The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Giants kicker faces NFL investigation
Brown’s issues with domestic violence draw more scrutiny.
Josh Brown’s future with the New York Giants and possibly the NFL is in jeopardy after police released journal entries and emails in which the kicker admitted that he repeatedly verbally and physically abused his former wife.
The league reacted Thursday by reopening its investigation into a 2015 domestic abuse complaint made by Brown’s former wife, though prosecutors said they were closing the criminal case without filing charges because they could not secure key testimony from the woman and other key witnesses. The Giants announced before traveling to London that Brown would not make the trip before a game Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Giants said they want to review the new information released by King County law enforcement officials in Washington and reach a decision on the kicker’s future with the club, possibly next week.
Giants co-owner John Mara said he was upset the new information about Brown’s history of domestic abuse, adding he felt it was in the best interest of the team to leave him home.
“I want to get all the information we can get,” Mara said in a radio interview with New York’s WFAN. “I am certainly disturbed by what we read. He has admitted to us that he abused his wife in the past. I think what is a little unclear is the extent of that, but what we have read about is obviously disturbing.”
Brown’s former wife, Molly, alleged more than 20 instances of domestic violence.
Steelers: The club filed a formal complaint with the NFL and asked it to look into Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh kicking Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in his right knee in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game in Miami.
Roethlisberger told teammates during the game Suh kicked him. A review of the play on NFL Game Pass confirms his suspicion. On a play late in the fourth quarter, Suh was being blocked by Steelers right guard David DeCastro. When Suh got close to Roethlisberger but did not have his hands free to sack him, he raised his leg and kicked Roethlisberger square in the knee.
“I’m not sure what he was thinking,” DeCastro said when asked about Suh’s kick. “You’d have to ask him what he was thinking. I heard Ben saying he kicked me, but I didn’t really see it until we watched the film.”
Packers: Top running back Eddie Lacy went on injured reserve. The Packers announced the move Thursday, hours before hosting the Bears. Lacy has been bothered by a left ankle injury and James Starks is out.
Bills: Running back LeSean McCoy was healthy enough to at least watch part of practice from the sideline Thursday, though it’s unclear whether Buffalo’s top offensive threat can play Sunday at Miami. McCoy was not present for the start of practice but was spotted wearing a blue hoodie and carrying a football making his way to the locker room once the session ended.
Redskins: Wide receiver DeSean Jackson and tight end Jordan Reed missed practice, putting their availability for Sunday’s game at the Lions into question. Jackson has a sore left shoulder. Reed still is dealing with the effects of a concussion that forced him to miss last week’s game.
Ravens: Quarterback Joe Flacco (shoulder) missed practice for the second consecutive day and even other starters who missed Wednesday’s session were not there Thursday — outside linebackers Terrell Suggs (left biceps) and Elvis Dumervil (foot), return specialist Devin Hester Sr. (thigh), inside linebacker C.J. Mosley (hamstring), wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. (ankle), cornerback Shareece Wright (pulled hamstring) and right guard Marshal Yanda (shoulder).