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Commanders release kicker Brandon McManus after allegations of sexual assault

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Kicker Brandon McManus was released by the Washington Commanders on Sunday after two women sued him for sexual harassment on a transatlantic flight.

Two women who worked as flight attendants on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Sept. 28 flight to London claim in a civil lawsuit that McManus attempted to kiss one of them and rubbed himself against both of them while they attempted to perform their job duties. They are seeking more than $1 million in damages, according to court documents.

A message to McManus’ camp did not receive an immediate response. Brett R. Gallaway, an attorney representing McManus, called the allegations “absolutely fabricated and demonstrably false” on Monday.

The Commanders signed McManus on March 14 after he made 30 of 37 field goals and converted all 35 of his point-after attempts for Jacksonville during the 2023 season. In 10 NFL seasons, McManus played for the Broncos, winning a Super Bowl in 2015, and for the Colts.

Tony Buzbee, the attorney who represented two dozen women who accused Deshaun Watson of sexual abuse or harassment, said he was the lead attorney representing the women. Buzbee wrote on social media that he and his clients had tried to resolve the matter without going to trial.

“Our efforts to resolve the case were met with arrogance, ignorance and stupidity, strikingly similar to the response from Deshaun Watson’s team when we attempted to resolve these cases prior to filing,” Buzbee wrote on Instagram. “The allegations made in this lawsuit are very serious. We thoroughly reviewed them and spoke with witnesses before even taking the cases.”

McManus’s lawyer described them on Monday as “absolutely fabricated and demonstrably false allegations.”

“We intend to vigorously defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these allegations really are – an extortion attempt,” Brett R. Gallaway of McLaughlin & Stern said in a statement sent to AP Monday evening.

A Commanders spokesman said the team is reviewing the situation and has spoken with McManus’ agent and the NFL office. He added: “We take allegations of this nature very seriously.”

The Jaguars said they were aware of the complaint and recognized the significance of the allegations made.

“As we continue to investigate the matter, it must be emphasized that we insist on an organization built by people who represent our community and our game with the highest character and class,” the Jaguars said in a statement.

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