The lawsuit filed against the Jaguars and former Jacksonville (now Commanders) kicker Brandon McManus is raising a lot of concerns for the team and the league. Embedded in the sexual misconduct allegations involving two flight attendants is another potentially major problem for the organization.
If alcohol was served or consumed during the flight, the Jaguars could get in trouble with the league.
In November 2022, a pair of incidents involving apparent and/or actual alcohol consumption on team flights prompted the NFL to send a strongly worded reminder to all teams about the relevant rule. After former Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing was arrested for drunken driving a timeline that suggested he drank on the plane back from green bay after a win on thursday night and Commanders players were disciplined Because he drank beer on the team plane back from Philadelphia after a win on Monday night, the league made it clear that future punishments would be even worse.
Parts of the memo from the league office were leaked at the time. It threatened “significant discipline” for future violations.
Whether the league was huffing and puffing, or whether the league will blow houses down, will be determined when, just eleven months later, the alleged partying on the Jaguars’ plane to London involved the kind of adult beverages adults consume at adult parties.
And for those who chafe at the idea that drinking alcohol on team planes or in team facilities is frowned upon by the NFL, the goal is to ensure that once the plane lands and employees scatter into their personal cars, there’s no chance they’ll will possibly maim or kill one or more local citizens who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
