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NFC Contract Details: Mason, Vikings, Wharton, Panthers, Pack, Bears, Cowboys, Giants, Bucs, Brissett

March 18th, 2025 at 5:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the details on a few of the more notable NFC contracts agreed to in recent days:

  • Tershawn Wharton, DT (Panthers). Three years, $45.1MM. The former Chris Jones Chiefs sidekick will see $30.25MM fully guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Wharton’s 2025 and ’26 base salaries ($1.17MM, $13.45MM) are locked in. While the $45.1MM base value is less than initially reported, sack-, playoff- and Pro Bowl-based incentives make up a $9MM incentive package.
  • Grady Jarrett, DT (Bears). Three years, $42.75MM. While $27.25MM is guaranteed at signing, the Bears are guaranteeing almost all of the ex-Falcon’s 2026 base salary ahead of time. $13MM of Jarrett’s $14.25MM 2026 paragraph 5 pay is locked in, with Wilson adding the other $1.25MM shifts from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee of Day 3 of the ’26 league year. Jarrett is due a $1MM roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2027 league year, representing the Bears’ first true out on this contract.
  • Ben Bredeson, G (Buccaneers). Three years, $22MM. The Bucs are guaranteeing their 2024 O-line signee $12.5MM at signing. A $5.5MM roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, per Wilson, who adds a $500K roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the ’27 league year.
  • Bobby Brown, DT (Panthers). Three years, $21MM. Of this total, only $6.8MM is guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. Brown will see $9.58MM guaranteed in total, with $2.77MM of Brown’s $5.55MM 2026 base salary shifting from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the ’26 league year, Wilson adds. A $6MM incentive package is present in the Panthers’ other notable DT deal.
  • Brandon McManus, K (Packers). Three years, $15MM. The veteran kicker’s $5MM signing bonus represents his only at-signing guarantee, though the deal includes what amounts to a guaranteed $1.4MM 2025 base salary as well. ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky also indicates a $1MM roster bonus is in place for 2026. Nothing is guaranteed beyond 2025, however.
  • KaVontae Turpin, WR (Cowboys). Three years, $13.5MM. This is $4.5MM south of the initially reported value. The Cowboys have guaranteed the All-Pro returner $5MM at signing; that comes from a $3.6MM signing bonus and a $1.4MM 2025 base salary, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer tweets. Nothing is guaranteed beyond 2025. After Turpin totaled 420 receiving yards last season, Dallas included a $250K yearly incentive for a 500-yard season, Archer adds. That jumps to $500K for a 700-yard season.
  • Jacoby Brissett, QB (Cardinals). Two years, $12.5MM. This is a nice bump for Brissett, who has played on one-year deals in each of the past four seasons. The nomadic backup/fill-in starter will see $8MM guaranteed, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.
  • James Hudson, OL (Giants). Two years, $11MM. Hudson will see $5.8MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. That comes from a signing bonus and a guaranteed 2025 salary; no 2026 Hudson money is locked in.
  • Jordan Mason, RB (Vikings). Two years, $10.5MM. Minnesota is guaranteeing Mason $7.23MM at signing, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes. The former Christian McCaffrey backup will see $2MM of his $4.73MM 2026 base salary fully guaranteed. Incentives on Mason’s deal start at 800 rushing yards in a season, with a $200K bump coming if the former sixth-round pick reaches that number.
  • Roy Robertson-Harris, DL (Giants). Two years, $9MM. Robertson-Harris will see $5.3MM guaranteed at signing, Wilson tweets. The Giants guaranteed the veteran interior D-lineman $1MM of his $3.5MM 2026 base at signing. It would cost the Giants $2.4MM in dead money to move on after one season, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan adds.

Packers To Re-Sign K Brandon McManus

March 4th, 2025 at 2:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brandon McManus‘ 2024 partnership with the Packers became mutually beneficial. The team had given the embattled kicker another chance, while the veteran stabilized a kicking situation that had been spotty.

The Packers are making sure that arrangement sticks for more than one season, with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reporting the sides have a deal in place. McManus agreed to a three-year, $15.3MM deal. The pact comes with a $5MM signing bonus. Green Bay brass had expressed interest in keeping McManus, and after a turbulent 2024, the former Super Bowl-winning kicker has another contract in place.

