On October 19, SNY published a story featuring new, horrific details of the spousal abuse by New York Giants kicker Josh Brown, who was originally suspended one game by the NFL for violating the league's personal conduct policy. The Pro Bowler admitted to "physically, mentally, emotionally, and verbally" abusing his wife, said he viewed himself as "God" and his wife as his "slave," and developed into a sexual deviant who struck fear in her heart and abused her in front of her children.
Before these details were released yesterday, the Giants front office had been openly supportive of their kicker. And while the team claims they were unaware of Brown's journal entries, emails, and letters, they were still aware he was arrested for a domestic incident. They still were aware of court documents in which Brown's wife claims she was physically abused at least 20 times. And, with this knowledge, they still re-signed him to a 2-year, $4 million deal over the summer.
Both the NFL and the Giants could've and should've handled this situation better. The league today claims they made repeated attempts to get this new information from the King County Sheriffs' Office but were denied. Yet regardless of what twisted details were revealed yesterday, the league and team both had the chance to set an example, to practice what the league has been preaching since the Ray Rice incident became national news, and failed to do so. Here are the ways the NFL and Giants messed up the Josh Brown situation.
Giants head coach Ben McAdoo said in August he supported Josh Brown "as a man, a father, and a player."
Giants GM Jerry Reese signed Brown to a 2-year, $4 million contract after learning of his arrest.
Giants owner in August: "We are aware of all the allegations ... comfortable with our decision to re-sign him."
Why was there such a push to publicly support Josh Brown? Why not take a more vague, wait-and-see stance in the media? The NFL claims they didn't know and couldn't obtain all the information from the courts about what happened, so chances are the Giants couldn't, either.
“All I can tell you is that we are aware of all the allegations and I believe all the facts and circumstances and we were comfortable with our decision to re-sign him. Nothing that has happened in the mean time to make us question that decision. … We attempted to make a informed decision here. We’ll live with the results of that decision.”
The Giants and team owner John Mara almost certainly didn't have all the facts. But they're right about one thing—they'll have to live with the results of that decision for some time.
In January, Ben McAdoo named domestic violence as something he "won't tolerate as a head coach."
The NFL decided to suspend Brown for one game for violating its personal conduct policy.
Ben McAdoo, when asked if the Giants had conducted an investigation in August: "I stay in my lane."
Roger Goodell says league has cracked down on touchdown celebrations because "our players are role models."
