It has not been a terrific 24 hours for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The 28-year-old signal-caller had one of many worst video games of his profession in Cleveland’s 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, throwing for simply 169 yards with one landing, two interceptions and 6 sacks taken.
Then Watson wakened on Monday morning to seek out he’s been named in a lawsuit in Houston accusing him of sexual assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional misery, per Mike Florio of Professional Soccer Speak.
Florio additionally acknowledged this new case may give the Browns authorized standing to void the remainder of Watson’s $230M contract and any wage ensures.
If Cleveland have been to designate Watson as a post-June 1 launch subsequent offseason, it might have a useless cap hit of $172.7M that it may unfold over 2025 and 2026. But when the Browns have been in a position to void his contract with no useless cap cost, they might save north of $150M.
The plaintiff, who filed the go well with below a Jane Doe identify, alleges she was getting ready for a date with Watson on October 10, 2020. Whereas she was preparing in her lavatory, she claims Watson eliminated his garments, laid on her mattress bare and “aggressively insisted” that she therapeutic massage him.
Whereas massaging his shoulders, Watson allegedly demanded to be massaged in additional intimate areas together with his genitals. When she refused, stating she wasn’t a therapeutic massage therapist, Watson then allegedly partially disrobed the plaintiff and sexually assaulted her.
“Jane Doe felt paralyzed, uncertain if she ought to danger her security by attempting to cease Watson or endure his assault,” the lawsuit learn. “… Jane Doe lastly gathered the braveness and energy to flee Watson. Jane Doe rapidly ran to her dresser to seize a heavy piece of décor for self-defense, and yelled at Watson [to] get out of her condominium. Enraged, Watson stormed out of Jane Doe’s condominium.”
The plaintiff’s legal professional, Tony Buzbee, additionally represented quite a lot of ladies who sued Watson in 2021 in instances with related circumstances. These 20-plus lawsuits have been all from therapeutic massage therapists who claimed Watson additionally sexually assaulted them as effectively.