Last year was not a smooth one for McManus, whose Packers contract comes roughly 51 weeks after a one-year, $3.6MM Commanders agreement. After allegations of sexual assault (stemming from a September 2023 incident during a Jaguars international flight), Washington cut McManus. Two flight attendants accused McManus of sexual assault, leading the Commanders to cut bait. Last September, however, the NFL did not suspend the veteran specialist.

McManus, 33, denied wrongdoing but was hit with a civil suit by the anonymous flight attendants. An accusation of McManus trying to kiss one of the women while she was strapped into her seat emerged, with a separate allegation of the kicker “rubbing himself and grinding against them” led McManus back to free agency in June 2024 coming out of a mess that led to scrutiny into the Jaguars having alcohol on a team plane. The league not taking action led to McManus being given another opportunity. He made the most of it with the Packers.

In his first Packers game, McManus drilled a walk-off 45-yard field goal to lift the team over the Texans. That helped a Packers team that had seen Brayden Narveson struggle in the weeks prior. McManus proceeded to make 20 of 21 field goals to help Green Bay back to the playoffs. After the team made 2023 draftee Anders Carlson a one-and-done as Mason Crosby‘s successor, McManus is now in that chair. And he has some security after an impressive half-season.

Best known for a nine-season stay in Denver, McManus had secured multiple extensions to stay with the Broncos. Released months into Sean Payton‘s HC tenure, McManus caught on with the Jaguars and made 30 of 37 field goals in 2023 — his most recent full season. The Packers will bet on McManus’ career-best 95.2% make rate — after he had never previously cleared 86% — giving them a long-term option.

Departure Likely For Packers CB Jaire Alexander; Team Hopes To Re-Sign K Brandon McManus

February 18th, 2025 at 9:49am CST by Adam La Rose

As the Packers map out their offseason, they have a number of important decisions to make. Among the most notable of those is a call on Jaire Alexander.

Green Bay made Alexander the league’s highest-paid cornerback when he inked a four-year, $84MM extension in the spring of 2022. While his $21MM AAV has since been surpassed on two occasions, expectations have remained high as a result of the pact. Alexander has delivered strong play when on the field since signing his second contract, but the frequency with which he has been sidelined (along with perceived tension with the team) has led to speculation about a release.

“There’s frustration, I think, on both sides, from the fact he can’t get out there,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said when speaking about Alexander’s situation (via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette). “That’s tough. I feel for him because he wants to be out there, he wants to play. But no disconnect.”

While it is certainly possible at this point that the Packers could elect to keep the former first-rounder in place for 2025, a parting of ways would not come as a surprise. Indeed, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky writes there are “strong indications” Alexander will not be back, adding multiple sources from within the organization are frustrated with his injury-driven absences. After making 16 appearances in 2022, the Packers’ top cover man has been limited to seven games in each of the past two years.

Alexander is set to carry cap hits of $24.96MM and $27.38MM in 2025 and ’26, the final two years of his pact. A release before June 1 would not create a net savings for the team, but a post-June 1 designation would yield just over $17MM in cap space along with a dead money charge of $7.88MM. Those funds could be put towards a less expensive replacement at the CB spot as the Packers also seek out upgrades along the defensive front through free agency and the draft this spring.

In addition to making a decision on Alexander, Green Bay will look to find stability at the kicking spot. The Anders Carlson selection in 2023 did not go as planned, and the Packers spent last offseason cycling though several options at the position. Brandon McManus proved to be a worthwhile midseason addition, though, connecting on 20 of his 21 field goal attempts and each of his 30 extra point kicks. Despite one miss in the wild-card round of the playoffs, McManus is a priority for the Packers with respect to a new deal.

“If we were able to get Brandon back, I think certainly that would make me feel very, very, very good about that [specialist] group,” Gutekunst said (via Demovsky) when asked about retaining McManus.

The Packers currently sit mid-pack in terms of projected cap space, and a modest deal is no doubt all that will be required to keep McManus in place. Green Bay could free up additional funds by moving on from Alexander, and his situation will remain one to watch closely as cost-cutting season unfolds around the league.

Packers Rumors: Alexander, Walker, Wyatt, McManus, Nixon

February 2nd, 2025 at 11:05am CST by Rory Parks

At his season-ending press conference last month, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst left the door open for CB Jaire Alexander to return to the team in 2025.

