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Commanders release K Brandon McManus after sexual assault complaint

Theo

From Ryan Young, Staff Writer

Brandon McManus is finished in Washington.

The Commanders released the kicker on Sunday night after he was accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed last month, the team announced.

McManus, who spent his first nine seasons with the Denver Broncos, made 30 of 37 field goals and all of his extra points last year with the Jaguars. After the team did not re-sign him in the offseason, the Commanders snapped him up on a one-year, $3.6 million contract. He was the only kicker on the Commanders’ roster this spring.

Brandon McManus signed a one-year contract with the Commanders at the beginning of the offseason. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

Two women filed suit in Florida last month accusing McManus of sexually assaulting them on the Jaguars’ flight to London for a game last season. The women, whose names were not released, worked as flight attendants on the chartered flight to London for the Jaguars’ game against the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium. The trip, the women said, was their first time working with the team.

The women claimed the flight “quickly turned into a party” and that McManus and others disregarded their privacy, flight safety and federal law. McManus allegedly tried to recruit other partygoers, handing out $100 bills to get them to drink and dance for him.

The first woman said McManus tried to kiss her as she sat during the turbulence, and he twice rubbed himself against her as she served food and drinks. The second woman said McManus also rubbed himself against her during a meal service, and he “grinned and walked away” when she confronted him.

McManus denied the allegations against him in a statement through his lawyer.

“Brandon would like to thank the Washington Commanders for the opportunity to be part of the organization,” McManus said in a statement through his attorney Sunday night. “However, we reiterate that the allegations against Brandon are and remain absolutely false and, importantly, are refuted by incontrovertible evidence and the accusers’ previous contradictory statements and omissions. While we are disappointed in the team’s decision to release Brandon before he had the opportunity to defend himself against these fabricated allegations, we will vigorously defend and clear Brandon’s name and reputation through the legal process. We intend to rebut these allegations, fully exonerate him and look forward to seeing him back on the field where he belongs.”

The women also included the Jaguars in their lawsuit, alleging they failed to supervise McManus and provide a safe environment for staff. The Jaguars issued a statement saying they were “looking into the matter.”

“We were notified earlier today of the civil lawsuit filed against Brandon McManus on May 24,” the Commanders said in a statement after the lawsuit first became known. “We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are investigating the matter. We have communicated with the league office and Brandon’s representative and will refrain from commenting further at this time.”

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