Deshaun Watson Sexual Assault Allegation(s) Thread

[Spider2YB]

the irony is all these women are after his money.

not giving any judgement because none of us know what happened. just commenting on your last sentence.

.

each of the lawsuits filed has been for the absolute minimum allowed by law....$500. If this is a cash grab they must not be after much cash.

 

[Mackeyser]

each of the lawsuits filed has been for the absolute minimum allowed by law....$500. If this is a cash grab they must not be after much cash.

No, if you read the full complaint, they allege the kitchen sink of damages and specifically state that they seek deterrent damages... to deter someone who just signed a $156M contract? That’s gonna be millions. No atty signs up this many clients on contingency to only take the minimum. They also don’t go public prior to service of the complaint if they want the minimum.

22 is a shit ton of women and the volume makes him look guiltier than before, right or wrong.

I still say the timing stinks on ice and going public with 22 Jane Does doesn’t mean anything while at the same time, rest assured as the atty knows it means everything...

 

[Angry Ram]

I don’t like the NFL policy on any of this - but Ben Rothlisberger? Ted Rath? Without a criminal conviction, the NFL isn’t going to act. And do you think we will ever know if the allegations are true?

As far as I know Dallas RB didn't get a criminal conviction and got 6 games. League does its own thing, which I'm fine with.

 

[12intheBox]

Roethlisberger was in a different era entirely, and he still got a six game suspension. Rath, to my knowledge, no longer has a job with the Rams.

And if twenty-two women are all claiming that Watson sexually assaulted them...well, it’s a pattern. This is basically how all of the powerful men who had sexual misconduct in the Me-Too era got taken down: first one, then a few more, then the dam breaks until there’s so many saying the same thing that people can’t call them all liars and gold-diggers.

Big Ben is still playing, Ted Rath works for the Eagles. Do you not think it strange that not a single one of the 22 women reported it? Not one? I could see less than half - but none?

I don’t know the truth here. He may be a complete predator. These girls and this lawyer may be full of shit. It may be somewhere in the middle. I’ll probably never know. But I think his career goes on unless criminal charges end in convictions.

 

[Raptorman]

The more info the Attorney releases, the fewer facts he has. Text messages like the ones released are only there to bend people's views. There is nothing in them that is damning. This is all a ploy to get money for the women without going to trial. Because at a trial, it's "he said, she said". And the attorney does not want that. He can't prove any of the allegations. And I'm sure the women have been told they won't have to testify.

To make a point clear, I'm not defending anyone here, just pointing some things out. Remember, the Attorney will get at least 30% of all settlements. IF not more.

 

[tempests]

No one - not one of these women - had filed a police report.

Now, he says, they will - but honestly - I know that there are waaaay more sexual assaults than get reported to the police - but 0/22 women who felt like they were sexually assaulted by this man reported it?

I wouldn't underestimate the influence and intimidation powerful people have.

Most of Ravi Zacharias' accusers came forward after he was dead. They only felt safe doing so then.

The one who did speak out while he was still alive; well, he pretty much ruined her life.

 

[FrantikRam]

the irony is all these women are after his money.

not giving any judgement because none of us know what happened. just commenting on your last sentence.

.

What would be the alternative to going after his money? It's pretty much the only way to get his attention.

Most people here think he will continue to have an NFL career, even if he's guilty - which probably means that (like most of these cases) there's no way they'll be getting the money they're asking for. I'd imagine the end goal would be some money to cover damages (if there weren't any damages - therapy, etc. - they wouldn't be coming forward) - coupled with this becoming public to make sure he doesn't do it again.

The other problem with these cases are that the accused always - ALWAYS - reacts exactly how Watson did, even if they're guilty.

Meanwhile most sexual assaults go unreported. Which means that Deshaun did whats easy for guilty men to do and these women did whats hard for victims do. This, along with people not believing women (sadly one just has to read this thread to see an example), is why sexual assault cases have transformed to guilty until proven innocent in the eyes of the public.

 

[Loyal]

Imagine what a shyte show it would have been if we had gotten the dream trade for him, regardless of his guilt or not? Another reason it’s great to have landed Stafford...

 

[Memento]

Big Ben is still playing, Ted Rath works for the Eagles. Do you not think it strange that not a single one of the 22 women reported it? Not one? I could see less than half - but none?

