Tag: Brandon McManus

Commanders were in an unenviable position regarding McManus

The Commanders were in a tough position with McManus.

As reported earlier by our own Bryan Manning, the Commanders have released kicker Brandon McManus.

Consequently, the Commanders are going to this week’s Organized Team Activities (OTA) without a kicker on their roster.

When the Commanders signed McManus to a one-year deal, some of us thought, well, it was only a one-year deal because he did miss seven field goal attempts in 2023 for the Jaguars.

McManus was successful on 30-of-37 field goal attempts, but when looking a bit closer, one notices that the now-former Commanders kicker missed five of his attempts from 50 yards or more.

Yet, there is the reality that if five of his seven misses were from 50 yards or more, then why did the Jaguars not re-sign McManus?

Enter the story that broke last week when he was accused of sexual assault having transpired on a team flight to London in September 2023.

The Commanders were placed in a very unenviable position. Some in the fan base will no doubt want him severed from the team immediately. Their reasoning is that the franchise was a laughing stock that got so many things wrong for so many years. Those will point out that the new ownership needs to see this as an opportunity to proclaim it has not been business as usual in the past decades and this team is going to clean up its image.

Others in the fan base will be very upset that the Commanders have, in their view, prematurely released McManus prior to his day in court. They will say this new ownership group needs to show more class than the previous leadership of Daniel Snyder and Bruce Allen. They will criticize the Harris Ownership Group for not standing by one of their players who may have been unfairly accused.

Whatever position you take on the McManus issue, one thing is certain: the honeymoon is over for the Harris Ownership Group. They have made several moves this offseason, firing former coaches and not re-signing several in their personnel departments.

And they have been challenged to do something about the terrible brand (Commanders) they inherited…

Commanders should sign UFL star Jake Bates as their new kicker

The Commanders should give Jake Bates a call.

The Washington Commanders need a kicker. The good news is Washington doesn’t open training camp until late next month, so it has time. In case you missed it, the Commanders released veteran kicker Brandon McManus Sunday after he was accused of sexual assault.

It shouldn’t be that hard to find a kicker, right? Finding and keeping a kicker is not as easy as some believe. The Commanders had Joey Slye for most of the past three seasons but he was allowed to leave in free agency, where they signed McManus, a 10-year veteran.

In some good news for Washington, there is a soon-to-be-free-agent kicker who could solve its problems. That’s Jake Bates from the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League. Being from the UFL, Bates cannot sign with an NFL team until June 16.

Why Bates?

The former University of Arkansas kicker has made 17 of his 22 attempts this season in the UFL. Bates has made three field goals of 60 or more yards in Michigan’s 10 games this season, including a game-winning 64-yarder over St. Louis to win the game in March.

While Bates missed a potential game-winner in the regular-season finale on Saturday, six of his 17 made field goals are from 50 yards or longer. Of his five misses, four came from 50 yards or more.

Some NFL teams don’t like to gamble on young kickers. Bates has been in the NFL before, having kicked in training camp for the Texans last summer.

There aren’t a ton of great options among NFL veterans right now. Randy Bullock is a possible option. If general manager Adam Peters is hesitant to gamble on Bates, he could sign Bates and Bullock and let them compete in training camp.

Bates will have interest from the NFL when he’s allowed to sign. Washington would be wise to give him a call.

Commanders release kicker Brandon McManus

The Commanders move on from McManus.

The Washington Commanders announced on Sunday that they’d released kicker Brandon McManus.

McManus was accused of sexually assaulting two women in a lawsuit filed last month in Duval County, Florida. The alleged incident occurred on an international flight last September when McManus played for the Jaguars. The two women were working as flight attendants on Jacksonville’s charter flight to London for the Jaguars’ game against the Atlanta Falcons.

When the lawsuit was filed, the Commanders released the following statement:

Earlier today, we were made aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus. We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter. We have been in communication with the League Office and Brandon’s representation, and will reserve further comment at this time.

McManus later released the following statement via his attorney:

These are absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false allegations made as part of a campaign to defame and disparage a talented and well-respected NFL player. We intend to aggressively defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these claims truly are — an extortion attempt.

McManus, 32, signed with the Commanders in March after spending last season with the Jaguars. Before his one season in Jacksonville, McManus spent nine seasons with the Denver Broncos.

The Commanders report for their final week of Offseason Training Activities (OTAS) on Tuesday without a kicker. Washington will hold its mandatory minicamp from June 11-13.

