ASHBURN, Va. – Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said he first learned of the sexual assault allegations against kicker Brandon McManus on May 27.
Commanders released McManus less than a week later, with the team announcing the trade Sunday evening.
Quinn addressed the move with the roster members still intact afterward. He said he couldn’t “comment much” on the McManus issue, but said communication was critical to his organization.
“There’s usually a whole group of people who want to be part of the solution,” Quinn said Wednesday before the commanders’ OTA exercise. “And when you have that, whether it’s for this team or for a team or parent, you can come up with solutions with that kind of communication.
“So it’s not specific to this, but it’s just a good lesson to always have that conversation that is usually much harder in your head than having the actual conversation. And so I wanted to make sure that I got a lesson to the boys after they go through it.”
Hello from Commanders OTAs, where Dan Quinn speaks for the first time since Commanders K released Brandon McManus amid sexual assault allegations. Dan says he received new information on May 27. The team talked about the importance of having conversations rather than avoiding them. pic.twitter.com/nxId2yCAO1
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) June 5, 2024
Two flight attendants have sued McManus in civil court, accusing the Commanders’ March free agent of sexually assaulting them during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ charter flight to London last season. The handlers are also suing the Jaguars for failing to supervise McManus and create a safe working environment for the flight crew.
The Commanders signed McManus to a one-year deal worth $3.6 million in March. He played for Jacksonville last year after nine seasons in Denver.
On Wednesday, the Commanders signed kicker Ramiz Ahmed to compete for the roster. On the field, McManus and Ahmed’s resumes are not comparable.
Ahmed arrives two years after returning six kickoffs for the Green Bay Packers, part of a peripatetic career that has yet to include an NFL field goal or extra-point attempt. Most recently he played for the United Football League. Quinn said he has experience shooting field goals, extra points and kickoffs.
In 10 career years, McManus made 253 of 311 field goal attempts and 312 of 321 extra-point attempts.
The Commanders have been embroiled in sexual harassment and workplace misconduct allegations in recent years, factors that led the league to strong-arm Daniel Snyder into selling the franchise.
When asked if that influenced the decision to release McManus, Quinn reiterated the importance of open and honest communication in creating solutions.
An ownership group led by Josh Harris purchased the franchise last summer. The team has also had turnovers at head coach, general manager and quarterback since then.
The role of NFL kickers will expand this year with new league rules.
