Doug Pederson Didn't Know Alleged Assault Happened On Team Flight And Wasn't Told About Ensuing Suit

It was completely understandable on Tuesday that Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson wasn't eager to discuss the sexual assault allegations made in a civil suit against former kicker Brandon McManus.

It is, after all, an ongoing legal matter and no one in a position of authority typically wants to dive into such matters unless directed and coached to do so by lawyers.

But the things Pederson did talk about seemingly raise more questions than provide answers.

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson talks with QB Trevor Lawrence during a game vs. the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

No One Told Pederson Anything

Firstly, Pederson says he didn't know about the issue until he read an article about it on Monday.

"Yeah, I saw the article that came out," Pederson said. "Obviously, disappointing to hear the news that took place. Other than that, honestly, being that it's a legal matter at this time, I can't really comment until more information is gathered."

Pederson needs more information because he doesn't seem to know a ton about the issue after confirming the article is the first he's heard of it.

"That’s the first I’ve heard of it, yes," Pederson said.

The ESPN article reported that two women who worked as flight attendants on the Jaguars charter flights to and from London last year – prior to and after their two games in the UK – accuse McManus of rubbing himself against them and grinding on them. 

They also accuse the Jaguars of failing to supervise McManus and failing to create a safe environment for staff serving the team. 

The suit, filed last week by attorney Tony Buzbee, who represented claimants against Deshaun Watson, seeks more than $1 million in damages and a jury trial.

Houston attorney Tony Buzbee. (Photo by Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/Corbis via Getty Images)

Tony Buzbee Represents Plaintiffs

"For those who have inquired, The Buzbee Law Firm is lead counsel for the two women who brought this case," Buzbee's firm said on its Instagram page on Monday. "We filed the case on Friday, but before that filing we attempted, without success, to resolve this matter without the need for litigation. 

"Our efforts at resolution were met with arrogance, ignorance and stupidity, strikingly similar to how Deshaun Watson’s team responded when we tried to resolve those cases pre-filing. The allegations made in this lawsuit are very serious. We made sure to fully vet them and speak to witnesses before even taking the cases. 

"We will pursue this case with the same tenacity we are known for. It’s a shame that this type of conduct still occurs. It happens far too often. These women were simply trying to do their jobs!"

The Jaguars are named in the lawsuit. And if indeed Buzbee was in contact with the organization prior to filing the case, how is it that Pederson had to learn about this in the media?

He was both on the flights and the person ultimately in charge of the players on this trip. 

Didn't someone within the organization think to tell the coach that there were allegations of misconduct against a former player while he was on the roster?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Brandon McManus of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks on from the field during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at EverBank Stadium on December 17, 2023. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

Performance, Cap Reasons McManus Out

About that: McManus had his contract expire after the 2023 season and the Jaguars opted not to re-sign him. But the allegations of the incident had nothing to do with that decision, apparently.

"I think there were a couple reasons," Pederson said. "One, performance. In this business, whether it's a coach or player, it's performance-driven, right? 

"Then you start talking about contracts and the amount of contracts and the number, dollars and cents that go into it a little bit, the age of the player. A lot of things can factor into it. 

"The fact that, it's a key position, it's critical, it's valuable because it gives us as a team points on the board or not. Then if we have an opportunity to draft somebody, looking forward, then we take advantage of that. So, I think there [are] several factors, not just in this case, in Brandon's case, but I think that is the same way with any position we look at."

So, to confirm, Pederson says McManus was basically not re-signed for performance and salary cap reasons. And the allegations made by the flight attendants had nothing to do with it because, neither he nor anyone on the Jaguars knew about it.

"None of this, no," Pederson said.

(Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Huge Plane But What About Supervision

Anyone might wonder how an incident could happen on a plane between a player and someone else and the coach doesn't find out about it. Well, the Jaguars chartered an Atlas Air airliner. And those are typically enormous.

So coaches and staff and players could conceivably sit nowhere near each other.

"We do sit down and want to make sure that the players are together, and coaches are together and staff is together," Pederson said. "Everybody is comfortable and has space."

The different groups are apparently so separated that the atmosphere in one cabin may not resemble the atmosphere in another. The lawsuit alleges at least one section was awash in a party atmosphere and lacking supervision – the latter of which is something Pederson may have just confirmed for the plaintiffs.

"I mean, a typical flight is not that way," Pederson said. "It's a business trip. It's a business trip. That's how we approach it from an organizational, from a league standpoint. For that, when I read that, that part of it is disappointing."