I don’t know the truth here. He may be a complete predator. These girls and this lawyer may be full of shit. It may be somewhere in the middle. I’ll probably never know. But I think his career goes on unless criminal charges end in convictions.

No, I don’t think it’s strange. Most sexual assault cases don’t get reported because of shame, because they question themselves, because they fear that people will say that they’re lying, that they’re doing it for money/attention. It takes a courageous soul to come out and say, “Yes, this man/woman raped me,” and that inspires others who have undergone similar trauma at the hands of the accused to come forward.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Big Ben is still playing, Ted Rath works for the Eagles. Do you not think it strange that not a single one of the 22 women reported it? Not one? I could see less than half - but none?

I don’t know the truth here. He may be a complete predator. These girls and this lawyer may be full of shit. It may be somewhere in the middle. I’ll probably never know. But I think his career goes on unless criminal charges end in convictions.

@12intheBox, I think we can both agree that we need to see this play out and there's absolutely no good outcome here. A litany of lies or a hurtful and compulsive young man.

That stated, I'm gonna make a guess here and assume you're a man. If you're not, this still applies though. Do you have a mother? A sister? Two sisters? A daughter? A female friend? A female colleague. One of these women has been sexually assaulted in their lives and you probably don't know about it. It's hard to grasp, I get it, when we're not the ones who it happens to, to realize that it happens that frequently.

Can you imagine if one in six American women pressed charges for a sexual assault in the US? What if only a quarter of them did? What if it was 1/20th. Still, the numbers would be astronomical!

Women will keep it to themselves, will report it to friends at the time (you see this come out a tone a ton in civil litigation) or will report it to someone who will disbelieve them or assert that it wasn't assault or perhaps keep the focus on their actions.

No, I don't think it strange at all that 22 women have not reported a criminal complaint. Because I think everyone on this board knows someone who's been sexually assaulted who hasn't filed a criminal complaint. And some of us more than one.

 

[Zodi]

done? Cmon. This is the nfl. We all saw Ty Hill play in the super bowl the last 2 years. And there was a tape there and serious abuse. This is civil filings only. I doubt there is even a suspension at this point.

These are civil filings only, for now. Police can conduct their own investigation and then authorities can bring charges.

Cosby and Weinstein both started in civil court. Both are now in prison.

 

[Zodi]

No one - not one of these women - had filed a police report.

Now, he says, they will - but honestly - I know that there are waaaay more sexual assaults than get reported to the police - but 0/22 women who felt like they were sexually assaulted by this man reported it?

They probably thought it wouldn't be a good idea to call the police and admit to a crime while accusing the king of Houston of sexual assault? That's like a drug dealer calling the cops because someone robbed him during a drug deal.

 

[Neil039]

I am by no means passing judgement on Watson or the women.

I worked in Law Enforcement for 8 years(left due to medical). I tracked and arrested Sex Offenders for 5.5 of those years. So I am very familiar with Colorado & Federal Case Law and Sex Offender behaviors.

My point is simple. There is something seriously wrong when Twenty-two women, with no prior knowledge of one another, speak out regarding their similar experiences with Deshaun Watson.

Sexual Conduct is defined similarly in every state...top offense is full blow Rape down to unwarranted touching or exposure. A Man or Woman can commit any level of these unwarranted offenses and it’s a sex offense.

IMO the best course of action is for the local PD, to hell with the NFL, investigate these accusations. If warranted they should prosecute. Sadly, I doubt this will happen. I bet the majority will go the civil route.

Last little point. For years I (along with millions) watched and cheered for the ”womens gymnastics team“ (women is way overstated, they were teenagers at best). Millions watched as Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were won never knowing the pain, humiliation and horror a great deal of them endured by a predator. Assisted by selfish greedy people. I have a feeling the NFL (organization wide) has some like minded idiots employed who would assist if it meant earning the mighty dollar.

 

[TexasRam]

Gambling on sports- Now legal
Marijuana- Now legal
Prostitution?- Other than remote areas, not legal
Personally, I dont engage in these rub and tugs but I sure know enough people who do. Remove the gray area from the equation and its all black and white. You can pay for a lap dance still right?

Prostitution isn’t all roses. Even in the legalized porn industry the amount of sexual assault is staggering.

Either a person understands the word no or they don’t. If you don’t have respect for someone and self restraint then you are going to cross lines even in a legalized setting.

