Kicker Brandon McManus has returned to the NFL as a member of the Packers. Now allegations that could have derailed his career for much longer are behind him.
Via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, McManus said Wednesday that the lawsuit filed against him by two flight attendants for assault and sexual assault has been “resolved.”
His attorney, Brett Galloway, and plaintiffs’ attorney, Tony Buzbee, confirmed that the case had been resolved. Neither of them revealed any of the conditions.
McManus was cut by leaders shortly after filing the lawsuit. On September 30, the league announced that its investigation into McManus revealed insufficient evidence of a violation of the personal conduct policy. Buzbee told PFT after the NFL’s announcement that the league had not interviewed the plaintiffs.
Now that the case has been resolved, prosecutors likely will not cooperate.
The article does not say whether the claims against Jaguar cars have been resolved either. But without a global solution, plaintiffs may at some point tell their story during depositions or testimony at trial. This fact alone strongly suggests that all claims against all defendants have been resolved, and that plaintiffs are bound by a comprehensive confidentiality agreement.
“It’s been a tough time over the last couple of months,” McManus said Wednesday, via Demovsky. “I’m glad it’s in the past now. I was hoping and working hard to get another opportunity. I’m so grateful to the Green Bay Packers for giving me the next opportunity to get back here and play the game I love.”
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst declined to go into detail, instead saying the team is “very comfortable” with the situation.
“I think it’s clear to us that he wouldn’t be available now if those charges weren’t there,” Gutekunst said Wednesday, per Demovsky. “But I think the league did a really thorough investigation, and we relied on that as we went through it.”
The investigation could not have been so comprehensive if the plaintiffs had not been interviewed. If the case is resolved before they can cooperate, the process could be shortened in the same way that the recent lawsuit against Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was settled. Buzbee was also representing the defendant in this case.
Settlement of civil cases is common. Confidentiality terms are also common. The ability of NFL players accused of wrongdoing to broker settlements that buy silence highlights the biggest inherent flaw in the league’s internal justice system. With no subpoena authority, the NFL cannot get to the full and complete truth.
Whatever the truth.
