Giants’ Josh Brown’s ban stems from domestic-violence case
Giants kicker Josh Brown speaks with reporters at training camp on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. Credit: AP / Tom Canavan
Giants kicker Josh Brown said his one-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy stems from a domestic-violence incident in the spring of 2015 involving his now-ex-wife and that those charges were dropped five days after the incident.
The clerk at King County District Court in Washington confirmed that “the state declined to pursue prosecution and the charges were dismissed” on May 27, 2015.
However, court documents show that the victim, Brown’s ex-wife, Molly, told police that it was not the first incident of domestic violence, only the first time she called 911. She requested an order of protection from Brown.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Brown was asked if it was an isolated incident. “It was just a moment,” he said.
The statement of probable cause upon Brown’s arrest for fourth-degree assault/DV on May 22, 2015, states that Brown grabbed his wife’s wrist when she picked up a telephone during an argument. The victim displayed “redness on her wrist and a small cut” and “feels that [Brown] assaulted her.” She dialed 911 after she “pulled the phone away.”
“We’ve moved forward with our lives,” Brown said. “While I’m not OK with the [NFL’s] decision, I have to respect it. So I look forward to a 15-game season and moving on.”
Brown will be suspended for the regular-season opener Sept. 11 against the Cowboys. First-year kicker Tom Obarski, who has been with the Giants since the spring, is the likeliest candidate to replace him in that game. Coach Ben McAdoo said Obarski will get more reps in Saturday’s preseason game against the Bills and added, “He has a golden opportunity.”
Brown, 37, signed a two-year contract with the Giants as a free agent during the offseason after a Pro Bowl season for them in 2015. He said the Giants were aware of his situation and the possibility of a suspension during those negotiations.
“We support the league office in their decision and their stance on personal conduct,” McAdoo said. “I do support Josh as a man, a father and a player. We treat these situations on a case-by-case basis.
“Domestic violence is something that we’re all cracking down on in this league,” McAdoo added. “That’s something that’s important to us as an organization, important to me as a man and important to me as a coach.”
Brown said he strongly believes that because the charges were dropped so quickly by the prosecutor in the state of Washington, the league should have been more lenient in its punishment.
“I’m uncomfortable with it,” Brown said of the power wielded by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to enforce the personal- conduct policy. “But I just want to kick field goals. That’s really what it comes down to. I’m not the power, I’m just here to do this job and help this team in every way that I can, and that’s what I’ve done since I’ve been here for four years . . . I’m looking to finish strong with my career, as long as it goes. It’s been great so far, and I just want to end on a good note.”
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
