Brown finally punted
The Giants finally parted ways with Josh Brown, as coowner John Mara admitted Tuesday he was “misguided’’ in sticking with the kicker accused of multiple domestic violence incidents.
The decision came down as players attended meetings and then departed for their bye week. Brown did not attend those meetings but he was at the team facility to hear firsthand the Giants had released him. Brown met with Mara, general manager Jerry Reese and coach Ben McAdoo, among others. He was informed of the release by Mara and Reese.
“We believed we did the right thing at every juncture in our relationship with Josh,” Mara said in a statement released by the Giants. “Our beliefs, our judgments and our decisions were misguided. We accept that responsibility.’’
Last Friday, the Giants asked the NFL to place Brown on the Reserve/Commissioner Exempt list after damaging new information surfaced two days earlier chronicling his troubled past with his former wife, Molly. Brown was placed on the exempt list, meaning he would get paid but would not count against the 53-man roster. The logical next step was to officially part ways with Brown.
Brown originally was suspended for the first game of the season, a punishment stemming from the May 2015 charge of fourth-degree domestic violence at their home in Washington state. The prosecutor dropped the charges after five days, but Molly Brown, in police documents, accused her husband of more than 20 incidents of domestic abuse.
Nevertheless, the Giants resigned Brown this offseason. After his suspension, they stuck by him. He served as their kicker for the next five games, until last Wednesday’s revelations from a counseling journal written by Brown himself and a letter to friends spelled out new and damaging information, including Brown admitting he had abused his wife. The Giants announced Brown would not travel with the team to London but the fact they did not release Brown on the spot attracted a wave of criticism from around the league, directed mainly at Mara.
In a statement released Tuesday by ESPN, Brown said, “It is important to share that I never struck my wife, and never would.’’ The Giants issued a statement from Brown that was almost identical, but interestingly, that line was omitted.
“I am sorry that my past has called into question the character or integrity of the New York Gi- ants, Mr. Mara or any of those who have supported me along the way,’’ Brown’s statement read. “In the coming days and weeks I plan on telling more of the pain I had caused and the measures taken to get help so I may be the voice of change and not a statistic.’’
Brown, 37, is possibly facing a longer suspension from the NFL, which has reopened its investigation. His kicking career is likely finished.
Mara said last Thursday the team knew Brown had abused his ex-wife, but the Giants did not know the extent of that abuse. The remark was met with rampant criticism, including from Annie Apple, the mother of rookie cornerback Eli Apple.
“We hope that Josh will continue to dedicate himself to rehabilitation, and to becoming a better person and father,’’ Mara said. “We will continue to support him in his efforts to continue counseling, and we hope that Josh and his family can find peace and a positive resolution.’’
The Giants are 4-3 and players are off until Monday. Brown continued to be a topic as they packed up and departed the locker room.
“Just understanding all the facts and getting all the information we can,’’ Victor Cruz said. “Some of us have our own opinions on it that I’ll leave in the locker room. So, we’ll just leave it at that.’’
Asked his opinion, Cruz said, “Next question. Domestic violence is disgusting, it’s not something I stand by at all and I prefer if you guys don’t ask me any more questions about Josh Brown.’’