The Washington Commanders have released kicker Brandon McManus, days after a lawsuit filed against him alleging sexual assault stemming from an incident that occurred when he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars became public, the team announced Sunday.
Washington had signed McManus to a one-year, $3.6 million contract this offseason, opting not to re-sign Joey Slye. On Monday, the day KeynoteUSA reported the lawsuit, a Commanders spokesperson said the team was aware of the situation and was in contact with the NFL, as well as McManus’ representation.
“We take allegations of this nature very seriously,” the commanders said in a statement.
Under previous owner Dan Snyder, Washington was the subject of multiple investigations stemming from a toxic workplace culture that included allegations of sexual harassment. The NFL ultimately fined the organization $10 million. Snyder was accused of sexual misconduct by a former team employee. Snyder was fined $60 million after a 17-month investigation by attorney Mary Jo White. His findings supported claims that the Commanders hid income they were supposed to share with other teams. White also confirmed claims that Snyder had sexually harassed former employee Tiffani Johnston.
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Snyder sold the team to a group led by Josh Harris in July 2023.
In the lawsuit filed against McManus, two women alleged that he sexually assaulted them during the flight from Jacksonville to London last year, according to court documents obtained by KeynoteUSA.
The women, identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II in the lawsuit filed May 24 in Duval County Circuit Civil Court, accuse McManus of rubbing himself against them. They also accuse the Jaguars of failing to supervise McManus and creating a safe environment for the team’s staff.
The lawsuit says the September flight was the first Jaguars charter flight the two women worked on and that they experienced severe mental anguish, anxiety, psychological and emotional distress, embarrassment and humiliation. They have been removed from the core crew that staff the Jaguars’ charter flights, something they worked hard for, according to the lawsuit.
They are asking for more than a million dollars and demanding a jury trial. In a statement Monday night, McManus’ attorney, Brett R. Gallaway, called the allegations “absolutely fictitious” and “demonstrably false.” Gallaway also called the case an “extortion attempt.”
Attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the two women, said on Instagram that “prior to that filing we attempted, without success, to resolve this matter without litigation. Our resolution efforts were met with strikingly similar arrogance, ignorance and stupidity.” . to how Deshaun Watson’s team responded when we tried to resolve those cases before filing. The allegations made in this lawsuit are very serious. We made sure to fully examine them and talk to witnesses before even pursuing this case. the same tenacity we are known for. It’s a shame that this type of behavior still happens too often! These women were simply trying to do their job!
In his first 10 seasons, nine of which were spent with Denver, McManus made 81.4% of his field goal attempts and 97.2% of his extra points. In 2023 with Jacksonville, he was 30 of 37 from the field and made all 35 of his extra point attempts.
KeynoteUSA senior writer Adam Schefter contributed to this report.
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