Giants kicker Brown on paid leave after revelation that he abused wife
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’ 53-man roster.
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 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.
Washington puts top pick on IR
Washington is putting first-round draft pick Josh Doctson on injured reserve with an injured left Achilles tendon.
Coach Jay Gruden announced the move Friday.
Doctson has missed the past four games for Washington (4-2) after making just one catch in each of the team’s first two games. He was the 22nd overall pick in this year’s NFL draft but has been troubled by the Achilles tendon problem since rookie minicamp in May. Doctson did not play in the preseason.
Gruden also said tight end Jordan Reed will miss Sunday’s game at Detroit with a concussion. Reed also sat out last week’s win over Philadelphia.
Odds and ends
Bills running back LeSean McCoy is questionable with a hamstring injury sustained in practice and will be a gametime decision for Buffalo’s upcoming game against the Dolphins. …
Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been fined $24,309 by the NFL for taking off his helmet during a touchdown celebration last Sunday against the Ravens. …
Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson is questionable to play against the Ravens on Sunday because of an ailing right ankle. …
49ers running back Carlos Hyde will miss Sunday’s game against the Bucs with a shoulder injury. …
Former NFL Alumni Association president George Martin told a concussion conference the injury is a scourge in contact sports with longterm consequences still widely underestimated.