On March 11, 2022, a Harris County grand jury declined to indict former Houston Texans Quarterback Deshaun Watson. The prosecution's case was presented by a sex crimes prosecutor from the Harris County District Attorney's Office, which is led by the District Attorney.   

Mike's guest is Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. In this conversation, Ogg addresses a number of questions related to the grand jury process and the Watson matter:

• What is the purpose of the grand jury process?
• What is the role of the prosecutor in the grand jury process? 
• How did the District Attorney's office handle the investigation of Deshaun Watson? 
• Ogg addresses two aspects of a recent New York Times story about Watson, including (1) the number of communications between the HCDAO and Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, and (2) how often grand jury packets are used for criminal defendants in Harris County 
• The HCDAO's position on a recent Yahoo! Sports story about a police detective who investigated the Watson matter and felt a crime was committed
• Has the NFL, or the Browns, reached out to the Harris County District Attorney's Office to discuss Watson?
• How can the citizens of Harris County be assured that justice was done in the Deshaun Watson matter?

This episode is about the 22 lawsuits (filed so far) against Texans QB Deshaun Watson in the last month in civil court in Houston, alleging assault, sexual assault, and inappropriate behavior. 

Mike's guest is Steph Stradley, a Houston-based sportswriter and lawyer at the Stradley Law Firm. She often does legal explainers for fans regarding sports discipline issues, contracts, investigations, and practical aspects of the law. She has a detailed FAQ post about the Watson lawsuits that can be found here.

(0:54) Mike provides the background on the lawsuits that have been filed against Watson.

(3:43) What exactly do we know so far?

(7:12) The plaintiff's lawyer, Tony Buzbee, held a news conference on Tuesday in which two of Watson's accusers revealed their names and gave their stories. Mike and Steph discuss the impact of this news conference and how it has altered the course of this story.

(10:55) Will we learn anything once Watson formally responds to the lawsuits in court?

(12:50) Is it possible to maintain a wait-and-see approach with this story, with more information entering the public sphere every day?

(18:01) Mike and Steph discuss Rusty Hardin (Watson's lawyer)'s response to Buzbee's Tuesday news conference. 

(27:35) How difficult is it for the defense to "prove a negative" in these types of cases?

(31:35) Are some of the lawsuits more concerning than others? Can we tell that at this point?

(34:10) A complainant has come forward to the Houston Police Department, who are now investigating Deshaun Watson. How does this type of investigation work?

(39:41) What is the NFL's Commissioner's Exempt List, and why does it matter in this case?

(45:16) Some have suggested that Watson needs to settle these claims as soon as possible. Is that possible? How quickly could a settlement be reached?

(50:35) Mike and Steph took a variety of Twitter Q and As, including the following topics: Hardin's current quality as an attorney, why Watson couldn't stop the news conference, the projected legal paths forward, Watson possibly staying with the Texans, and whether or not the Mann Act applies to this situation.         

(1:09:32) Mike's concluding thoughts on what will happen moving forward with the Watson lawsuits. 

​The Mike Meltser Podcast is brought to you by Alamo Remedy CBD.

Website: Alamo Remedy CBD

Promo code: MIKEM

Music Credit:

Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This episode is about a major sports law case in front of the Supreme Court this week, NCAA v. Alston. The case centers around the application of antitrust law to the NCAA, and the Court faces this question: are the NCAA's eligibility rules regarding compensation of student-athletes a violation of federal antitrust laws? 

Mike's guest is Chris Sagers, a Professor of Law at Cleveland State University at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. His bio can be found here. 

(3:21) What is this case all about? 

(5:13) Why the Supreme Court taking this case concerns some antitrust experts.

(6:15) Why is the NCAA subject to the federal antitrust laws? 

(6:50) What's the background on this case? What's been happening before the case reached the Supreme Court? 

(8:25) What did the plaintiffs really want initially, and what did they get from the courts at the lower level? 

(9:30) How will the composition of the Supreme Court, with the addition of new Justice Amy Coney Barrett, affect the ruling in NCAA v. Alston? 

​The Mike Meltser Podcast is brought to you by Alamo Remedy CBD.

Website: Alamo Remedy CBD

Promo code: MIKEM

Music Credit:

Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This episode is about former Astros GM Jeff Luhnow's recent lawsuit against the team for breach of contract. Luhnow claims that the team unlawfully fired him for cause in January 2020 and he is seeking more than $22 million in damages.

Mike's guest is Steph Stradley, a Houston-based sportswriter and lawyer at the Stradley Law Firm. She often does legal explainers for fans regarding sports discipline issues, contracts, investigations, and practical aspects of the law. 

(1:35) Mike provides the background on Luhnow's lawsuit against the Astros

(4:47) Why was this the right time for Luhnow to file suit?

(5:45) Shouldn't this have been resolved in January, when Astros owner Jim Crane fired Luhnow?

