow a phrase, “conduct unbecoming” which warrants league discipline. 
Click to expand...
seems there is a strong faction in the league office that disagrees about that discipline thing

 
@MySportsUpdate

Breaking: Deshaun Watson has reached confidential settlements with all but four civil lawsuits that were filed against him, according to attorney Tony Buzbee.

@MySportsUpdate

20 out of the 24 civil lawsuits filed against Deshaun Watson have been settled and will soon be dismissed.

 
so what are the other 4 holding out for? more $? 

there won't be criminal charges, so I wonder what their angle is? 

anyways... does the NFL now just look at it as "4 cases"? 

this is gonna be a 6-8 games suspension now, im almost certain

 
Soulfly3 said:
so what are the other 4 holding out for? more $? 

there won't be criminal charges, so I wonder what their angle is? 

anyways... does the NFL now just look at it as "4 cases"? 

this is gonna be a 6-8 games suspension now, im almost certain
Click to expand...
Definitely helps bring some clarity - I wouldnt assume they want more $ - could be the opposite.  It may not be about money and they want their day in court. 4 is definitely better than 20+ though  -

 
@MySportsUpdate

The terms and amounts of the settlements will remain confidential. Buzbee adds that the first plaintiff, Ashley Solis, and three other plaintiffs are continuing to move forward. The NFL’s investigation is also still ongoing.

... so at least we know the 4 holding out arent any of the "new" cases that came from nowhere. but i still find it odd that she didnt settle, when she knows it won't be criminally tried. 

again, im not legal expert, but does she really just want to be heard, or does she think/expect a civil court will give her more?

 
Soulfly3 said:
@MySportsUpdate

The terms and amounts of the settlements will remain confidential. Buzbee adds that the first plaintiff, Ashley Solis, and three other plaintiffs are continuing to move forward. The NFL’s investigation is also still ongoing.

... so at least we know the 4 holding out arent any of the "new" cases that came from nowhere. but i still find it odd that she didnt settle, when she knows it won't be criminally tried. 

again, im not legal expert, but does she really just want to be heard, or does she think/expect a civil court will give her more?
Click to expand...
amounts likely much less than the 100k from before, as the need to settle to complete the trade has vanished.

so with confidential settlements, the public won't know how much Buzbee got out of his money grab

and how little the victims actually received

 
@AdamSchefter

Today's developments between Deshaun Watson and his accusers "has no impact on the collectively bargained disciplinary process," per NFL spokesman @NFLprguy

.

 
Soulfly3 said:
@MySportsUpdate

The terms and amounts of the settlements will remain confidential. Buzbee adds that the first plaintiff, Ashley Solis, and three other plaintiffs are continuing to move forward. The NFL’s investigation is also still ongoing.

... so at least we know the 4 holding out arent any of the "new" cases that came from nowhere. but i still find it odd that she didnt settle, when she knows it won't be criminally tried. 

again, im not legal expert, but does she really just want to be heard, or does she think/expect a civil court will give her more?
Click to expand...
Maybe she wants all the details to come out, and isn't in it for the money. 

 
Soulfly3 said:
so what are the other 4 holding out for? more $? 

there won't be criminal charges, so I wonder what their angle is? 

anyways... does the NFL now just look at it as "4 cases"? 

this is gonna be a 6-8 games suspension now, im almost certain
Click to expand...
I was on the 6-8 game suspension wagon for a long time. But I have come off of that. I think the minimum the league will settle on is a year, so they will ask for more than that. I still think they will start off demanding a 1 game suspension for each accuser. It's a different world and a different climate. Or they hand out an 8-game suspension to get Watson off the field and say that is only a partial penalty while they continue their investigation and more will be coming.

 
Soulfly3 said:
haven't watched any of the vids/specials so can't comment, but did she not already spill the details publicly? or part of it? or none?
Click to expand...
I think some for sure. I would assume more have not been revealed. 

I'm not sure what's confusing. If one is  interested in him being held accountable, and the public getting the full picture, this is how you do it. You don't settle. 