Report: Jaguars could face NFL discipline for alcohol on team flight

Report: Jaguars could face NFL discipline for alcohol on team flight

Content warning: This story includes descriptions of alleged sexual assault.

According to Pro Football Talk, the Jaguars could face discipline from the NFL in addition to being named a defendant in a sexual assault lawsuit filed against former Jacksonville kicker Brandon McManus in Duval County Circuit Civil Court last week.

The lawsuit describes McManus as having been “drinking” and “drunk” during the Jaguars’ Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings charter flight to London on Sept. 28, 2023, when he allegedly sexually assaulted two female flight attendants in what was depicted to be a party-like atmosphere.

Additionally, Pro Football Talk reports witnesses “will say” Jaguars players brought alcohol onto that flight.

The NFL in Nov. 2022 issued a memo reminding teams of league policy prohibiting, and potential discipline for, alcohol possession and consumption in team facilities or during team-sponsored travel.

The memo was issued following the DUI arrest of former Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing after a Tennessee road victory in Green Bay and other documented potential offenses across the league.

However, neither the Titans nor the NFL publicly disciplined Downing for his actions, although he was fired following the 2022 season along with three other assistant coaches. He was sentenced to and served 48 hours in jail in early 2023.

“In light of recent events, clubs are reminded that league policy prohibits alcoholic beverages, including beer, in the locker rooms, practice or office facilities, or while traveling on team buses or planes at any time during the preseason, regular season or postseason. This applies to all players, coaches, club personnel, and guests traveling with your team,” the memo read. “This policy has been in place for many years. Making alcohol available at club facilities or while traveling creates significant and unnecessary risks to the league, its players, coaches and others. Violations of this important policy will be taken seriously and will result in significant discipline.

“Each club should ensure that its travel arrangements do not include providing alcohol service at any time and should also take appropriate steps to confirm that alcohol (whether beer or any other alcoholic beverage) is not available at its facility. Please direct all further questions on this subject to Management Council of Football Operations.”

The Jaguars are accused of gross negligence in the lawsuit for “failing to properly hire McManus, train him about inappropriate and sexual contact with flight staff, supervise him on the flight, adopt policies and procedures to protect flight staff from sexual misconduct by its employees, and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy regarding inappropriate behavior.”

The plaintiffs, identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II in the lawsuit and represented by Houston-based attorney Anthony Buzbee, seek more than $1 million and have demanded a jury trial.

Doug Pederson comments on ‘disappointing’ lawsuit vs. McManus, Jaguars

Doug Pederson comments on ‘disappointing’ lawsuit vs. McManus, Jaguars

Content warning: This story includes descriptions of alleged sexual assault.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson on Tuesday fielded questions about the lawsuit accusing former Jacksonville kicker Brandon McManus of sexual assault on a 2023 team flight and the franchise of gross negligence amid the incident.

Pederson said he was unaware of the situation before the news broke on Monday.

“I saw the article that came out. Obviously, disappointing to hear the news that took place. Other than that, honestly, being that it’s a legal matter at this time I can’t really comment until more information is gathered,” Pederson stated.

McManus, 32, has been accused of groping two female flight attendants and attempting to kiss one of them during the Jaguars’ Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings charter flight to London on Sept. 28, 2023, according to a lawsuit filed in Duval County Circuit Civil Court on Friday, via ESPN.

The lawsuit alleges McManus offered money to three other flight attendants to drink and dance inappropriately in what was described as a party-like atmosphere on the flight, an aspect of the recounted event that Pederson explicitly disapproved of.

“I mean, a typical flight is not that way. It’s a business trip,” Pederson explained. “That’s how we approach it from an organizational, from a league standpoint. For that, when I read that, that part of it is disappointing.”

Pederson added that seating isn’t randomized on team charter flights when asked if staff is separated from players during travel.

“I’m not going to get into a ton of those questions right now until, again, more information. But we sit down — just maybe a brief comment. We do sit down and want to make sure that the players are together, and coaches are together and staff is together. Everybody is comfortable and has space,” Pederson said.

The Jaguars are accused in the lawsuit of “failing to properly hire McManus, train him about inappropriate and sexual contact with flight staff, supervise him on the flight, adopt policies and procedures to protect flight staff from sexual misconduct by its employees, and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy regarding inappropriate behavior,” per ESPN’s reporting.

The women seek more than $1 million and have demanded a jury trial.

