NFL won't suspend K Brandon McManus

Allegations of sexual assault against Brandon McManusRaised by two former flight attendants who were part of the Jaguars team flights led to the Commanders releasing the veteran kicker this summer. While the plaintiffs' civil lawsuit continues, the NFL will not suspend McManus.

The league's investigation did not find enough evidence to suspend the 10-year veteran under the conduct policy, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. The release from the league will help McManus continue his career. He has not been assigned to a team since being released by Washington in June.

The anonymous plaintiffs accused McManus of rubbing and rubbing against them during the Jaguars' flight to London on September 28, 2023. Both women worked as flight attendants at the time, but have since been removed from the crew that handles the team's flights. McManus denied the allegations, but commanders stopped the bait shortly after she surfaced. McManus, who played for the Broncos for nine seasons before signing with the Jaguars in 2023, signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Commanders in March. He ended up keeping his $1.5 million signing bonus.

A Duval County judge had dismissed the women's lawsuit on the grounds that none of the women revealed their identities. However, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, prosecutors have since done so in an amended statement of claim. While McManus' lawyer described the accusers' efforts as blackmail, the women are sticking to their allegations – which go beyond McManus. One of the women claims McManus tried to kiss her while she was strapped to her seat, and Jhabvala adds that the lawsuit accuses the Jaguars of failing to properly educate him about the NFL's policy on alcohol on team flights. It is very likely that McManus was aware of these rules since he was a former NFLPA union representative.

That civil lawsuit also accuses the Jaguars of arranging the flight to include an area for players who wanted to drink alcohol, claiming the flight “quickly turned into a party.” NFL rules prohibit the serving of alcohol on team flights to and from games.

McManus, now 33, played in all 17 of the Jaguars' games last season. He made 30 of 37 field goal attempts and hit on all 35 of his PAT attempts. The strong-legged kicker has never made more than 86% of his FG attempts in a season, although the former Super Bowl winner made 10 of 15 attempts from over 50 yards in 2020 and was good on all 10 of his attempts from 40 yards – 49 yards in 2022. Last season, McManus made 5 of 10 shots from more than 50 yards and was 11 of 13 from 40-49.

Considering the kicking teams regularly struggle, it wouldn't be a surprise if McManus received an invitation to practice soon. Of course, teams may also pass well — or at least wait until the civil matter is resolved — because McManus plays a lower-value position. The Jaguars drafted Cam Little in Round 6 this year, while the Commanders have been through a few kickers since dropping McManus. Austin Seibert is currently Washington's kicker.