A jury acquits Deshaun Watson of sexual harassment charges. What’s next for the Texans quarterback, what else is he facing? ran answers the most important questions.

Munich – The verdict is in: Deshaun Watson remains a free man.

On Friday, a jury ruled that the quarterback will not be charged with the sexual harassment and assault he was accused of.

But what does that mean exactly? What’s next for the playmaker and what consequences does he still face?

NFL News answers the most important questions.

What does the verdict say?

About a year ago, a total of 22 women filed a civil lawsuit against the athlete. Only eight of them also filed criminal charges against Watson, while two others at least reported him to the police.

These ten criminal cases were presented before a jury of twelve on Friday. Prosecutors presented evidence and testimony, and the quarterback himself was also heard. However, he exercised his right not to incriminate himself.

In this context, Watson’s lawyer explained that sexual acts had taken place during some massage appointments, but that his client had not coerced anyone.

After lawyers presented nine of the ten cases, the jury decided to dismiss the claims and not bring charges against the 26-year-old. Watson, in the jury’s opinion, has therefore not committed any criminal offences and the investigations in this regard will be discontinued.

A prison sentence or any other form of punishment is thus off the table.

What are the further consequences?

With the termination of the criminal investigation, the biggest problem for the quarterback is solved, but the matter is by no means over.

The 22 civil lawsuits filed by the massage therapists are still pending. After the verdict was announced, the women’s lawyer already spoke out and stated that he would continue questioning Watson.

“The civil cases will continue to gain momentum. We will question Mr Watson again on Tuesday,” said lawyer Tony Buzbee. However, no further trial dates have yet been set for the lawsuits.

While the quarterback cannot be criminally prosecuted, the plaintiffs can, for example, recover damages.

How did Watson react?

For the first time in more than a year, the 26-year-old faced questions from reporters. “It’s definitely a very emotional moment for me. I know we are far from done with what we have to do on the legal side, but today is definitely a big day,” he said outside his lawyer’s office building.

https://twitter.com/deshaunwatson/status/1502415397815037956

And continued, “I thank my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for making the truth heard. And I thank all who have been involved in this process for seeing and hearing both sides. That’s what I and my team wanted to achieve, which is a fair trial, where we tell our side of the story and draw the conclusion to what happened today, and that’s what the grand jury decided. I’m just going to keep fighting to restore my name and my standing in society. “

What does the NFL say?

The best football league in the world is following the events surrounding Watson closely. The NFL, for example, has initiated proceedings against the playmaker to determine whether he violated league guidelines. On Friday, a spokesman said, “We are closely following all developments in this matter.”

But: the NFL is avoiding contact with the accused and lawyers until the criminal investigation is complete. “They want to make sure they don’t interfere with the criminal investigation,” Watson’s lawyer Hardin explained in this regard.

Now that the criminal components have been completed, the league will soon approach the quarterback and his lawyers. Theoretically, Watson could then be fined.

By comparison, ex-Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused by two women of raping them. Big Ben settled with one lady out of court, the other case was dropped for lack of evidence. The league suspended him for seven games.

Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott once faced allegations of domestic violence. He allegedly violently attacked his girlfriend over a period of days. After a 13-month investigation, the NFL suspended him for six games, although no charges were filed, either.

What’s next for sports?

2021 the playmaker was on the franchise’s roster but did not play due to the ongoing investigation. A trade he had called for due to his dissatisfaction with the Texans also did not materialise.

It is undisputed that Watson is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. So it is not surprising that several teams have already put out feelers for the 26-year-old.

The Texans are also likely to be interested in his departure. Head coach Lovie Smith explained that the team is hoping for a “quick solution” with regard to Watson’s future.

The Seattle Seahawks are named as the main interested party in the US media. But the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints are apparently also in play.