Giants’ Brown put on ‘exempt’ list
LONDON » The NFL placed Josh Brown on paid leave Friday hours after coach Ben McAdoo struggled to answer questions about how the New York Giants might discipline the kicker for abusing his wife.
In a letter to the 14-year veteran, NFL senior vice president of labor policy Adolpho Birch said Brown was being placed on the league’s “exempt list” while the league investigates whether he should be suspended as punishment for several alleged acts of spousal abuse. Birch said the move “does not represent a finding that you have violated the personal conduct policy,” but does pave the way toward potential further sanctions.
Being placed on Commissioner Roger Goodell’s “exempt” list means Brown cannot attend practices or Giants games but can go to Giants headquarters for meetings and workouts. It also means Brown continues to be paid and his presence won’t be counted on the Giants’ 53-man roster. Brown could appeal the decision.
“The NFL has the ability to place a player on the exempt list and the player has the right to appeal that decision, if he chooses,” the NFL Players Association said in a statement. “The League office wanted unilateral control of this process and accordingly, their system lacks transparency.”
The action on Brown came hours after McAdoo had trouble explaining the Giants’ intentions toward Brown, their kicker since 2013. The questions about how much the Giants knew about Brown’s off-field troubles have overshadowed preparations for Sunday’s game in London against the Rams.
Brown did not travel to London following Wednesday’s release of police records which contained the player’s written admissions that he physically abused his wife, Molly, over a protracted period. She told police in the documents released by the King County Sheriff’s Office in Washington state that the abuse and other threatening behavior stretched from 2009, when she was pregnant with their daughter, to the Pro Bowl in January 2016.
When asked whether the Giants knew about Brown’s behavior at the Pro Bowl, McAdoo repeatedly said the Giants were still gathering information on the 9-month-old event. Finally, he said: “I’m not going to answer that.”
When a reporter asked McAdoo about his comments in August suggesting he would show no tolerance for players abusive of their family members, McAdoo said his comments then were more nuanced.
“When did I say zero tolerance?” he said, adding: “I do not support domestic violence, if that’s what you’re asking. I do not condone it.”
McAdoo described Brown as a “man of faith” who was trying to improve his behavior and the Giants organization was supporting him in this. But when asked to explain how the Giants provided this or monitored his off-field behavior, McAdoo said he couldn’t detail any specific acts of support.
Bears losing QBs, games
LAKE FOREST, ILL. » The Chicago Bears keep losing games and quarterbacks.
After quarterback Brian Hoyer suffered a broken left arm against the Packers in a 26-10 loss Thursday, Jay Cutler’s return as starter appears inevitable.
The question is when? “When he’s cleared medically, we’ll have him out there,” Bears coach John Fox said. “When exactly that’s going to be, I can’t answer that. He’s getting closer.”
Injuries: Redskins’ Doctson goes on IR
ASHBURN, VA. » First-round draft pick Josh Doctson was put on injured reserve by the Redskins with an injured left Achilles tendon.
The wide receiver was the 22nd overall pick in this year’s NFL draft but has been troubled by the Achilles tendon problem since rookie minicamp. ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. » Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy is questionable and will be a game-time decision for Buffalo’s upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins.