Local legal expert, sports agent weights in on Browns QB Watson's future

"It's an evolving situation but it has been for a couple years," says Valley attorney and sports agent Brian Kopp of the ebb and flow surrounding newly-minted Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. The latest development came late Thursday. A grand jury in Brazoria County, TX said it would not indict him on sexual misconduct charges stemming from a complaint by a masseuse. Just two weeks ago, a separate grand jury in Harris County, TX also declined to charge Watson on similar claims.
"I see the case as being no different than it was a week ago," Kopp said, adding that while Watson isn't being charged, his troubles may not be over.
He faces civil suits and potential punishment from the nfl from those accusations by 22 women.
"He's already sustained a tremendous amount of damage to his ability to market himself, so the sooner he could end the civil cases with financial payment, my gut says that's what's going on behind the curtain," said Kopp.
Nevertheless, Kopp believes that since Watson is now under contract, he'll likely play this Fall because the NFL handles discipline through due process - innocent until proven guilty. He also says the Browns took him on knowing these allegations were out there.
"The Browns have protections in the contract if he can't play because of what the NFL would do from a disciplinary standpoint," says Kopp.
As for what happens next, Kopp says we've already seen the floodgates open the way they do when a famous person is accused of something.
"At this stage, I would be willing to bet that most if not all of the claims that are viable have been brought."