“[W]e’re at the beginning stages of just kind of gathering information as a whole before we start looking at next year and how we’re going to lay this thing out,” Gutekunst said of Alexander’s status. “But we could (pay him). I mean, obviously, when he’s healthy and he’s ready to play, he’s a pretty good player” (via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic (subscription required)). 

Clearly, that is far from a commitment to bringing Alexander back in 2025, and Schneidman believes the two-time Pro Bowler has already played his last snap for Green Bay. Alexander is technically under club control through 2026, but his $16.15MM salary and ~$25MM cap number for 2025 could prove unpalatable for Gutekunst & Co., who could create $6.84MM of cap space by cutting or trading the Louisville product before June 1 (a post-June 1 maneuver would clear over $17MM of room this year).

As Gutekunst noted, Alexander has plenty of value when healthy. Unfortunately, that has not been the case in recent history. The market-topping four-year, $84MM contract Gutekunst authorized for Alexander in May 2022 led to promising early returns, as Alexander played 16 games that season, intercepted a career-high five passes, and yielded a career-best 63.7 QB rating as part of a Pro Bowl effort. But Alexander played in just seven games in both of the last two seasons, with his 2024 campaign cut short by a PCL tear.

After the December 2023 coin-toss fiasco led to a one-game suspension and trade/release rumors last offseason, the Packers elected to keep their talented but injury-prone defender in the fold. This year, however, he may have a new employer.

As Schneidman notes, Gutekunst sounded much more positive when discussing the Green Bay futures of 2022 first-rounders Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt. The team must decide whether to exercise the fifth-year options on both players by May 1, an option that would keep them under club control through 2026.

“We’re super fired (up) about both those guys’ seasons this year,” Gutekunst said. “Quay continued to make a leap and another guy who had struggled through injuries at the end of the year, but he was really impactful for us this year. Continues to be a great leader for us. Certainly think we would love to have him around here for longer than just a couple years. He’s that kind of guy. And D-Wy was probably our most consistent pass rusher from the inside this year. Both of them dealt with some injuries and was really proud of how they attacked those and played through some things this year, but I think both those guys had their best years as pros so far.”

At the start of the 2024 season, it sounded as if Walker would not have his option picked up. And in terms of the advanced metrics, his performance last year was fairly underwhelming, as his 57.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus positioned him as the 63rd-best linebacker out of 84 qualified players (which is roughly in line with his first two pro seasons). Given that he does not play a premium position, and given that his fifth-year option is worth a fully-guaranteed $16.06MM, it would not surprise if the option were declined. On the other hand, Gutekunst’s comments made it seem as if he values Walker more highly than the analytics do.

Wyatt’s fifth-year option would check in just north of $13MM, but after totaling 10.5 sacks over the 2023-23 seasons, he has established himself as a viable pass-rushing presence from the interior of the defensive line, even if his run defense could still use some improvement. Of course, getting after the quarterback is the name of the game in today’s NFL, and having an interior defender who can consistently put pressure on opposing passers is a luxury.

Gutekunst also made it plain that he would like to re-sign kicker Brandon McManus (via Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). McManus, who recently faced sexual assault allegations stemming from his time as a member of the Jaguars, signed with the Packers in October and resolved the civil suit filed by his accusers (it is unclear if the suit was dismissed or if the parties reached a settlement). On the field, the 33-year-old specialist was terrific for Green Bay, nailing 20 of 21 field goal attempts and all 30 PATs last season. 

Thanks in part to Alexander’s injury-related absences, Keisean Nixon has seen plenty of action at cornerback over the past two seasons. Although he has not necessarily thrived in that role, he wants to focus on his defense as opposed to his kick return duties moving forward.

Nixon, who will turn 28 in June, earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2022 and 2023 for his efforts as a return man, but he ran back just 18 kickoffs in 2024, compared to 35 in 2022 and 30 in 2023. The recent rule changes relating to kickoffs played a major role in that development.

“I’m kind of over it,” Nixon said of his third phase work (as relayed by Schneidman in a separate subscribers-only piece). “I don’t really want to do it no more. There’s going to be talks with the coaching staff and stuff like that, but I think it’s over with for me.”

Nixon is under contract through 2026 and is due just $1.17MM in base pay this year.

