Commanders coach Dan Quinn says he learned about the sexual assault allegations against kicker Brandon McManus on May 27 when ESPN first reported the news. The team released McManus on Sunday night, though an NFL investigation is ongoing.
Quinn spoke to the media Wednesday during the final phase of the Commanders’ voluntary workouts in Ashburn.
“What I told the team … as a lesson, let’s make sure you always let somebody know and tell them,” the first-year coach said, noting that he was limited in what he could discuss about the allegations. “There’s usually a whole bunch of people that wanna be part of the solution.”
Two women, represented by attorney Tony Buzbee, claimed that McManus rubbed up against them during a flight to London while he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The kicker’s attorneys have denied the allegations.
“Let’s have open communication …” Quinn said. “Our team has an army of support like most teams do, and so that communication, that’s a critical piece of it.”
The Commanders signed kicker Ramiz Ahmed on Tuesday to replace McManus during the offseason workouts.
The former Green Bay Packer worked as a kickoff specialist in the NFL, though he also converted 10 of his 13 field goal attempts this season for the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions.
While Ahmed is the only kicker on the roster right now, Quinn said that will change before the season starts. He plans to host a kicking competition during the offseason.
“We’re going to compete at every spot,” Quinn said. “… That’s what our whole program is based on is the competition. And so that being the central theme that goes through kicker, that goes through quarterback … [general manager] Adam [Peters] and his staff are always digging and looking.”
The squad’s voluntary workouts wrap up on Friday. The team will return to the practice field next week for mandatory minicamp.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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