After spending one season with the Jaguars, veteran kicker Brandon McManus became a free agent and signed with the Commanders. However, the Commanders have now released McManus, raising questions about the specifics of his contract. McManus had received a $1.5 million signing bonus as part of a one-year, $3.6 million deal. It is unclear whether the full bonus payment has been made, as it is common for such payments to be deferred over time.
The signing bonus was the only guaranteed money in McManus’ contract, and the team has not commented on the financial details surrounding his release. The Commanders could potentially argue that McManus should have disclosed any issues that led to his termination before signing with the team. However, McManus denies any wrongdoing and may claim that he had no reason to believe a lawsuit was forthcoming.
If the signing bonus has already been paid, it may be more difficult for the Commanders to withhold the funds. Typically, teams will refuse to pay and force the player to enter arbitration under the Collective Bargaining Agreement to resolve disputes. It has been reported that half of the money owed to McManus was due by April 26, with the remainder due by June 7. This deadline may factor into the ongoing contractual dispute between McManus and the Commanders.