Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn spoke for the first time Wednesday on the recent release of kicker Brandon McManus, who the franchise signed to a one-year contract this offseason. Although Quinn did not directly address the situation due to the ongoing investigation, he did tell reporters about some advice he gave his team.
Dan Quinn Addresses Release of Brandon McManus
McManus was released by the Commanders on June 2 amid a sexual assault lawsuit against the kicker. He had previously signed a one-year deal with the franchise back in March.
Quinn was asked about McManus’ release Wednesday in his first media availability since the kicker’s release. Although Quinn did not get into many specifics about the situation, he did tell media members about some general advice he recently gave to his players.
Quinn also said he first learned of some of the information regarding McManus’ allegations on May 27, leading to his release days later.
“This is under investigation, so I can’t comment a lot, but what I can say is a little bit about what I told the team,” Quinn said. “Like most things, not necessarily related to this, but as a lesson, let’s make sure you always let somebody know and help. There’s usually a whole bunch of people that want to be part of the solution.
“When you have that, whether it’s for this team or any team or a parent, that kind of communication allows you to come up with some solutions. Not specific to this, but just a good lesson to always have that conversation. It’s usually much more difficult in your head than it is really having the actual conversation. So, I just wanted to make sure I got a lesson out to the guys that we’re going through it.”
Hello from Commanders OTAs, where Dan Quinn is speaking for first time since Commanders released K Brandon McManus amid allegations of sexual assault. Dan says he received new information on May 27. Addressed team on importance of having rather than avoiding conversations. pic.twitter.com/nxId2yCAO1
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) June 5, 2024
Quinn was later asked about whether the history of sexual misconduct issues within the Commanders’ organization played a part in the release.
Washington has been the subject of multiple investigations stemming from a toxic workplace culture that included allegations of sexual harassment under previous owner Dan Snyder, who sold the team to a group led by Josh Harris in July 2023.
Quinn reiterated some of his points about fostering an environment where communication is encouraged.
“What we always want to do, in all the spaces and all the players, let’s have open communication,” Quinn told reporters. “That’s what we’re trying to dig into and find. Like I said earlier, a lot of people want to be part of the solution. Our team has an army of support, like most teams do. That communication, that’s a critical piece of it.”
Why McManus Was Released
McManus was released from the Commanders on June 2, days after Quinn said that he learned of the allegations around the kicker.
McManus is facing a lawsuit in which two women allege he sexually assaulted them during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ overseas flight to London last year, according to court documents obtained by ESPN. McManus played for the Jaguars last season after spending the first nine years of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos.
Identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II in the lawsuit, which was filed May 24 in Duval County Circuit Civil Court, the women accuse McManus of rubbing himself against them and grinding against them. They also accuse the Jaguars of failing to supervise McManus and failing to create a safe environment for the staff serving the team.
McManus’ attorney, Brett Gallaway, released the following statement after McManus’ release:
“Brandon would like to thank the Washington Commanders for the opportunity to be a part of the organization. However, we reiterate 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.
“While we are disappointed with the team’s decision to release Brandon before he had the opportunity to defend against these fabricated claims, we will aggressively defend and clear Brandon’s name and reputation through the legal process. We intend to defeat these claims, fully exonerate him, and look forward to seeing him back on the field where he belongs.”
Commanders Add Kicker To Replace McManus
McManus was the lone kicker on Washington’s roster, leaving the team without an option at the position after his release.
The Commanders signed Ramiz Ahmed on Tuesday to fill that void.
Ahmed made one appearance for the Green Bay Packers in 2022, handling six kickoffs in the game with three touchbacks. He previously made a 61-yard field goal during his time with the USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers back in 2022. Before that, he had signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears in 2020 but was released before the start of the regular season.
Now, it appears Ahmed could get his chance to be Washington’s kicker, at least for the moment. It’s unclear whether the franchise might add another option at the position in the coming weeks and perhaps have a competition leading up to the season.