Attorney: As Watson returns, QB’S accusers say ‘we matter’

With nearly all of the more than two dozen lawsuits filed against Deshaun Watson having been settled, most of the women who accused the Cleveland quarterback of sexual misconduct have no interest in his return to Houston on Sunday and just want to move on, according to their attorney. But about 10 of the women plan to attend Sunday’s game when the Browns take on the Texans and watch him play in his return from an 11-game suspension, said attorney Tony Buzbee. Some want to attend“to kind of make the statement, ‘Hey we’re still here. We matter. Our voice was heard,’ ” Buzbee said. The women declined to comment ahead of Sunday’s game, he said.

It’s unclear if the spotlight Watson gets this week will mean continued attention on the allegations against him, or if it’s the first step in shifting the conversation to his play on the football field, according to experts.“it can go either way

... I think probably for the vast majority of NFL fans, they’re going to forget about the past and start focusing on the future,” said David Ring, a California attorney who is not connected to the lawsuits and who has represented victims of sexual assault.

Watson was still with Houston when more than 20 women alleged he exposed himself, touched them or kissed them against their will. One woman alleged Watson forced her to perform oral sex.

Ultimately, 25 women represented by Buzbee filed lawsuits. One woman dropped her suit and 23 others settled their cases. Watson, traded to the Browns in March, has long denied any wrongdoing.