(9:40) Does Luhnow actually want to take his case to trial?

(11:19) Arbitration will be a significant factor in this litigation. Why is arbitration generally considered to be a negative for plaintiffs? Does the arbitration clause in Luhnow's contract apply, given Major League Baseball's role in suspending Luhnow for the Astros' sign-stealing scandal? Why did Luhnow's lawyers write that the Court should appoint a neutral arbitrator to resolve this dispute?     

(17:46) Why did Luhnow's lawyers attack MLB's sign-stealing investigation?

(22:50) Luhnow was suspended by MLB for a whole season for his role in the Astros' sign-stealing scandal. Mike and Steph discuss whether this suspension was enough for the Astros to fire Luhnow "for cause."

(27:45) Where did this idea come from that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and Jim Crane negotiated Luhnow's suspension?

(33:40) Mike's concluding thoughts on the Luhnow lawsuit, including Luhnow's possible future in MLB and evaluating the arguments made in the lawsuit.       

​The Mike Meltser Podcast is brought to you by Alamo Remedy CBD.

Website: Alamo Remedy CBD

Promo code: MIKEM

Music Credit: 

Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mike provides his thoughts, for an hour, on Texans owner Cal McNair's decision to fire head coach Bill O'Brien 

(2:30) Mike's initial reaction to the firing after a Week 4 loss

(6:13) JJ Watt perfectly encapsulted the feeling in Houston after O'Brien's firing 

(14:08) Mike's reaction to the report that Watt had a verbal altercation with O'Brien a few weeks ago  

(24:13) Why Mike fears that Cal McNair will screw up the GM and HC search  

(34:01) Looking back at O'Brien's tenure in Houston. When was the right time to fire him?

(38:15) Mike has never gotten over O'Brien's lack of a plan at QB from 2014-2015 

(45:05) What is BOB's future? Mike explains why he has the ability to be a successful head coach in the future  

(1:00:27) Some quick thoughts on future GM and HC candidates for the Texans  

​The Mike Meltser Podcast is brought to you by Alamo Remedy CBD.

Website: Alamo Remedy CBD

Promo code: MIKEM

Music Credit: 

Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mike gives his thoughts on the Texans falling to the Steelers 28-21, after a promising first half but very poor second half in Pittsburgh. 

(2:00) Houston's 1st and 10 plays in the second half were an absolute disaster. 

(7:06) How do the Texans figure out their impotent rushing attack?

(14:05) A big picture look at the Texans scheme, comparing Bill O'Brien's coaching to hires to those of Sean McVay and Matt Rhule

(19:13) Mike analyzes two defensive breakdowns on Pittsburgh's final offensive possession of the game 

(22:20) The run defense continues to be a major problem for Houston

(26:21) Mike explains why the playoff picture in the AFC is simpler than you may think, even though we're only three weeks into the offseason 

(31:19) Why Texans fans shouldn't fear the concept of Cal McNair refusing to fire O'Brien; the fear is actually something else

(36:41) Mike finishes with some positives, including Deshaun Watson's accuracy and the team's clock management  

​The Mike Meltser Podcast is brought to you by Alamo Remedy CBD.

Website: Alamo Remedy CBD

Promo code: MIKEM

Music Credit: 

Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mike gives his main takeaways after another unsatisfactory Texans performance, falling to the Ravens 33-16 at NRG Stadium in Week 2 of the NFL Season. 

(2:00) The big picture problem is that the Texans haven't even been competitive against the Chiefs and the Ravens

(10:40) Mike weighs in on whether this feels different from the slow starts to the 2015 and 2018 regular seasons 

(13:50) The Texans went for it on 4th and 1 on their own 34 yard line in the first half. Was it the right move? 

(18:55) Keke Coutee killed the Texans, again

(21:17) Mike evaluates the play of the defense 

(26:21) Mike's thoughts on Deshaun Watson through the first two games of the season   

(33:10) Mike lists the positives from the loss to the Ravens and looks ahead to next week's matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers

​The Mike Meltser Podcast is brought to you by Alamo Remedy CBD.

Website: Alamo Remedy CBD

Promo code: MIKEM

Music Credit: 

Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The NFL season is back! Mike gives his thoughts on a disappointing 34-20 loss for the Texans at the hands of the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs.

(1:52) Why this was basically a "non-performance" by Houston

(5:16) Why Mike believes the schedule is a major problem for this Texans team

(10:04) The Texans matched up terribly with the Chiefs

(11:29) Breaking down some of the key sequences in the game, particularly in the first half

(18:50) The biggest issue for Houston was in the trenches

(23:15) Why couldn't the Texans hit big plays offensively?

(29:20) Mike lists the few positives coming out of this Week 1 loss

​The Mike Meltser Podcast is brought to you by Alamo Remedy CBD.

Website: Alamo Remedy CBD

Promo code: MIKEM

Music Credit: 

Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4372-slow-burn

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/