Monday brought word that Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has signed a long-term contract extension and another player in line for a new deal discussed his hopes of doing the same later in the day.
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said that he is keeping his focus on the field because he has “full belief that will take care of itself and that’s not something I need to worry about” heading into his fourth NFL season. While Lawrence isn’t anxious about the deal or staying away from OTAs in an attempt to force the issue, he would like to see things get wrapped up before the team starts training camp this summer.
“That would be ideal just to put it behind us and keep moving and feel good about that going into training camp,” Lawrence said. “But either way, like I said before, I have the same job.”
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said last month that the team and Lawrence’s representatives have been working tirelessly on a new deal. The break between OTAs and training camp offers a chance to push things toward the finish line so all involved can put their full attention on reversing course after the team’s late collapse kept them out of the playoffs last season.
Wide receiver David White Jr.'s bid to make the Jaguars has come to an end.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson confirmed at a Monday press conference that White tore his ACL during one of last week’s practices. White announced his injury over the weekend.
“He was having a really good offseason and just wish him well now during the recovery,” Pederson said.
White signed with the Jaguars after going undrafted out of Western Carolina this year. He had 34 catches for 519 yards and six touchdowns last season.
First-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. joins Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, Parker Washington, Tim Jones, and Devin Duvernay at the top of the receiver depth chart in Jacksonville.
We’re getting some clarity on the $1.5 million signing bonus earned by kicker Brandon McManus when he signed with the Commanders. A fight could be looming over half of the money.
Per a source with knowledge of the contract, McManus was due to receive $750,000 on or before April 26 and the other $750,000 on or before June 7.
McManus is technically owed the balance. Whether the Commanders pay it remains to be seen.
The Commanders could refuse to pay it, arguing (for example) that McManus should have disclosed the potential civil claims arising from a 2023 flight to London before they signed him. Even if their case is weak, they could force McManus to go through the steps of trying to win the money through arbitration.
They’d be required to carry to cap charge while the case is pending. They’d eventually get cap relief if they would win.
First, they have to decide whether to refuse to pay the money, which is due on Friday. If they due, it’s a non-issue. If they don’t, it could get interesting.
After veteran kicker Brandon McManus became a free agent following one season with the Jaguars, he signed with the Commanders. Now that the Commanders have released McManus, there’s a lingering contractual question.
McManus received a $1.5 million signing bonus. It’s not known whether all of the money has already been paid. Often, all or part of the bonus payment is deferred by weeks if not months.
That was the only guaranteed money in a one-year, $3.6 million contract.
The team declined comment on the financial aspects of the decision to terminate McManus. The Commanders could, in theory, argue that McManus knew or should have known about the incident before he was signed, and that he should have disclosed it.
That could be a tough argument to make, if McManus had no reason to believe a lawsuit was coming. The response could be that he should have expected it, based on his behavior. Of course, he denies any misbehavior.
Regardless, the fight will be harder for the Commanders to ultimately win if the money has changed hands. It’s always easier to refuse to pay and then to force the player to use the arbitration process under the Collective Bargaining Agreement to get it.
UPDATE 10:49 p.m. ET: Half of the money was due on or before April 26. The other half is due on or before June 7.
Former Jaguars kicker Brandon McManus is now former Commanders kicker, too.
The Commanders announced on Sunday night that McManus has been released.
The move comes six days after news emerged of a lawsuit filed against him and the team by two flight attendants on the Jaguars’ flight to London in 2023. The plaintiffs claim McManus sexually assaulted them. McManus has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
It’s unclear whether and to what extent the Commanders conducted an investigation, or whether they simply decided that the distraction outweighs the expected contributions.
Here’s an interesting twist. Atlas Air Worldwide, the company that flew the Jaguars to London, is owned by Apollo Global Management. Apollo was co-founded by Commanders majority owner Josh Harris.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Harris continues to own Apollo stock, although he’s no longer on the board of directors and otherwise has no role in the management of the company. That said, he’s in position to potentially find out enough through Atlas as to whether it made sense to cut ties with McManus, based on any information the plaintiffs provided to their employer about McManus’s alleged behavior.
However they got there, the Commanders got there quickly. McManus is out.
