Watson’s attorney doubts allegations
An attorney for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who’s accused of sexual assault and harassment in lawsuits filed by 16 women, on Tuesday questioned the allegations against the NFL player, claiming they were made following a failed attempt to blackmail his client for $30,000.
The women, in lawsuits filed in state court in Houston, accuse Watson of exposing himself, touching them with his penis or kissing them against their will while he got a massage. All of the women who have sued Watson are either licensed massage therapists or worked in a spa or similar business.
Rusty Hardin, Watson’s attorney, alleged in a statement that his legal team has “strong evidence” an accusation made by a woman they believe filed one of the lawsuits is false.
In her lawsuit, the woman alleged Watson forced her to perform oral sex during a massage in December and that she “blacked out for a few minutes from the fear” of her encounter with Watson, which left her “terrified.”
Hardin alleges that in January, the woman demanded $30,000 in exchange for her “indefinite silence” for a consensual encounter she had with Watson.
Hardin provided a sworn affidavit from Bryan Burney, Watson’s marketing manager, who alleged he spoke with the woman, who told him she needed to be paid for her “silence.”
In his affidavit, Burney alleges he also spoke with the woman’s “business manager” and told him the demand for money “was extortion.”
“He responded, ‘It’s not extortion, it’s blackmail,’” Burney said.
Hardin said the attempt to blackmail Watson “calls into question the legitimacy of the other cases as well. “
Tony Buzbee, who represents the 16 women, did not immediately return a call or email seeking comment on Tuesday.
“Alleged sexual misconduct is serious. Attempting to criminalize or minimize those that speak out or step forward is wrong,” Buzbee said in a statement posted
Tuesday afternoon on his Facebook page.
• Marcus Mariota agreed to take a pay cut on Tuesday to remain as backup quarterback for a second season for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Mariota had been due to be paid $10.5 million in the second year of his contract with the team after making $7.5 million last year. The Raiders were unwilling to pay that much for Mariota to be Derek Carr’s backup and reached agreement to bring him back on a cheaper deal.
NFL Network reported that Mariota will be paid $3.5 million this season with a chance to increase the deal to $8 million with incentives.
• The Philadelphia Eagles have signed veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.
Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta, made the announcement on Twitter on Tuesday. The Eagles only had Jalen Hurts under contract before the move.
Flacco, the 2012 Super Bowl MVP, started four games for the Jets last season and eight games for the Broncos in 2019. He spent his first 11 seasons with Baltimore, leading the Ravens to six playoff appearances and one Super Bowl title.
The Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday signed free agent cornerback Eli Apple to a one-year contract.
Apple, a former Ohio State star, was a first-round pick by the New York Giants in 2016 and went to the New Orleans Saints via trade in 2018.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers released veteran cornerback Steven Nelson on Tuesday, opting to cut him rather than trade him, an announcement that came shortly after Nelson tweeted the team was “holding him hostage.”
The team gave the 28-year-old Nelson permission to explore trade destinations last Friday after the AFC North champions re-signed cornerback Cam Sutton to a two-year deal.
Cornerback Kevin King is staying with the Green Bay Packers after agreeing to a one-year deal worth $6 million.
King’s agent, Chad Speck, confirmed the agreement on Tuesday. ESPN and NFL Network first reported the deal.
• The Panthers have agreed to terms one a oneyear contract with starting right guard John Miller and added free agent linebacker/special teams player Frankie Luvu from the New York Jets.
Don’t bet on Rahm finishing the Masters
Jon Rahm is the third betting favorite at the Masters, listed by Westgate Superbook at 12-1 behind Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau. The Spaniard might suggest a prop bet on whether he starts or finishes the tournament.
His first child is due on Masters weekend, and Rahm made it abundantly clear where his priorities are.
“All I can say is if anybody’s thinking of betting on me on the Masters, maybe think about it twice because there’s a chance I have to just turn around and leave that week,” he said Tuesday from the Dell Technologies Match Play.
The target given his wife, Kelly, is April 10-12.
Juventus games heading to CBS
Cristiano Ronaldo’s games with Juventus are moving from ESPN to CBS in the United States starting next season.
The Italian league on Tuesday approved a contract with CBS for Serie A and Italian Cup rights worth about 64 million euros ($75 million) per year for the next three seasons.
Ronaldo has one more season remaining on his contract with Juventus.
Serie A is concluding a three-year stay on ESPN, which streams most of the Italian games online.
• David Beckham’s Inter Miami has signed 31-yearold left back Kieran Gibbs to a 2 ½-season contract that starts July 1 after the expiration of his deal with West Bromwich Albion of England’s Premier League.
Gibbs has appeared in 10 league matches this season and 11 overall for West Brom.
Venus Williams loses in Miami Open
It has been 20 years since Venus Williams won her home tournament, and her stay at the 2021 Miami Open was brief.
Williams was eliminated on the first day of play Tuesday by 89th-ranked Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan, 6-2, 7-6 (10).
Missing from the tournament are Serena Williams and the three players who have dominated men’s tennis for years — Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Djokovic decided against making the trip from Serbia, and the others cited health issues.
OSU president forced to resign over LSU
Oregon State University president F. King Alexander has resigned amid backlash related to his role in the sexual misconduct saga at Louisiana State University, where he previously served as president.
The OSU board of trustees met and accepted his resignation Tuesday. The move is effective as of April 1. Last week, the board voted to place Alexander on probation.
An independent investigation released earlier this month into allegations of sexual misconduct at LSU found a “serious institutional failure” and detailed systemic failures by LSU to appropriately report incidents of athleticsrelated sexual misconduct and abuse.
Former LSU athletic director Joe Alleva recommended in 2013 that Les Miles be fired as head coach of the football program after accusations of inappropriate behavior with female student workers, according to the report, which revealed that Alexander knew of the allegations against Miles when he was hired as president in 2013.
* Russia’s sports minister stepped aside Tuesday from leading the world governing body for university sports in order to comply with punishments imposed in the fallout from a statebacked doping program that resulted in his country being banned from the Olympics. The International University Sports Federation (FISU) said Oleg Matytsin will not resume duties as its president until Dec. 17, 2022. His term expires the next year.