The Washington Commanders launched kicker Brandon McManus, days after a lawsuit that was filed in opposition to him turned public alleging sexual assault from an incident that occurred when he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the staff introduced Sunday.
Washington had signed McManus to a one-year, $3.6 million deal this offseason, opting to not re-sign Joey Slye. On Monday, the day ESPN reported the lawsuit, a Commanders spokesperson mentioned the staff was conscious of the scenario and was in touch with the NFL in addition to McManus’ illustration.
“We take allegations of this nature very severely,” the Commanders mentioned in an announcement.
Underneath earlier proprietor Dan Snyder, Washington was the topic of a number of investigations stemming from a poisonous office tradition that included allegations of sexual harassment. The NFL ultimately fined the group $10 million. Snyder was accused of sexual misconduct by a former staff worker and was fined $60 million after a 17-month lengthy inquiry by lawyer Mary Jo White. Her findings backed claims that the Commanders hid income that was presupposed to be shared with different groups. White additionally substantiated claims that Snyder had sexually harassed former worker Tiffani Johnston.
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Snyder offered the staff to a bunch led by Josh Harris in July 2023.
Within the lawsuit filed in opposition to McManus and the Jaguars, two ladies allege he sexually assaulted them throughout Jacksonville’s abroad flight to London final yr, in response to courtroom paperwork obtained by ESPN.
McManus, by means of his lawyer Brett R. Gallaway, launched an announcement Sunday night time, ensuring to first “thank the Washington Commanders for the chance to be part of the group.
“Nevertheless, we reiterate that the allegations in opposition to Brandon are and stay completely false and importantly, are contradicted by indeniable proof and the accusers’ personal prior inconsistent statements and omissions. Whereas we’re dissatisfied with the staff’s resolution to launch Brandon earlier than he had the chance to defend in opposition to these fabricated claims, we are going to aggressively defend and clear Brandon’s identify and repute by means of the authorized course of. We intend to defeat these claims, absolutely exonerate him and look ahead to seeing him again on the sphere the place he belongs.”
The ladies — recognized as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II within the lawsuit filed Might 24 in Duval County Circuit Civil Courtroom — accuse McManus of rubbing himself in opposition to them and grinding in opposition to them. Additionally they accuse the Jaguars of failing to oversee McManus and failing to create a protected setting for employees serving the staff.
The lawsuit says the September flight was the primary Jaguars constitution the 2 ladies labored, and that they’ve skilled extreme psychological anguish, nervousness, psychological and emotional misery, embarrassment and humiliation. They’ve been faraway from the core crew that staffs Jaguars constitution flights, one thing they labored laborious to attain, in response to the lawsuit.
They’re in search of in extra of $1 million and are demanding a jury trial. In an announcement final week, Gallaway referred to as the claims “completely fictitious” and “demonstrably false allegations.” Gallaway additionally labeled the case an “extortion try.”
Legal professional Tony Buzbee, who’s representing the 2 ladies, mentioned on Instagram that “earlier than that submitting we tried, with out success, to resolve this matter with out the necessity for litigation. Our efforts at decision have been met with vanity, ignorance and stupidity, strikingly just like how Deshaun Watson’s staff responded once we tried to resolve these circumstances pre-filing. The allegations made on this lawsuit are very critical. We made positive to totally vet them and converse to witnesses earlier than even taking the circumstances. We’ll pursue this case with the identical tenacity we’re identified for. It is a disgrace that any such conduct nonetheless happens. It occurs far too typically. These ladies have been merely making an attempt to do their jobs!”
In his first 10 seasons — 9 of which have been spent with Denver — McManus made 81.4% of his area objective makes an attempt and 97.2% of his further factors. In 2023 with Jacksonville, he was 30-of-37 on area targets and made all 35 of his further level tries.
ESPN Senior Author Adam Schefter and ESPN Employees Author Michael DiRocco contributed to this report.