Packers K Brandon McManus says his sexual assault lawsuit is resolved

McManus did not state whether it was dismissed or settled out of court when asked to clarify.

The Green Bay Packers signed a new kicker this week in Brandon McManus, who is set to displace the recently released Brayden Narveson, who was picked up by the team off waivers after the cutdown deadline at the end of the preseason. General manager Brian Gutekunst addressed the press about the signing of McManus on Wednesday, which obviously came with some scrutiny associated with McManus being named in a civil sexual assault lawsuit that led to his release with the Washington Commanders this spring.

The initial lawsuit, which claimed that McManus rubbed up against two two flight attendants while they were passing out meals and tried to kiss one, was dismissed by Florida courts because the accusers requested anonymity, which was given by the judge. The lawsuit was then amended three days later with the names of the accusers attached.

The NFL did its own investigation, which included, by their count, 30 interviews. They did not find sufficient evidence to punish McManus when the league made their ruling in late September. Tony Buzbee, who represents the two accusers, says the league never contacted the alleged victims. Per Sports Illustrated’s Bill Huber, a league source claims that the NFL attempted to “reach out” to Buzbee several times and never heard back from the lawyer.

At the time of the signing, it appeared that McManus’ civil case was still ongoing. That seems to not be the case, as McManus claimed in the locker room after Wednesday’s practice, his first with the Packers, that the matter has been “resolved.” According to John Miller of NBC 26, McManus was asked to clarify whether or not the case was dismissed by the court or settled out of court, to which McManus again reiterated that it was “resolved.”

This explains a comment that Gutekunst made on Wednesday. Here is the quote:

“Last week, when these things got cleared up within the league and he got passed some other things, those things kind of picked up.”

Those “other things” were likely the end of McManus’ civil case. According to Gutekunst, McManus wouldn’t have been available to sign for Green Bay if not for the accusations made against the kicker. He said that the team did their own investigation into McManus, but that the Packers “leaned on” the NFL’s investigation throughout their process.

Gutekunst wouldn’t state whether he believed the accusations were valid or not when asked directly about the subject but stated several times that the team was comfortable with both McManus and the NFL’s investigation.

Update:

The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman received a statement from McManus’ attorney, Brett Gallaway, that also says that McManus’ lawsuit is “resolved.”