 
Soulfly3 said:
@MySportsUpdate

Breaking: Deshaun Watson has reached confidential settlements with all but four civil lawsuits that were filed against him, according to attorney Tony Buzbee.

@MySportsUpdate

20 out of the 24 civil lawsuits filed against Deshaun Watson have been settled and will soon be dismissed.
Click to expand...
Sounds like he’s guilty. Otherwise why pay all that money? After all, Watson was going to 100% prove his innocence and wasn’t ever going to settle. 

 
Reportedly 4 were not willing to settle back before the trade deadline during the 2021 season when Miami was interested. Reportedly it was over the requirement of signing an NDA and those 4 women refused. Seems likely these are the same 4 women and it’s not about money to them.

 
Hot Sauce Guy said:
Sounds like he’s guilty. Otherwise why pay all that money? After all, Watson was going to 100% prove his innocence and wasn’t ever going to settle. 
Click to expand...


I think that notion is totally false that settling a civil suit is an admission of guilt.

And yes Watson stated his innocence and said he's not settle and I hope you can see that saying anything else would have been idiotic as he would have given all the leverage to the other side.

 
Approximately 99% of all civil lawsuits filed in my state are settled (do not go to trial). This is how the system is designed and this is the system working. The day a lawsuit is filed, any lawsuit about anything whatsoever, there is an extremely high probability it will settle prior to trial. A financial settlement / payment does not indicate liability, particularly where the amount paid is not known. Nor does it indicate the cases were weak or that the plaintiff was or was not "just in it for the money."  The settlement does not indicate that rich people don't have to answer for their malfeasance.  It is impossible for us, as outsiders, to know the strength or weakness of the cases or to pass judgment on the decision of plaintiff or defendant to settle the lawsuit. Settling these kinds of cases is not easy.  Its not surprising that 4 remain. The surprising part is they've settled so many. It means the lawyers have been working hard. It remains extremely likely the remaining 4 will be resolved prior to trial.

 
CletiusMaximus said:
Settling these kinds of cases is not easy.  Its not surprising that 4 remain. The surprising part is they've settled so many. It means the lawyers have been working hard. It remains extremely likely the remaining 4 will be resolved prior to trial
Click to expand...


interesting take (knowledge) from someone who obviously knows how this all works. 

 
CletiusMaximus said:
Approximately 99% of all civil lawsuits filed in my state are settled (do not go to trial). This is how the system is designed and this is the system working. The day a lawsuit is filed, any lawsuit about anything whatsoever, there is an extremely high probability it will settle prior to trial. A financial settlement / payment does not indicate liability, particularly where the amount paid is not known. Nor does it indicate the cases were weak or that the plaintiff was or was not "just in it for the money."  The settlement does not indicate that rich people don't have to answer for their malfeasance.  It is impossible for us, as outsiders, to know the strength or weakness of the cases or to pass judgment on the decision of plaintiff or defendant to settle the lawsuit. Settling these kinds of cases is not easy.  Its not surprising that 4 remain. The surprising part is they've settled so many. It means the lawyers have been working hard. It remains extremely likely the remaining 4 will be resolved prior to trial.
Click to expand...
The old saying in civil litigation is only the really good or really bad cases go to trial - the rest settle.

 
menobrown said:
I think that notion is totally false that settling a civil suit is an admission of guilt.

And yes Watson stated his innocence and said he's not settle and I hope you can see that saying anything else would have been idiotic as he would have given all the leverage to the other side.
Click to expand...
Of course we understand that but perhaps he should not said anything because he came off as an arrogant jerk

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Deshaun Watson vs. Jared Goff
Replies
9
Views
2K
-OZ-
-OZ-
abrunn1133
QB Mike White, MIA
Replies
6
Views
370
Hot Sauce Guy
Hot Sauce Guy
JohnnyU
QB Stetson Bennett, LAR
Replies
19
Views
1K
titusbramble
titusbramble

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 8 (members: 0, guests: 8)
Top