HOUSTON Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun WatsonA Texas judge ruled Tuesday that he must disclose whether he had sex or not with 18 massage therapists supporting him after 22 women filed criminal complaints against him.
USA Today reported Watson had 30 days to comply. His past history was not discussed with him before. Watson must also provide additional information regarding his massage history, including any language in the contract with the Texans that relates to massages.
Watson, one the NFL’s best quarterbacks, was traded last month to Cleveland.
22 women have accused him of sexual misconduct during therapy sessions. Many of these sessions were arranged by him via social media, with the therapists in 2020 and 2021.
Two grand juries declined to indict Watson for 10 criminal charges he filed to Houston police. He is still being sued in civil cases and has been deposing on them for several week.
Watson must answer written “requests to admission” by the women’s legal team regarding sex with the 18 therapists he consulted after the first lawsuits against Watson were filed in March 2021.
According to the lawyers for plaintiffs, the answers would indicate a pattern or motives for setting up massages.
USA Today reports that Harris County District Judge Rabea Sultan Colllier ruled in favor for the plaintiff at Tuesday’s hearing. Watson’s lawyer asked Collier for explanation, but Collier did not.
The judge replied, “The objection has been overruled.” “Thank you.”
Watson, a threetime Pro Bowler was not able to play last year after he asked the Texans to trade for him. The bidding war between the Browns, several NFL teams and Watson began after the first grand jury decided not to indict Watson.
Watson initially declined the Browns, but he changed his mind and signed a record five year, $230 million, fully guaranteed contract with Cleveland.
Dee and Jimmy Haslam are Browns owners. After meeting Watson, the owners felt more confident signing Watson.
Watson stated that she had never assaulted, disrespected, or harassed a woman in her life when Cleveland introduced him to the media late last month. I’ve never done the things they are claiming. It was the first time that he answered direct questions about these allegations.
Watson is still likely to be disciplined by the NFL.
Commissioner Roger Goodell stated last week that there is no set time for the league to investigate Watson’s behavior off-field. Before Goodell issues any penalties, Watson will be examined by an independent arbitrator to determine if he violated the personal-conduct policy of the league.