NFC North Notes: Bears, Vikings, McManus

October 17th, 2024 at 1:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tom Brady recently said the Bears were on his free agency radar four years ago. Although one fall 2020 report indicated Chicago had indeed waded into the Brady market, Bears chairman George McCaskey confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin) the team did participate in a stealth operation to bring in Brady.

“Anytime you’re in a situation like that you’re not putting all of your eggs in one basket,” McCaskey said. “You’re looking at alternatives. It’s the same in free agency, it’s the same in the draft. If the person you’re targeting isn’t available, you want to make sure that you’ve done your due diligence on all other options. So that was one option that we were looking at.”

The Bears’ alternative that year became a Nick Foles trade. Foles did replace Mitch Trubisky for a stretch during the latter’s contract year, but the former No. 2 overall pick took his job back to help a defense-powered Chicago roster back to the playoffs. The Bears have since drafted two more quarterbacks — Justin Fields, Caleb Williams — in Round 1, as Brady retired (for good, thanks to his Raiders ownership agreement being approved) after a successful Tampa stay.

Here is the latest from the NFC North:

  • Playing well at guard after an injury-plagued rookie year at tackle, Teven Jenkins makes sense as a Bears extension candidate. The Ryan Poles regime did not draft Jenkins — a 2021 second-round pick — but the GM has paid Ryan Pace-era pickups Jaylon Johnson and Cole Kmet. Jenkins has confirmed he approached Bears brass about a second contract, but that has been on hold for a while. Chicago’s Week 7 bye loomed as the next window for a Jenkins deal. Jenkins also has not generated too much momentum early in his contract year, missing time because of rib and ankle injuries. As such, it would be surprising — per The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain— if the Bears engaged in serious extension talks with Jenkins’ camp this week. Pro Football Focus still views Jenkins as a higher-end guard, ranking him in the top 20 after slotting the Oklahoma State alum as a top-15 option in 2022 and ’23.
  • The Vikings have Cam Akers back in the fold, agreeing to a late-round pick-swap trade to acquire the running back for a second straight season. This will be Kevin O’Connell‘s third stint with the former Rams second-round pick. Despite the second Akers-O’Connell partnership ending with the running back sustaining the second Achilles tear of his career, ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert notes the Vikings attempted to re-sign him before training camp. Akers opted for a Texans offer instead and did enough filling in for Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce to entice O’Connell and Co. to bring him back.
  • Jordan Addison was arrested on DUI charges in August, putting the second-year wide receiver on a path toward a suspension. The Vikings pass catcher appears a good bet to play most of this season, as ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert notes his court date has been moved to Dec. 3. Addison had been scheduled to appear in court Monday.
  • Not charged with a crime, Brandon McManus saw a civil suit lead to his exit from Washington. The NFL had ruled the veteran kicker would not be suspended as a result of the suit — one filed by two flight attendants part of a crew on a Jaguars London flight last year — and both McManus’ attorney and counsel for the plaintiffs confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky) the matter has been resolved. Neither party indicated if the resolution came via settlement or a judge dismissing the women’s suit. McManus was accused of sexual assault in the suit; he denied any wrongdoing. The former Broncos and Jaguars kicker will now be asked to step in for a Packers team that has been unable to find a reliable option post-Mason Crosby.

Packers Sign K Brandon McManus, Waive K Brayden Narveson

October 15th, 2024 at 7:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

7:11pm: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Packers have gone forward and signed the veteran kicker, McManus. In order to make room on the roster, Green Bay has officially waived the undrafted rookie, Narveson, after his five missed kicks in the first six games of his NFL career, per Tom Peliserro of NFL Network.

Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel adds that the Packers don’t intend to release practice squad kicker Alex Hale. This is a likely indication that Narveson will not be expected to return as a practice squad signee. Also an undrafted rookie, Hale may have gotten the nod due to his Australian roots which qualify him for an international roster exemption, allowing him not to count toward the team’s 16-man limit on the practice squad.

4:20pm: Kicker issues have gripped the Packers for a bit now, with the team unable to find a stable option following Mason Crosby‘s exit. As a result of their most recent kicker’s struggles, Brandon McManus is back on the NFL radar.

