One theory about the Deshaun Watson sexual assault lawsuits is that it could be partly retribution on the part of the Houston Texans for the three-time Pro Bowler demanding a trade in late January.
After all, a sports theory conspiracy theorist may argue, the lawyer representing the 22 women, Tony Buzbee, is allegedly neighbors with the McNairs. That would be enough proof, a sports conspiracy theorist may say.
However, new information from a Sports Illustrated cover story on the Watson lawsuits indicates Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair’s personal lawyer contacted Buzbee and Rusty Hardin, Watson’s attorney, to suggest mediation.
About two weeks after the first suits against Watson were filed, a lawyer who said he was representing Texans owner Cal McNair did approach both attorneys, seeking to broker a mediation. A statement from the Texans organization, emailed by a team spokesperson, says, “Mr. McNair was aware that his personal attorney contacted both parties to suggest mediation. Mr. McNair has had no personal involvement in any of those discussions. The Houston Texans organization has not had any direct contact with either party.”
Hardin says Watson and his team would only engage in settlement discussions if there was a NDA in place, covering solely the mediation itself, “because they feared Mr. Buzbee would misuse the process.” The NDA, which Hardin’s firm provided to SI, specifies that there is no confidentiality in place after the conclusion of mediation. The lawyer who said he was affiliated with McNair brought the NDA, which was drafted by Hardin’s firm, to Buzbee. Both he and Watson’s agent, David Mulugheta, signed the document, which was dated April 12.
Any settlement conversations after that point would have been confidential, but both attorneys’ statements last week that there are no negotiations at the moment indicate the mediation broke down. One issue the sides differ on is confidentiality: Hardin says Watson wants all terms of any settlement to be made public, and that all parties would be able to speak in their own defense. Buzbee, though, says, “These women have been roundly criticized. What Rusty wants is to humiliate them and make them targets of unscrupulous people. So any resolution we would want confidential, and it would also require Mr. Watson getting some counseling.”
If McNair’s personal attorney tried to broker mediation, it indicates the Texans aren’t taking any punitive actions against Watson as far as his trade request is concerned.
Whether due to Watson’s recalcitrance to play for Houston ever again, or any availability issues that arise due to the lawsuits, the Texans have fortified the quarterback position with the singings of Tyrod Taylor, Jeff Driskel, the trading for Ryan Finley, and the drafting of third-rounder Davis Mills.
