NFL reporter Aaron Wilson has lost his job after comparing women accusing Deshaun Watson of sexual assault to “terrorists”.

Wilson, a well-respected Houston Chronicle reporter, was let go by the newspaper after making the comparison on a Boston sports radio show.

Speaking on WEEI’s ‘The Greg Hill Show’ last month, Wilson said: “In his case, you know, it’s kind of like you don’t negotiate with terrorists”.

“People are demanding money, they’re asking for money. It kept escalating, it kept going up and up and up.”

“You’re talking about more and more funds, I’m not going to say how much it got to, but my understanding is, you know, that there was an admission that, it was, you know, something, you know just that this was, you know, just a money grab.”

Twenty-five-year-old football star Deshaun Watson has been accused of sexual misconduct or assault in 22 lawsuits filed over the past month.

The women alleged Watson exposed himself or touched them with his genitals during massage sessions, with two women accusing him of sexual assault.

Houston Police are investigating at least one complaint involving Watson, with the NFL saying they are investigating the matter under its personal conduct policy.

According to reports from Defector.com,  the Houston Chronicle told its staff the news about Wilson’s departure, but didn’t specify the reason for letting Wilson go.

However, the reporter admitted his own poor judgement in a separate statement posted to Twitter on Saturday.

“I made a mistake that I fully understand and own when I did not choose my words nearly carefully enough during a discussion on a March 19 radio program regarding the sensitive, complex and controversial Deshaun Watson legal situation, in the days following the initial filing of the civil lawsuits from women against him,” Wilson wrote. 

“My efforts to convey perspectives on the situation clearly demonstrated an unintentional lack of sensitivity to the serious nature of these type of allegations, and I sincerely apologize for my remarks. 

“I didn’t maintain my own high standards that I’ve established and applied during my two decades covering many other similarly important and delicate situations in the NFL. I will proceed much more carefully going forward and learn from this moment. I am committed to outstanding journalism now and always.”

The news comes just days after Deshaun Watson's lawyer said the Texans quarterback did in fact have sex with several masseuses – but contended it was all consensual.

Rusty Hardin, Watson's attorney, last week acknowledged rumors that the football star did engage in sexual activity that were "sometimes consensual encounters" during his massage sessions.

He reiterated that "we've never run from it" about the allegations and that the question "has always been about consent."

"I'm not going into what it is, the nature, the numbers or with whom," Hardin said. 

"The question always, that we have always been emphasizing: Never, at any time, under any circumstances … did this young man ever engage in anything that was not mutually desired by the other party," he continued.

Hardin said he has yet to hear back from either the police or NFL as of Friday, and does not know how many women have filed criminal complaints against Watson.

The Texans quarterback has denied any wrongdoing in his only public statement regarding the allegations.

Hardin also reiterated on Friday that "we do not believe the allegations" and defended both Watson and some of his actions.

He tried explaining Watson got about 150 massages a year, and due to Covid restrictions, explained why his client would only reply on Instagram.

"You have to remember the landscape and all the availability of these things changed in 2020," Hardin said. "Sure, it's a lot. And the reason is because he got a lot of massages."

However, when asked by reporters why his client had so many different clients during Covid, Hardin referred to Watson's busy schedule.

"His schedule is longer than everybody else's, and it's more unpredictable," Hardin said.

"He may not know until 11 o'clock at night what time he's got available tomorrow."

He did allege the lawsuits were a form of extortion.

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