Legal settlements
FILE - Construction personnel work on the Carolina Panthers' practice facility Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, in Rock Hill, S.C. A sheriff in South Carolina has announced his deputies started a criminal investigation into whether Panthers owner David Tepper or his company misused public money meant for a failed practice facility. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
Panthers owner David Tepper scrutinized in criminal probe

By Jeffrey Collins Dec. 02, 2022 11:36 AM EST

FILE - Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke is shown before an NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz. Representatives of St. Louis, St. Louis County and the authority that owns The Dome at America’s Center have reached a tentative agreement dividing up the $519 million remaining in settlement money from the lawsuit over the NFL Rams’ relocation.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Deal finalized to divide Rams settlement money in St. Louis

Nov. 30, 2022 03:41 PM EST

FILE - Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson leaves the field at the end of the first half against the Chicago Bears in an NFL preseason football game, Aug. 27, 2022, in Cleveland. An attorney for the women who settled their lawsuits against Deshaun Watson says most of his clients have no interest in his return to Houston on Sunday. But Tony Buzbee, their attorney, says about 10 of the women who accused Watson of sexual harassment and assault during massages planned to attend Sunday’s game at Houston’s NRG Stadium when the Browns take on the Texans and watch him play in his return from an 11-game suspension. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Attorney: As QB Watson returns, accusers say 'we matter'

By Juan A. Lozano Nov. 29, 2022 01:51 PM EST

FILE - Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke is shown before an NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz. Representatives of St. Louis, St. Louis County and the authority that owns The Dome at America’s Center have reached a tentative agreement dividing up the $519 million remaining in settlement money from the lawsuit over the NFL Rams’ relocation.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
St. Louis region announces plan for Rams settlement money

By Jim Salter Nov. 23, 2022 10:28 AM EST

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson stands on the field during an NFL football practice at the team's training facility Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Browns QB Watson practices for 1st time during suspension

By Tom Withers Nov. 16, 2022 02:25 PM EST

FILE - Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson walks off of the field during an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears, Saturday Aug. 27, 2022, in Cleveland. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said suspended quarterback Watson has met the requirements of his settlement with the league to this point after being accused of sexual misconduct by two dozen women. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin, File)
Goodell: Suspended QB Watson meeting settlement requirements

By Tom Withers Oct. 18, 2022 08:31 PM EDT

FILE - Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson walks on the field during an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, in Cleveland. Watson is expected to return to the Cleveland Browns' facility on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, as the polarizing quarterback continues serving his 11-game NFL suspension for alleged sexual misconduct. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Deshaun Watson facing new lawsuit claiming sexual misconduct

By Tom Withers Oct. 13, 2022 10:46 PM EDT

FILE - Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) warms up prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears, Saturday Aug. 27, 2022, in Cleveland. Deshaun Watson returned to the Browns' training facility Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, the quarterback's next step in his potential return from an NFL suspension. Watson, banned for 11 games for alleged sexual misconduct after being accused by women in Texas of lewd actions during massage therapy sessions, has been away from the Browns since Aug. 30.(AP Photo/Kirk Irwin, File)
Watson back with Browns; can attend meetings, not practice

By Tom Withers Oct. 10, 2022 12:23 PM EDT

FILE - Carolina Panthers team owner David Tepper looks on before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 17, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. Tepper's real estate company filed court papers on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, asking to revoke a bankruptcy settlement it was trying to make with a city and county in South Carolina over its abandoned practice facility. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman, File)
Panthers withdraw city, county deal over abandoned facility

By Jeffrey Collins Sep. 14, 2022 01:35 PM EDT

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7), right, warms up beside Deshaun Watson prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
QB Deshaun Watson leaves Browns as NFL suspension begins

By Tom Withers Aug. 30, 2022 03:31 PM EDT

FILE - Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza waves to fans after a preseason NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Orchard Park, N.Y., Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022. With a nickname like "Punt God," Matt Araiza has all but assured himself to securing a spot on the Buffalo Bills roster. The Bills cleared the way for the rookie sixth-round pick out of San Diego State to take over the punting duties this season after releasing returning veteran Matt Haack on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)
Bills' investigation of Araiza didn't include alleged victim

By John Wawrow Aug. 26, 2022 05:46 PM EDT

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson works out during a joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles at NFL football training camp, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, in Berea, Ohio,. Watson has reached a settlement with the NFL and will serve an 11-game unpaid suspension and pay a $5 million fine rather than risk missing his first season as quarterback of the Cleveland Browns following accusations of sexual misconduct while he played for the Houston Texans. (Joshua Gunter/Cleveland.com via AP)
Single lawsuit last remaining legal issue for Deshaun Watson

By Juan A. Lozano Aug. 18, 2022 06:41 PM EDT

FILE - Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Aug. 12, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, that Watson has reached a settlement with the NFL and will serve an 11-game suspension and pay a $5 million fine rather than risk missing his first season as quarterback of the Browns following accusations of sexual misconduct while he played for the Houston Texans. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Browns' Deshaun Watson suspended 11 games, fined $5 million

By Tom Withers Aug. 18, 2022 12:09 PM EDT

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson waits for the snap during NFL football practice in Berea, Ohio, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
AP sources: Talks on possible Watson settlement progress

By Rob Maaddi And Tom Withers Aug. 17, 2022 01:18 PM EDT

FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers NFL football player Najeh Davenport is shown in Pittsburgh on Sept. 23, 2007. Hundreds of Black NFL retirees denied payouts in the $1 billion concussion settlement now qualify for awards after their tests were rescored to eliminate racial bias. The fact that the testing algorithm adjusted scores by race, as a rough proxy for someone's socioeconomic background, went unnoticed for several years until lawyers for former Pittsburgh Steelers Kevin Henry and Najeh Davenport exposed it in a 2020 lawsuit. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
More Black NFL retirees win dementia cases in rescored tests

By Maryclaire Dale Aug. 12, 2022 09:12 AM EDT

Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Deshaun Watson (4) and Jacoby Brissett (7) jog during the NFL football team's training camp, Monday, August 1, 2022, in Berea, Ohio. Watson was suspended for six games on Monday after being accused by two dozen women in Texas of sexual misconduct during massage treatments, in what a disciplinary officer said was behavior “more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL.” (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)
Browns QB Watson suspended 6 games, NFL weighs appeal

By Rob Maaddi Aug. 01, 2022 08:29 AM EDT

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson walks during an NFL football practice in Berea, Ohio, Saturday, July 30, 2022. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
AP sources: Decision in Watson discipline case coming Monday

By Rob Maaddi Jul. 31, 2022 07:16 PM EDT

Rugby players taking legal action about brain injury claims

Jul. 24, 2022 07:23 PM EDT
LONDON (AP) — More than 100 former rugby players are taking legal action against World Rugby and the national governing bodies of England and Wales over what they...

FILE - Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Carson, Calif. The Houston Texans had been told that their former quarterback Deshaun Watson was sexually assaulting and harassing women during massage sessions, but instead of trying to stop him, the team provided him with resources to enable his actions and “turned a blind eye” to his behavior, according to a lawsuit filed Monday, June 27, 2022. Watson, who was later traded to the Cleveland Browns, has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to clear his name. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Lawyer: 30 women settle Watson-related claims against Texans

By Juan A. Lozano Jul. 15, 2022 01:44 PM EDT

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson answers a question at the NFL football team's practice facility Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Analysis: Settlement best solution for Deshaun Watson, NFL

By Rob Maaddi Jul. 01, 2022 07:21 PM EDT