Brayden Narveson has missed five field goals this season, and while the rookie UDFA was on Green Bay’s radar while it waged an Anders Carlson–Greg Joseph offseason competition, the team’s support looks to be wavering. McManus auditioned for the Packers on Tuesday, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo.

The NFL recently revealed McManus would not be suspended for his role in an alleged sexual assault that occurred on a plane last season while he was a member of the Jaguars. A civil suit against the veteran kicker is on going, but he is back under consideration to return to the league soon after the NFL’s statement.

Green Bay added Narveson via waivers from Tennessee, doing so after cutting both Joseph and Carlson. The rookie swooped in to win a competition he was not part of, with the Packers having eyed him for a bit before that transaction. But Narveson’s miss count ballooned from three to five during the Pack’s win over the Cardinals; Narveson has gotten there without attempting a 50-plus-yard try.

McManus signed a one-year, $3.6MM deal with the Commanders in March, but the team dropped him after the civil suit emerged. The Broncos had cut McManus after nine seasons, leading to the Jaguars agreement. Last season, McManus made 81.1% of his field goal tries (30-for-37, with five of the misses from beyond 50 yards) and did not miss an extra point. Narveson has not missed a PAT, either, but the Packers appear close to ending this experiment.

McManus, 33, denied the two flight attendants’ allegations and is aiming to resume his career. The Commanders paid the 10-year veteran his full $1.5MM signing bonus. This audition comes after the Packers worked out Chad Ryland and Lucas Havrisik earlier this month.

NFL Will Not Suspend K Brandon McManus

September 30th, 2024 at 1:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Allegations of sexual assault against Brandon McManus, levied by two former flight attendants who were part of 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 personal conduct policy, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Being cleared by the league will help McManus’ effort to resume his career; he has not been tied to a team since the Washington release in June.

The anonymous plaintiffs accused McManus of rubbing himself against them and grinding against them during the Jaguars’ flight to London on September 28, 2023. Both women worked as flight attendants at the time, but they have since been removed from the crew which handles the team’s flights. McManus denied the allegations, but the Commanders cut bait shortly after they surfaced. McManus, who kicked for the Broncos for nine seasons before signing with the Jaguars in 2023, had signed a one-year, $3.6MM deal with the Commanders in March. He ended up keeping his $1.5MM signing bonus.

A Duval County judge had dismissed the women’s lawsuit due to neither revealing their identities, but the accusers have since done so in an amended complaint, according to the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala. While McManus’ attorney has labeled the accusers’ effort as a shakedown, the women maintain their accusations — which extend beyond just McManus. One of the women alleges McManus tried to kiss her while she was strapped into her seat, with Jhabvala adding the suit accuses the Jaguars of not properly educating him on the NFL policy on alcohol during team flights. It is highly likely McManus knew those rules, being a former NFLPA union rep.

This civil filing also accuses the Jaguars of arranging the flight to feature a section for players who wished to drink alcohol, alleging the flight “quickly turned into a party.” NFL rules prohibit alcohol from being served on team flights to and from games. The NFL is also making the determination McManus did not meet the criteria for a suspension without interviewing the alleged victims, Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams adds. The league did not address whether the accusers cooperated with the investigation.

Now 33, McManus played in all 17 Jaguars games last season. He made 30 of 37 field goal tries and connected on all 35 of his PAT attempts. The strong-legged kicker has never made more than 86% of his FG attempts in a season, though the former Super Bowl winner did make 10 of 15 tries from 50-plus yards in 2020 and was good on all 10 of his efforts from 40-49 yards in 2022. Last season, McManus made 5 of 10 kicks from beyond 50 yards and was 11-for-13 from 40-49.

Considering the kicker trouble teams regularly have, it would not surprise if McManus received a workout invite soon. Of course, teams may also be fine passing — or at least waiting until the civil matter concludes — due to McManus playing a lower-value position. The Jaguars drafted Cam Little in Round 6 this year, while the Commanders have cycled through a few kickers since dropping McManus. Austin Seibert is currently Washington’s kicker.

