Cleveland Browns general Deshaun Watson has reached settlement agreements in 20 of the 24 active civil lawsuits filed against him by women who have accused him of sexual harassment, the women’s lawyer said Tuesday. Attorney Anthony Buzbee described the terms of the settlement as confidential and said he expected the remaining four lawsuits to be settled in court. “I announce today that all but four of Deshaun Watson’s cases have been settled,” Buzbee said in a written statement. “We work through the bureaucracy associated with these settlements. Once we do, these specific cases will be rejected. The terms and amounts of the arrangements are confidential. We will not comment further on the settlements or these cases “. Watson has not been charged with a crime. He is still facing a possible suspension from the NFL based on his personal conduct policy. “Today’s development has no effect on the collective disciplinary process,” said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy. Watson and his lawyer, Rusty Hardin, have denied the allegations. Of the other lawsuits, Buzbee said: “I look forward to hearing these cases in due course, in accordance with other legal obligations and the court schedule.” The NFL will argue for a “significant” suspension of Deshaun Watson Watson’s accusations against women include inappropriate comments, appreciation and pressure of his penis on women’s hands during massage therapy sessions. Hardin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “I was honest and sincere about my attitude,” Watson told reporters last week during a Browns training session. “And this is it: I never forced anyone. I never attacked anyone. … I said it from the beginning. And I will continue to do that. “Until all the facts on the legal side come out, I must continue to follow the procedure of my legal team and the court.” Watson had not given any public indication last week that he was interested in settling the lawsuits. “Like I said, I just want to clear my name and be able to let the facts and legal proceedings continue to play out,” he said at the time. “So right now, all I do is want to clear my name and be able to let all the facts come out in a court of law and be able to focus on that.” The NFL plans to argue with the sport’s new disciplinary officer that Watson should receive a “significant” suspension for violating his personal conduct, many people familiar with the matter said Friday. The suspension that Watson’s championship is seeking could be for about a full season, said one of these people. The NFL must present the findings of its investigation to Sue L. Robinson, the former U.S. District Attorney who is the disciplinary officer jointly appointed by the league and the NFL Players’ Association in accordance with the current version of Political Conduct. It was not clear on Tuesday whether the case was formally presented to Robinson. The league hopes the entire disciplinary process, including resolving any possible appeal to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell or a nominee, will be completed by the start of the training camp, a knowledgeable person said on Friday. The Browns are scheduled to begin their training camp on July 27th. “When it comes to the league and their decision, we have to respect it and let them do their process and complete their research and reporting,” Watson said last week. “And as I said before, I have spoken to the league. I was honest and told them honestly every question they asked. So I can not really have [any] control over it. “ Buzbee said in an email on Monday that he and his clients had no ongoing involvement in the NFL discipline other than the interviews some of the women did last year with league representatives. “What the NFL does or does not do has nothing to do with civil matters,” Buzbee said in an email Monday.