If Watson just got some happing endings that were consensual, than the negative public perception and such will be minimal. If he forced himself upon a women then that is not going to have a happy ending.

 

[dieterbrock]

Prostitution isn’t all roses. Even in the legalized porn industry the amount of sexual assault is staggering.

Either a person understands the word no or they don’t. If you don’t have respect for someone and self restraint then you are going to cross lines even in a legalized setting.

I'm not defending Watson, just making a point that in *some* massage parlors, there is expectation for rub and tug. Since it's not legal, its a gray area. Legalized prostitution takes the gray area away.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Even in the legalized porn industry the amount of sexual assault is staggering.

the amount of stories you hear about how the women are coerced to do things they didn't want to do is eye popping. and once they've done it they tell them your reputation is already ruined, you may as well make some more money out of some more movies.

it's a shady business for sure.

having said that, probably a majority of the women enter the business with their eyes wide open.

.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

It really could go either way. I could see a bunch of masseuses jumping in on this to get a payday. My cousin was that kind of a masseuse. She even offered to give me a massage . She told me all about her experiences. She is a very openly sexual woman. She was also an exotic dancer at one time. She never had much money until she married into it. I could definitely see her going in on a lawsuit to get paid at some points of her life.

Is this to say all of these women are like my cousin? No. Of course Watson could have done it.

I always think of Austin Scott when it comes to these things. He was a Penn State runningback. He was heavily recruited and looked to possibly be an NFL back. His chances were gone because a girl that he really liked had sex with him and accused him of rape later on. He was found guilty and any hopes of an NFL career were gone. Years later a friend of the woman came forward and said it was a ploy because she thought he was going to be a rich NFL player.

You just never know.

 

[12intheBox]

@12intheBox, I think we can both agree that we need to see this play out and there's absolutely no good outcome here. A litany of lies or a hurtful and compulsive young man.

That stated, I'm gonna make a guess here and assume you're a man. If you're not, this still applies though. Do you have a mother? A sister? Two sisters? A daughter? A female friend? A female colleague. One of these women has been sexually assaulted in their lives and you probably don't know about it. It's hard to grasp, I get it, when we're not the ones who it happens to, to realize that it happens that frequently.

Can you imagine if one in six American women pressed charges for a sexual assault in the US? What if only a quarter of them did? What if it was 1/20th. Still, the numbers would be astronomical!

Women will keep it to themselves, will report it to friends at the time (you see this come out a tone a ton in civil litigation) or will report it to someone who will disbelieve them or assert that it wasn't assault or perhaps keep the focus on their actions.

No, I don't think it strange at all that 22 women have not reported a criminal complaint. Because I think everyone on this board knows someone who's been sexually assaulted who hasn't filed a criminal complaint. And some of us more than one.

A wife, 2 daughters, a sister, my mother passed. I know victims of sexual assault who never filed a report. I know that more sexual assaults go unreported than reported. I am just having a hard time with this series of allegations - but I’m willing to admit that they may be true. My skepticism in this case comes from several factors. (1) the attorney - a huge fan of the Texans who claims he didn’t even know that Watson wanted a trade (2) the timing (3) zero reports (I know it’s not impossible that 22 or more women were assaulted and no one reported but this isn’t date rape, this is a professional service - and no one reports?) (4) money - this whole asking for the minimum is paper thin - they want punitive damages.

again - he may be guilty and if so - fuck him. But if this is a smear job, then fuck this lawyer and these women.

 

[Corbin]

Coercion isn't just verbal persuasion and rape isn't just physical force. I'm not telling you anything (altho what your alluding to has been brought forth allegedly) other than the fact that there's a word for coercing someone to blow you. Jesus christ.

Give me one place in that article that listed him using violence or threats?

I’ll wait.

Dios Mío.

 

[Merlin]

Texting and asking for happy endings doesn't make him a monster in my book. Advantage to using the services of a pro is that there's a financial exchange agreed upon. No phone calls or house visits by pregnant girlfriends. I realize the massage side is all shady and that propositioning sex for money is illegal but a guy like him I also get why he might try to go that route and get his rocks off without the complications.

He needs some guidance, some community service time and whatnot maybe he'll end up helping somehow like runaway girl charities or something. I don't think he's a total asshole type dude. He'll probably turn this around and try to do good from it I'll bet.