McManus, who signed with the Jaguars on a one-year, $2 million contract in 2023, was not retained by Jacksonville this offseason after going 30-of-37 on field goal attempts and 35-of-35 on extra point attempts over 17 games last year.

He signed a one-year, $3.6 million deal with Washington this past March, over two months before the lawsuit was filed.

Pederson said McManus was let go for reasons that did not include the lawsuit, including performance, cost and potential the Jaguars saw in young kicking prospects this offseason. Jacksonville selected Arkansas kicker Cam Little in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft.

“In this business, whether it’s a coach or player, it’s performance-driven, right? Then you start talking about contracts and the amount of contracts and the number, dollars and cents that go into it a little bit, the age of the player. A lot of things can factor into it.

“The fact that, it’s a key position, it’s critical, it’s valuable because it gives us as a team points on the board or not. Then if we have an opportunity to draft somebody, looking forward, then we take advantage of that.”

Brandon McManus accused of sexual assault

Two women have accused Brandon McManus of sexual assault during a Jaguars flight to London last season.

Two women have accused kicker Brandon McManus of sexually assaulting them during a flight to London during the 2023 NFL season, according to a report from ESPN’s Michael DiRocco.

The Denver Broncos cut McManus last spring and he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The alleged incidents happened during the Jaguars’ flight to London for a game against the Atlanta Falcons last September.

In a lawsuit, the two women have accused McManus of “rubbing himself against them and grinding against them,” according to DiRocco. He has also been accused of attempting to kiss one of the flight attendants.

The Jaguars opted not to re-sign McManus after the 2023 season and he then signed a one-year with the Washington Commanders.

“Earlier today, we were made aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus,” the Commanders said in a statement, via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. “We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter. We have been in communication with the League Office and Brandon’s representation, and will reserve further comment at this time.”

The kicker’s lawyer has emphatically denied the allegations.

“To be clear, these are absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false allegations made as part of a campaign to defame and disparage a talented and well-respected NFL player,” attorney Brett R. Gallaway told Sam Fortier of the Washington Post. “We intend to aggressively defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these claims truly are — an extortion attempt.”

McManus, 32, played for the Broncos from 2014-2022, helping the team win Super Bowl 50 in 2015. He married his wife, Nadia, in 2016. The veteran kicker is entering his 11th season in the NFL.

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Brandon McManus’ attorney, Jaguars respond to sexual assault lawsuit

Brandon McManus’ attorney, Jaguars respond to sexual assault lawsuit

Content warning: This story includes descriptions of alleged sexual assault.

Legal representation for former Jacksonville kicker Brandon McManus in a Monday night statement vehemently denied their client’s alleged actions in a sexual assault lawsuit against the 10-year pro and the Jaguars, which was filed Friday in Duval County Circuit Civil Court.

“These are absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false allegations made as part of a campaign to defame and disparage a talented and well-respected NFL player,” McManus’ attorney, Brett R. Gallaway, said in a release, via ESPN. “We intend to aggressively defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these claims truly are — an extortion attempt.”

ESPN’s Michael DiRocco reported Monday afternoon that McManus, 32, has been accused by two women of sexual misconduct during a Jaguars’ team flight during the 2023 season.

The women, flight attendants identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II in the suit, allege McManus groped them multiple times during the Jaguars’ Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings charter flight to London on Sept. 28, 2023. Doe I claims that McManus tried to kiss her while the plane experienced turbulence and she was seated.

The lawsuit alleges McManus offered money to three other flight attendants to drink and dance inappropriately in what was described as a party-like atmosphere on the flight.

Doe I and Doe II are stated to have experienced “severe mental anguish, anxiety, psychological and emotional distress, embarrassment and humiliation” in the aftermath of McManus’ alleged conduct. Both have been removed from the Jaguars’ core charter flight staff crew.

The Jaguars were named in the suit for “failing to properly hire McManus, train him about inappropriate and sexual contact with flight staff, supervise him on the flight, adopt policies and procedures to protect flight staff from sexual misconduct by its employees, and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy regarding inappropriate behavior,” per ESPN.

The women seek more than $1 million and have demanded a jury trial.

“We’re aware of the complaint, and we acknowledge the significance of the claims,” the Jaguars said in a Monday statement. “As we continue to look into the matter, it bears emphasizing that we insist on an organization built by people who represent our community and game with the highest character and class.”

McManus spent the 2023 season with Jacksonville on a one-year contract worth $2 million. He signed with Washington on a one-year, $3.6 million deal this offseason.

