Image via Complex Original
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."
Such immediate support for someone arrested on assault charges, in the wake of many similarly controversial incidents throughout the league, is striking. Especially when considering how quickly the first-year coach was to talk down to Odell Beckham, Jr. after the All-Pro had an emotional outburst on the Giants' sideline.
Telling your best player that he needs to "control his emotions" after a sideline tirade yet offering support "as a man, father, and player" for a kicker arrested for domestic violence? Interesting standard.
Giants GM Jerry Reese signed Brown to a 2-year, $4 million contract after learning of his arrest.
Brown's wife said back in August that he had been physically violent with her at least 20 times, with incidents starting while she was pregnant with their daughter. Either the team didn't believe her, or they didn't believe it was a big enough accusation to not resign the Pro Bowl kicker.
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."
Asked in August why he was able to tolerate this case: "That's something that's private and I'm not willing to discuss publicly."
The NFL decided to suspend Brown for one game for violating its personal conduct policy.
The league suspended Josh Brown for one game, although it probably should've been six. Brown was guilty of violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, but if he was found to have violated the domestic violence policy, it would have led to a mandatory six-game suspension.
In the state of Washington where Brown was arrested, the charge was assault in the 4th degree with a domestic violence designation.
Ben McAdoo, when asked if the Giants had conducted an investigation in August: "I stay in my lane."
"I have no information on that," McAdoo said.
Why would the head coach have no information on an internal investigation? And, perhaps more importantly, why was McAdoo comfortable with not knowing if the Giants did their own investigation if he's "not tolerant" to this type of abuse?
Roger Goodell says league has cracked down on touchdown celebrations because "our players are role models."
The quote came from Goodell on October 19, the day the Josh Brown details became widely available. Excellent timing, Roger. Draw your own conclusions concerning the league's priorities.