Team signs Gould to replace Brown

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 it 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’ 53man roster. Brown could appeal the decision.

The questions about how much the SUNDAY ■ New York Giants vs. Los Angeles at London, 6:30 a.m., NFL Network

■ Minnesota at Philadelphia, 10 a.m., KVVU-5 ■ Oakland at Jacksonville, 10 a.m., KLAS-8 ■ New England at Pittsburgh, 1:25 p.m., KLAS-8 ■ Seattle at Arizona, 5:20 p.m., KSNV-3 ■ Houston at Denver, 5:15 p.m., ESPN Giants knew about Brown’s off-field troubles have overshadowed preparations for Sunday’s game in London against the Los Angeles Rams.

Brown did not travel to London following Wednesday’s release of police records that 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.

In May 2015, Molly Brown sought and was granted a temporary protection order against her husband.