NFC East Notes: Belichick, Giants, CBs, Phillips, Cowboys, Commanders

August 17th, 2024 at 12:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bill Belichick‘s media blitz will cover the 2024 season; the legendary coach has deals in place with the Manningcast, Inside the NFL and Underdog Fantasy Sports. Come 2025, however, the goal remains to land a third HC gig. The Cowboys and Eagles continue to be mentioned as possible landing spots, due to their strong rosters being closer to Super Bowl-level status, but the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard believes the Giants — should they fire Brian Daboll — will make Belichick their first call. Leonard, during an appearance on The Carton Show, said GM Joe Schoen joins Daboll on the hot seat but added the GM having a past with Bill Parcells — Belichick’s boss with the Giants, Jets and Patriots (1996 only) — could leave the door open to working with Belichick. Schoen and Parcells debuted with the Dolphins, the former as a national scout, in 2008 and overlapped as coworkers for three years.

The Giants, who employed Belichick from 1979-90 and won their first two Super Bowls during his time as DC, came up as a team that would interest Belichick back in April. New York’s quarterback uncertainty may be an issue for a coach who will be 73 by the time he would land another opportunity, but it is not like the six-time Super Bowl-winning HC was in demand during this year’s cycle. A return to the Giants could be of interest if Belichick’s market is again limited.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

Commanders Release K Brandon McManus Amid Lawsuit

June 2nd, 2024 at 9:58pm CST by Ely Allen

9:58pm: In what will be the final McManus update of the night, Mike Florio of NBC Sports provided some insight into the kicker’s compensation as a result of his release. According to Florio, McManus had already been paid half of the $1.5MM signing bonus on his one-year, $3.6MM contract. The remaining $750K of the signing bonus was due to be paid “on or before June 7,” which is this upcoming Friday.

The Commanders could opt not to pay McManus under some argument — Florio suggests that they could argue that McManus should’ve disclosed the potential civil claims before the team signed him — and take the kicker to arbitration. While under arbitration, Washington would still hold the cap charge for the unpaid money. If the team is successful in arbitration, though, they would get cap relief and would not be required to pay the remainder of the signing bonus.

8:37pm: Quick on the draw, McManus’ representation, Brett Gallaway, has released another statement on the release of his client, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. After a quick cordiality, Gallaway maintained his client’s innocence, reiterating “that the allegations against Brandon are and remain absolutely false and importantly, are contradicted by indisputable evidence and the accusers’ own prior inconsistent statements and omissions.”

Gallaway also expresses disappointment in the team’s decision to terminate McManus’ contract before the kicker had a chance to defend himself against the allegations of sexual assault. Regardless, McManus and Gallaway will continue to advocate for his innocence and work to return the 32-year-old to the NFL.

6:52pm: The Commanders signed veteran kicker Brandon McManus three months ago expecting him to provide them with an upgrade at the position in 2024. Last week saw the former Jaguars kicker named in a sexual assault lawsuit of which he vehemently denied the allegations. The Commanders are apparently not taking any chances, though, announcing that they have released McManus today.

Washington allowed Joey Slye to walk in free agency after just over two years with the team. During his time with the team, Slye missed 10 of 66 field goal attempts and eight of 73 extra point attempts. McManus hasn’t seen much more success in the last two years, missing 15 of 58 field goal attempts in the past two seasons, but he has at least been more consistent on extra points and has much more experience than the 28-year-old Slye.

Last week, though, McManus and his former team were both named in a lawsuit made by anonymous plaintiffs accusing McManus of rubbing himself and grinding against them and offering them cash to drink with and dance inappropriately for him and accusing Jacksonville of facilitating this behavior by failure to supervise. Both women worked as flight attendants at the time of the incident but have since been removed from the flight crew that works with the team’s trips.

McManus’ representation released a statement later that day, saying that the allegations were “absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false and that they were “part of a campaign to defame and disparage the 32-year-old kicker. Both the Jaguars and Commanders released statements of their own. Both franchises acknowledged the allegations and their severity and claimed to be looking into the matter further.

Jacksonville’s statement emphasized that they “insist on an organization built by people who represent (their) community and game with the highest character and class.” Since then, the team, namely head coach Doug Pederson, has pleaded ignorance. Pederson made claims that he was disappointed to hear about the lawsuit when it first became public, and that typical flights for the team are more in the realm of a business trip.

Washington’s statement claimed that they take allegations of this nature very seriously and had been in communication with the league office and McManus’ representation. The team’s responsibility to take allegations of this nature very seriously is perhaps underlined by the allegations made in 2020 aimed at their former owner Dan Snyder, who reportedly sexually harassed and discriminated against former employees including office workers and cheerleaders.

