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Attorney: Women suing Watson didn't feel respected in meetings with NFL

Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing the 22 women suing Deshaun Watson over claims ranging from sexual assault to inappropriate misconduct, told Fox 26 in Houston on Wednesday that some of his clients didn't feel respected by the NFL during its investigation, according to ESPN's Michael Rothstein.

Buzbee didn't specify how the league made his clients feel disrespected.

He added four women have met with the league's leading investigator Lisa Friel thus far and said there are "probably four more women" who want to meet with the league. However, he hasn't yet determined if he will allow them to speak to the NFL.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy responded to Buzbee's comments on Thursday.

"The allegations are very concerning and the league immediately began investigating the matter under the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy," McCarthy wrote in an email to ESPN. "The investigation includes gathering information, monitoring law enforcement developments, and conducting interviews with relevant people willing to participate with counsel present."

McCarthy described Friel as having a "stellar reputation as a consummate professional who conducts investigations and interviews with compassion and fairness in an effort to determine the truth."

The Houston Police Department is also looking into the allegations against the Houston Texans quarterback, telling ESPN its investigation is still ongoing. Buzbee added that eight to 10 of the women he represents have met with the Houston police.

Watson is being sued by 22 women in civil court over claims that vary from sexual assault to inappropriate touching of massage therapists. The claims range from March 2020 to March 2021.

Buzbee says there are no plans to settle. Watson's attorney Rusty Hardin responded in a statement obtained by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport on Thursday, stating there will be "no settlement unless the terms are made public and all participants are allowed to speak in their own defense at all times.”

The quarterback and his legal team have denied the allegations, stating that all 22 plaintiffs are lying.

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