Yes it is but again in the below it seemed your focus was on him paying them millions to keep quiet. My point was just that he is paying them millions to get it over with so that the NFL can rule. If he didn't have an NFL suspension hanging over his head, I don't think he would have as much incentive to settle. So was just saying think his main motivation was to get the NFL to move ahead with punishment. The fact is the individual cases appear weak hence why two grand juries failed to indict and the standard for indictment is pretty low. Not to mention the women have already testified so a lot of their testimony is already out there. If the goal was to keep them quiet he would have settled before it got the the stage where depositions and testimony was taken.
No, you intimated that he was already under an NFL suspension. He needs to get this over with simply to get this over with and be able to play again at some point, regardless of where the play limitations are coming from. I suspect the urgency is still there for him but that Browns contract may have relaxed his rush. That just seemed odd considering the circumstances. Probably a lot we don't know or they really jumped the gun here. You'd have thought that they'd at least consulted the league on Watson's disposition before that trade. From the news we're getting now, it appears more like they just they just rolled the dice on this but there's so much we don't know here.
Depositions or complaints are different than criminal proceedings and if these women are signing NDAs, they don't carry the weight of a conviction or even similar testimony in a trial as opposed to a deposition without any ability to corroborate. They can still be viewed as greedy, skanks by biased football fans. If he can prevent this from going to trial, he's simply much better off unless he's certain he can win the case(s).
Just read this. If true, it's rather damning to Watson and the Texans that would become part of the suit.
According to the report, Watson asked several of the therapists to sign an N.D.A. he received from a
Texans staff member, and in his deposition he said the team arranged for some of the massages to happen at “a place” at The Houstonian, a hotel and spa in Houston. Per the Times, “he used the fitness club, dined there and also set up massages in hotel rooms.” May have something to do with why they wanted Watson out of the public eye and try to settle. Mud continues to thicken.
Keep track of the allegations, lawsuits, settlements, punishments and appeals regarding Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
theathletic.com
And it sounds like the NFL was trying to not throw Watson under the bus since their interview with victims seemed more like cross examinations.
In exclusive interviews, two women alleging sexual misconduct against the quarterback detail their interactions with the NFL, Watson and the aftermath.
www.si.com