GREEN MAG

The two remaining lawsuits againstCleveland BrownsquarterbackDeshaun Watsonhave been dismissed by the women who filed them just weeks before they werescheduled to go to trial in February and March.

Both were among 27 lawsuits filed against Watson since March 2021, all by women who accused him of sexual misconduct. Of the 27 cases, 24 ended with confidential settlements and one was withdrawn shortly after being field in 2021. The last remaining two were dismissed with prejudice in Houston Friday Jan. 6, indicating they also were settled with confidential terms.

Plaintiffs attorney Tony Buzbee represented 26 of the 27 women, including one of the final remaining plaintiffs, Lauren Baxley, who previously declined to settle after filing suit in March 2021. She was one of the first women tocome forward publiclyand accuse Watson of misconduct during a massage session.

"Case is settled," Buzbee said Monday. "That's all I can say about it. That's the last case so that ends my involvement with Deshaun Watson litigation."

Watson denied wrongdoing and said some of the encounters with these women were consensual. But the NFL investigated and eventuallysuspended him for 11 games in 2022.

The Baxley case was set for trial in Houston on March 30. The other remaining case was set for trial Feb. 18 and involved the only plaintiff who wasn't represented by Buzbee. That woman's attorney didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.

That plaintiff had accused Watson of forcing her into oral sex during a massage session at theHoustonian Hotelin December 2020. Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, called her lawsuit a"sham" after it was filed in October 2022. He didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.

All cases generally allegedmisconduct during massage sessionsin 2020 and early 2021, when Watson played for the Houston Texans. That team alsoreached confidential settlements with 30 womenwho made claims related to Watson's behavior and accused the team of enabling his behavior and failing to prevent it. In March 2022, the Texans traded him to the Browns, who gave him a five-year contract worth $230 million guaranteed.

But because of the suspension and injuries, Watson only has played in 19 games for the Browns since then. Last season, Watson, 30, didn't play at all after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer@Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Final two Deshaun Watson lawsuits dismissed by women who filed them

Tennis superstar Serena Williams could be on her way back to the court after being listed by theInternational Tennis Integrity Agencyas eligible to return on Feb. 22.

This comes nearly six months after Williams registered with the sports drug testing organization and, as of Monday, has been listed on the ITIA's website reinstatement page. While there is no official plan in place for Williams' return, thisprocess has opened a pathway for a return if she so chooses.

When news broke last year that Williams had signed up to re-enter the ITIA drug testing pool, she responded to fans via social media. "Omg yall I'm NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy."

Williams is one of the most decorated competitors in the sports history but has not competed since the 2022 U.S. Open. She stepped away from the sport in 2022 to focus on family and other business ventures outside of her tennis career. At the time, Williams did not want to use the word "retiring," but chose to say she was evolving away from tennis.

Pro athletes who return to testing under ITIA supervision must provide information on their whereabouts, times when they can give samples and their location when not at official events. Athletes who retire while on the list and choose to come back later must be available for six months of testing before they can be allowed to officially return to competition.

Among Williams' treasure chest's worth of accolades are 73 career titles (23 Grand Slams), four Olympic gold medals and a career singles record of 858-156.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama circuit judge on Monday denied Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako's motion for a preliminary injunction, ending the 7-foot center's collegiate eligibility and his season with the Crimson Tide.

County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pruet cited that Bediako "failed to demonstrate that he is entitled to the injunctive relief that he seeks," according tocourt documents.

Bediako was playing under a temporary restraining order that allowed the former NBA G League player to join Alabama in the middle of the season despite questions regarding his collegiate eligibility.

NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a statement that he was glad the court "upheld the rules of our members."

"Common sense won a round today," Baker said. "The court saw this for what it is: an attempt by professionals to pivot back to college and crowd out the next generation of students. College sports are for students, not for people who already walked away to go pro and now want to hit the 'undo' button at the expense of a teenager's dream. While we're glad the court upheld the rules our members actually want, one win doesn't fix the national mess of state laws. It's time for Congress to stop watching from the sidelines and help us provide some actual stability."

Alabama said it was disappointed in the ruling and called for consistency from NCAA decision-makers.

"We are disappointed in today's court ruling, denying the injunction for Charles Bediako," the school said in a statement. "While we understand the concern around competitive and developmental implications of former professional athletes participating in college, it is important to acknowledge reality. The NCAA has granted eligibility to over 100 current men's basketball players with prior professional experience in the G League or overseas. Granting eligibility to some former professionals, and not to others, is what creates the havoc we are currently in and why consistency from decision-makers is so desperately needed."

The 23-year-old Bediako was averaging 10 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in five games Alabama went 3-2 in those games.

Attorneys for both sides — Bediako and the NCAA — argued their cases Friday. Bediako sued college basketball's sanctioning body in an effort to regain eligibility despite leaving Alabama for the NBA draft in 2023, signing a two-way NBA contract and playing the last three seasons in the developmental G League.

