Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing the 22 women who have filed lawsuits against Texans QB Deshaun Watson, said back in May that his clients would not agree to a settlement with Watson. Shortly thereafter, Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, said that Buzbee had indeed approached him about a settlement, but that settlement is not an option unless “the terms are made public and all participants are allowed to speak in their own defense at all times.”
Several days ago, Buzbee once again took to Instagram to discuss the matter. He said, “there will not be a settlement, at least anytime soon. I have my best people on the case. That should tell you a lot about our intentions. … our team is doing what it takes in discovery and prep to try these cases to a jury. The press folks say we’ve gone ‘quiet,’ but the truth is we made clear early on that we wouldn’t try these cases in the press and now are doing the important work required for our clients to try these cases to a jury.”
As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, Hardin and Buzbee have privately discussed a settlement, but those talks broke down due to Buzbee’s unwillingness to waive confidentiality and make the terms of a settlement public. Florio believes that Buzbee is prepared to settle and that the general parameters of an agreement — including the amount of money Watson is willing to pay out — are in place, but that Buzbee still wants to keep the settlement confidential and is insisting he is prepared to try the case in an effort to get Hardin to change his stance. For his part, Hardin says there are no active settlement talks at the moment (via Courtney Zubowski of KPRC-TV).
For most observers, the football side of this matter is still on the backburner, but for the Texans, Watson, and any teams that might want to trade for the three-time Pro Bowler, it is very much a pressing issue. The NFL’s investigation is ongoing, but Florio believes the league must make a decision as to whether it will place Watson on the Commissioner’s Exempt list as soon as possible to be fair to all parties involved. Despite everything else that has happened since his trade demand earlier this year, Watson still wants to be traded and remains interested in the Broncos, though Denver reportedly would prefer to swing a deal for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.
However, it’s unclear when the NFL might make a decision with respect to Watson’s playing eligibility. According to Hardin, the league has not even spoken to his client yet.
The criminal investigation into Watson is also ongoing.
The NFL is a joke in the pace of their decisions. Let’s make up our freakin mind already! How hard is it? There is no reason this group of morons shouldn’t have come up with a decision one way or the other at least a month ago. They are holding up the entire season for Houston and any team interested in trading for Watson. GET WITH THE PROGRAM! How much are you idiots getting paid???
They probably have come to a decision, they’d probably just rather not explain the decision they came to and how they came to it extrajudicially
NFL doesn’t need to rush into a decision just because this idiot that got himself into a jam still insists on being dealt. And shame on the idiot teams waiting for the punishment to be rendered to decide if the risk of making him the face of the franchise is worth the trade offerings. This moron worked his way out of town and thing singlehandedly (or through the hands of 22 different women) killed whatever trade value he had.
Sounds fishy if Watson’s camp wants to make everything public and the lawyer fir the women wants the terms quiet.
Why do they have to be r aped by this idiot AND doxxed??
If you read the original article, you’ll find that the only indication that the claimants want to preserve confidentiality as part of a settlement comes from Florio’s “guesses” about the case.
And, frankly, I think Florio is wrong.
BBC or not…..NO. Anybody that can read knows that Mr. Watson allegedly likes to force women to rub his gentiles. Money seems to bring the best out of everyone! I guess If I had his money I’d pay a willful business woman rather than risking this exploding in everyone’s face! OOPS! phrasing……
Rubbing his gentiles, eh?
I’m not sure that’s Kosher…
oy vey
Why write “allegedly” and then assume it’s true? That’s sort of oxymoronic.
As I recall Hardin was Clemens attorney. My take on that was Hardin is unbeatable in front of a jury. Buzzie better be careful for what he is wishing for ala jury trial
Watson need a fresh start. They’ve rubbed him wrong in H-Town
“… we made clear early on that we wouldn’t try these cases in the press …”
umm
Isn’t the whole point of a settlement to keep the public uninformed while both lawyers make out like bandits?
Awww democracy and the US legal system
Who is Buzbee kidding? Every time he posts an update he is “trying” this case in public.