There’s an argument to be made that no new information was made available to the Commanders and that the team frankly refused to put up with any more bad press of that nature. McManus and the Jaguars still have lawsuits that will need to play out, but the Commanders had an opportunity to cut ties with the situation and get their name out of the press surrounding it, and they’ve effectively done just that.

That’s just speculation, but the reality of the situation now sees McManus in need of a job, though that will likely be the lower of his two current priorities. A similar situation saw former Bills punter Matt Araiza leave the NFL after being accused in participating in a gang rape. His accuser eventually agreed to drop the lawsuit (in exchange for Araiza dropping a lawsuit accusing defamation), and the former sixth-round draft pick has joined the Chiefs two months later. If McManus gets through the litigation unscathed and clean, he’ll then be tasked with reestablishing his spot in the NFL. If not, though, we may have seen the end of the road for the veteran kicker.

As for Washington, they will open up phase III of organized team activities tomorrow, and after cutting McManus, they currently don’t have a kicker on the roster. Randy Bullock is one of few veteran free agent kickers available after appearing in only six games for the Giants last year. There are likely a number of undrafted college kickers who would be available to sign, as well. Whatever the move, the Commanders need to add a leg to their locker room quickly.

Latest On Brandon McManus Lawsuit

May 30th, 2024 at 5:25pm CST by Ben Levine

TODAY, 5:25pm: Florio has provided more insight into the lawsuit and the impending impact it could have on the Jaguars organization. Florio understands that the suit will cite witnesses who claim that Jaguars players brought alcohol on the team flight.

As Florio noted earlier this week, the NFL prohibits the serving and consumption of alcohol on team flights. Following a pair of 2022 incidents, the NFL warned of severe punishment for future violations. While the Jaguars may claim ignorance (as coach Doug Pederson did earlier this week), Florio adds that it’s the “obligation” of NFL teams “to ensure players follow” the rule.

TUESDAY, 7:50pm: Veteran kicker Brandon McManus has been accused of sexually assaulting two flight attendants while he was playing with the Jaguars in 2023. After the news broke yesterday, we heard from McManus’s camp, the Jaguars, and his current team, the Commanders. Now, we’re hearing from his former coach, as Doug Pederson revealed that he only learned about the lawsuit when the news broke yesterday.

[RELATED: Commanders K Brandon McManus Named In Sexual Assault Lawsuit]

“I saw the article that came out,” Pederson said today (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). “Obviously, disappointing to hear the news that took place. You know, other than that, honestly, being that it’s a legal matter at this time, I can’t really comment until more information is gathered.”

McManus is accused of rubbing himself against the anonymous plaintiffs during the Jaguars’ flight to London on September 28, 2023. The suit claims that the player was passing out cash to have the plane’s staff members “drink and dance inappropriately for him.” The suit also alleges that the kicker was among the members of the team who turned the flight into a “party,” a crucial note that could drag the Jaguars further into the controversy.

As Florio notes, the NFL frowns upon teams serving and consuming alcohol on team flights. Florio cites a pair of 2022 incidents. First, Titans OC Todd Downing was arrested for DUI “under a timeline that suggested he was drinking on the plane.” Later, Commanders players were disciplined for having beer on a return flight. At the time, the NFL sent a “strongly worded” memo that future penalties for consumption “would be even worse” and could include “significant discipline.”

“A typical flight is not that way, it’s a business trip,” Pederson said today (via Florio). “It’s a business trip. And that’s how we approach it from an organizational standpoint, you know, from the league standpoint. So, for that — when I read that, that part was disappointing.”

Meanwhile, lawyer Tony Buzbee will be representing the pair of women in the lawsuit, per Florio. Buzbee is known for representing the 20 women who accused Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct. In a statement, the lawyer hinted that he tried to settle with McManus before filing the suit.

“We filed the case on Friday, but before that filing we attempted, without success, to resolve this matter without the need for litigation,” Buzbee wrote. “Our efforts at resolution were met with arrogance, ignorance and stupidity, strikingly similar to how Deshaun Watson’s team responded when we tried to resolve those cases pre-filing.”

McManus’s representation called the allegations “absolutely fictitious and demonstrably false.” The lawsuit is calling for a jury trial and damages in excess of $1MM.

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