“Earlier today, we were made aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus,” the Commanders said via release on Monday. “We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter. We have been in communication with the League Office and Brandon’s representation, and will reserve further comment at this time.”

Ex-Giants kicker Brandon McManus accused of sexual assault

Two women have accused former New York Giants kicker Brandon McManus of sexual assault during his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Two women — identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II in Duval County Circuit Civil Court — are suing former New York Giants kicker Brandon McManus, alleging he sexually assaulted them on a flight to London last year when he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The 32-year-old McManus, who now plays for the Washington Commanders, is accused of “rubbing” and “grinding” himself against the women without their consent at separate times during the flight.

The two Jane Does are also suing the Jaguars for “failing to create a safe environment,” reports ESPN.

According to the lawsuit, the two women worked as flight attendants on the Jaguars’ Sept. 28, 2023, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings charter flight. They allege the flight “quickly turned into a party” as McManus and several other players disregarded the flight attendants’ personal space, air travel safety and federal law. The lawsuit also claims that McManus recruited three other flight attendants to the party and passed out $100 bills to encourage them to drink and dance inappropriately for him.

The lawsuit says the September flight was the first Jaguars charter flight the two women worked, and they have experienced severe mental anguish, anxiety, psychological and emotional distress, embarrassment and humiliation. They have been removed from the core crew that staffs Jaguars charter flights, which is something they worked hard to achieve, the lawsuit says.

In a statement, McManus’ attorney, Brett R. Gallaway, calls the allegations “demonstrably false.”

“These are absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false allegations made as part of a campaign to defame and disparage a talented and well-respected NFL player,” McManus’ Gallaway said in a statement Monday night. “We intend to aggressively defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these claims truly are — an extortion attempt.”

Both the Jaguars and Commanders have also released statements saying they take the allegations very seriously.

“Earlier today, we were made aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus. We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter,” the Commanders said in a statement. “We have been in communication with the League Office and Brandon’s representation, and will reserve further comment at this time.”

McManus originally signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a rookie free agent out of Temple following the 2013 NFL draft. He signed with the Giants a year later but was traded to the Denver Broncos after the conclusion of the preseason.

He’d go on to spend nine seasons with the Broncos, picking up a Super Bowl championship, before joining the Jaguars in 2023 and then signing with the Commanders this offseason.

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Attorney for Commanders kicker Brandon McManus releases statement on allegations

McManus’ attorney releases statement on allegations.

On Monday afternoon, news broke that Washington Commanders kicker Brandon McManus was being accused of sexual assault. McManus, 32, played for the Jaguars last season and was accused of sexual assault by two flight attendants. The lawsuit was filed in Duval County Circuit Civil Court last Friday, and the Jaguars were also named in the suit.

Shortly after the news broke, the Commanders released the following statement:

Earlier today, we were made aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus. We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter. We have been in communication with the League Office and Brandon’s representation, and will reserve further comment at this time.

Now, McManus’ attorney, Brett Gallaway, has released a statement:

These are absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false allegations made as part of a campaign to defame and disparage a talented and well-respected NFL player. We intend to aggressively defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these claims truly are — an extortion attempt.

 

Commanders kicker Brandon McManus accused of sexual assault

Two women sued Commanders kicker Brandon McManus, accusing him of sexual assault last year when he played for the Jaguars.

New Washington Commanders kicker Brandon McManus and the Jacksonville Jaguars are being sued by two women who allege that McManus assaulted them during a Jaguars’ flight to London last September. The two women worked as flight attendants.

The suit was filed in Duval County (Fla.) Circuit Civil Court last week.

McManus is accused of trying to kiss one woman while she was seated and grinded against her when she tried to serve meals. The second woman alleges that McManus grinded against her as she served the second meal on the flight. The suit also alleges that McManus passed out $100 bills to encourage other flight attendants to drink and dance inappropriately for him, per ESPN.

McManus, 32, spent nine seasons with the Denver Broncos before his one season in Jacksonville. McManus signed with the Commanders in March.

The Jaguars are accused of committing “gross negligence by failing to properly hire McManus, train him about inappropriate and sexual contact with flight staff, supervise him on the flight, adopt policies and procedures to protect flight staff from sexual misconduct by employees, and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy regarding inappropriate behavior.”

The Commanders released the following statement through a spokesperson:

Earlier today, we were made aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus. We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter. We have been in communication with the League Office and Brandon’s representation, and will reserve further comment at this time.