The following story contains graphic language depicting sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The NFL is reviewing the allegations contained in the latest lawsuit filed Monday in Houston, Texas against Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
“We are reviewing the complaint and we will look into the matter under the Personal Conduct Policy,” a league spokesperson said Tuesday in a statement to 92.3 The Fan.
Because Watson has not been criminally charged and this is a civil matter, the Commissioner's Exempt List is not being considered.
The Browns also issued a statement Tuesday: “We will respect the due process our legal system affords regarding the recently filed civil suit and will follow the NFL’s guidelines on this matter.”
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported Tuesday evening that the league has appointed Special Counsel for Investigations Lisa Friel, who handled the league's first investigation into Watson, to head up this new investigation.
The lawsuit, filed under the pseudonym ‘Jane Doe,’ claims that Watson sexually assaulted a woman in October 2020 after Watson went to her apartment for a social dinner date.
The complaint alleges that while Jane Doe was finishing putting on makeup for their date, Watson got undressed and laid “naked on her bed, lying face down on his stomach.” When she came out of the bathroom Jane Doe was shocked to see Watson, who “insisted that she massage him, gesturing to his buttocks.” Jane Doe tried to massage Watson’s back to diffuse the situation, but Watson persisted and eventually “grabbed Jane Doe’s leg and positioned her so that she was lying down. Watson then partially disrobed Jane Doe and penetrated her vagina without consent, implicit or explicit…. Watson roughly sexually assaulted Jane Doe for several minutes in a ‘missionary position’ before grabbing her and flipping her over. Watson continued to assault Doe aggressively from behind. Jane Doe finally gathered the courage and strength to escape Watson. Jane Doe quickly ran to her dresser to grab a heavy piece of décor for self-defense, and yelled at Watson get out of her apartment. Enraged, Watson stormed out of Jane Doe’s apartment.”
The allegations made in the lawsuit filed Monday are more severe in nature than the complaints made by 25 other women alleging sexual misconduct by Watson during massage therapy appointments.
Watson served an 11-game suspension and paid a $5 million fine as part of a disciplinary settlement with the NFL stemming from those allegations of sexual misconduct made in over two dozen lawsuits filed against Watson. Watson reached private settlements to resolve all but two of the lawsuits.
The Houston Texans also reached private settlements with some of the accusers after the team was also sued.
Two grand juries in Texas declined to indict Watson on criminal chargers stemming from the original set of allegations made against Watson that became public in 2022.
The latest lawsuit also states that the alleged victim attempted to “resolve these issues with Watson without the filing of a public lawsuit. Those efforts failed.”
Cleveland acquired Watson from the Texans in March 2022 for six draft picks, including three first round selections, before giving him a fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
Watson has played in 13 games with the Browns due to the suspension and a shoulder injury that ended his 2023 season.
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