The New York Giants released kicker Josh Brown on Tuesday, Oct. 23, just days after documents in which he admitted to abusing his former wife were made public.
Brown was suspended for the first game of this season after a domestic violence incident with his ex-wife Molly Brown in May 2015. Although he did not face charges for that incident the NFL had implemented a six-game suspension for all domestic violence cases one year prior. The league said that Brown was only suspended for one game because their request to get information on Brown from the Kings County Sheriff’s office in Washington was denied.
However, Washington state sheriff John Urquhart blasted the NFL last week saying that his office never received any written request from anyone with the league about getting information on Brown. On Friday, Brown was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list because the NFL wanted to investigate the released documents of his abuse admission further.
"It is important to share that I never struck my wife, and never would," Brown said in a statement to ESPN. "Abuse takes many forms, and is not a gray area. Through the past several years I have worked to identify and rectify my own behaviors. The road to rehabilitation is a journey and a constant modification of a way of life. My journey will continue forever as a person determined to leave a positive legacy and I embrace the opportunities to show and speak about what has helped me to be that man.”
Giants president John Mara said in a statement that their beliefs, judgments and decisions about Brown were misguided and they hope that Josh will dedicate himself to becoming a better person.
People reacted strongly via Twitter to Brown being released by the Giants and the league's handling of the situation.