Two in 10 women with new allegations to press charges against Texas QB Deshaun Watson

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3:57 p.m. ET

John BarreESPN.com

Close Joined ESPN in June 2003 Winner: 2013 Peabody Award; 2011 Edward R. Murrow Award / Video Investigative Reporting Covers breaking news, investigative material and human interest reporting

Ten women have now filed complaints with the Houston Police Department over Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, according to Watson’s attorney Rusty Hardin,

Hardin spoke to ESPN on Monday about developments in criminal and civil cases involving his client.

“There are ten women who have complained to the [Houston] police, ”Hardin said.

Eight of the women, according to Hardin, are among 22 women who have alleged in civil lawsuits that Watson sexually assaulted them or engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior during massage sessions.

Two of the women who filed complaints with the Houston police, Hardin said, did not file civil lawsuits against Watson.

“There are a few women we don’t know anything about,” Hardin said.

Hardin admitted to knowing the names of the ten women who have filed criminal complaints, including the two who are not involved in civil litigation, but declined to provide those names to ESPN.

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Houston Police made no comment when reached on Monday about the investigation or the number of women who have filed complaints.

Hardin said Watson and his legal team have cooperated fully with the Houston Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office in Harris County, Texas.

“We are dealing with both, providing them with information,” Hardin said.

“We are cooperating fully with the police. We are cooperating fully with the district attorney’s office and, when the criminal investigation is completed, we will cooperate fully with the NFL.”

NFL investigators have yet to interview Watson, which is typical, Hardin said in an ongoing criminal case.

“We have made it clear to the NFL that we will fully cooperate with them when they are ready to visit. But they, out of deference to the criminal investigation, always try to wait until this is over before trying to speak. to the accused.

In a statement posted on ESPN Monday, Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the 22 women suing Watson, said he and his legal team were continuing to deal with “22 civil cases that make very serious and specific allegations.”

“To date, nearly half of these women have made affidavits to police, and almost half have spoken to the NFL investigative team. Both processes are very lengthy. We expect to provide further information to the NFL of all casualties, ”Buzzbe mentioned.

Regarding the ongoing civil lawsuits, Hardin said while the two sides have exchanged documents, they have yet to schedule depositions for the 22 women who are suing Watson. Under an agreement between the legal teams, the plaintiffs’ depositions will begin in September. Watson will not be removed from office until February of next year.

“It really follows the normal course of all civil litigation,” Hardin said of the depositions. “The dates have yet to be set, the exact dates for who will go when. But they will start in September.”

Should Watson come to a settlement with any or all of the women suing him, Hardin reiterated his desire to make any settlement public and said Watson would not sign any settlement that included a confidentiality agreement.

“I don’t want anyone to say that this guy paid the women to stay silent and so if there was a regulation of any kind it should be public and therefore on both sides, [Watson] and women, would be able to tell the whole world what they wanted. “

Hardin admitted on Monday that he was not involved in any way in the decision-making process regarding the future of Watson’s football.

The struggling Texans quarterback has been the subject of trade rumors for months, even before the off-field legal battles that consumed his offseason.

“The teams are ready to jump now if the Texans trade with them, even while this is all on hold,” Hardin said.

“There’s no question that there are teams, many teams, that are still interested. The ball is in the Texans court.”

“Regarding Watson’s footballing career,” Buzbee told ESPN, “I’m not focusing on whether Watson will play; rather, I’m focusing on the well-being of the women he’s been in contact with. and on aggressively pursuing their cases in court. “

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