Bediako spent two seasons (2021-23) at Alabama, averaging 6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, and helped the Crimson Tide make the NCAA Tournament twice. He wasn't selected in the 2023 draft, but he played for the Motor City Cruise in the NBA's G League as recently as mid-January.

His lawyers argued that Bediako remains within his five-year college eligibility window. The NCAA denied Alabama's initial petition, and NCAA President Charlie Baker and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey have made it clear they are opposed to Bediako's reinstatement.

Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats said Friday that, regardless of the outcome of the case, Bediako will be allowed to remain on scholarship and work toward a college degree.

Alabama (16-7, 6-4 Southeastern Conference), which faces Mississippi on Tuesday, did not immediately comment on the court decision.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign uphereandhere(AP News mobile app). AP college basketball:https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-pollandhttps://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

After what's felt like weeks of the same old weather, a pattern shift will bring some changes this week. Here's what we have our eye on.

1. Warmth Finally Spreads

The West and Plains have been enjoying the warmth recently, while the Midwest, Southeast and East have been shivering. We should finally see some relief from the cold in the Midwest and Southeast. Last weekend, Florida saw below freezing temperatures. But this week, they're forecast to see 70s and 80s. Much of the South will see highs in the 60s or 70s, while parts of the lower Midwest could see high temperatures in the 40s, 50s, even 60s.

2. Welcomed Mountain Snow Returns To The West

While the Northeast and Midwest, and even the South, have gotten their fair share of snow this season, theWest is still far behind their average snowfall totals. Fortunately for them, that will change this week. While accumulations will be modest, much of the Mountain West should at least see their first fresh snowfall in some time.

3. Valentine's Weekend Concerns?

In a very broad sense, computer forecast models are suggesting an increased chance of rain, perhaps thunderstorms in the South late in the week into Valentine's weekend. But they're currently far apart on the details, including where the rain and storms may be, and if there may be any strong to severe storms.

They're also not clear if any moisture will stream north into colder air to produce any ice, sleet or snow next Friday into the weekend.

It's fairly common for forecast models to struggle in winter this far out in time. So, check back with us at weather.com for updates to this forecast in the days ahead.

(MAPS:Daily US Forecast Rain, Snow)

Why This Is Happening

All these changes are due to a shift in the upper-level pattern. This week, a trough dominates the East, while a ridge dominates the West. That will shift this week, with a trough in the West and a ridge in the East.

This pattern shift in the upper level brings a change in wind directions. The Midwest and South will see winds coming from warmer temperatures further south, including bringing moisture from the Gulf into the Southeast.

Meanwhile, the West will see colder air coming from the North, as well as a low pressure system associated with rain and snow.

Miriam Guthrie graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with an undergraduate degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and is now a meteorology intern with weather.com while working toward her master's.

By Renju Jose

SYDNEY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Australian leaders on Tuesday urged calm and called on protests to remain peaceful after clashes between police and demonstrators opposing Israeli President Isaac ​Herzog's visit to Australia erupted in Sydney.

Police said 27 people were arrested, including 10 for ‌allegedly assaulting officers, after violence broke out on Monday evening when people failed to leave a planned protest site in central Sydney ‌and police moved to clear access for pedestrians.

There were no reports of serious injuries, New South Wales state police said in a statement.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was "devastated" by the violence and urged protesters to express their views peacefully.

"Australians want two things. They don't want conflict brought here. They want killing to stop, ⁠whether it's Israelis or Palestinians, but ‌they do not want conflict brought here," Albanese told radio station Triple M.

"The causes are not advanced by these sorts of scenes - they are undermined."

Thousands gathered in central ‍Sydney on Monday to protest against Herzog's visit to Australia, which comes after a mass shooting at a Jewish religious event at Bondi Beach in December that killed 15 people.

Police had been authorised to use rarely invoked powers during ​the protest, including directing crowds to move, restricting their entry to certain areas and searching vehicles. A ‌legal challenge to those restrictions was dismissed by a Sydney court on Monday. Herzog was not present at the protest site.

Television footage showed some protesters trying to push through blockades as officers forced them back. Some were seen lying on the ground while police tried to restrain them.

Police used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.

New South Wales state Premier Chris Minns defended police actions, saying officers were ⁠required to make rapid decisions in tense and volatile situations, ​and urged calm.

"The circumstances are difficult for the police, who ​are trying to keep the public and public safe," Minns told the ABC.

In a statement, the Palestine Action Group Sydney said protesters were unable to leave the event because ‍they were surrounded by ⁠police on all sides.

"The police began charging the crowd with horses, indiscriminately pepper spraying the crowd, punching and arresting people," the group said.

Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said police actions were justified and ⁠that they showed restraint.

"It was really quite precarious at times for our officers who were significantly outnumbered by the protesters and ‌the people who wanted to act in a violent and offensive manner," McKenna said.

(Reporting ‌by Renju Jose in Sydney; editing by Lincoln Feast.)