The Washington Commanders said Monday they were aware of a lawsuit filed last week in civil court accusing kicker Brandon McManus of sexual assault, and the Jacksonville Jaguars acknowledged they too were being sued.
A spokesperson for the Commanders said the team was investigating the situation and had spoken with McManus’ agent and the NFL office, adding, “We take these types of allegations very seriously.”
ESPN reported that two women had accused McManus of sexually assaulting him on a charter flight to London last year while he was playing for the Jaguars, saying they were aware of the complaint and the significance of the claims.
“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 game with the highest character and class,” the Jaguars said in a statement.
Citing court documents not yet posted to Duval County’s public records database, ESPN reports that the women — identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II — accuse McManus of rubbing and grinding against them during the flight and that do not oversee the Jaguars. him and create a safe environment for the staff serving the team. According to ESPN, they are demanding more than $1 million and asking for a jury trial.
McManus’ attorney called them “absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false allegations.”
“We intend to aggressively defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by exposing what these claims really are – an attempted extortion,” Brett R Gallaway of McLaughlin & Stern said in a statement to the Associated Press.
McManus, who turns 33 in July, signed with Washington in March. The Philadelphia native has been in the league for 10 years, including the first nine seasons with the Denver Broncos after playing at Temple.