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.
Josh Brown hit his wife so much he literally had a diary documenting it. What is it you're still investigating asshole @nflcommish
— Mr. Frankenstein (@Detroit_Dongs) October 25, 2016
So did Josh Brown abuse his wife or nah?
— Chiefs (4-2) ???????????? (@Khaniece_23) October 25, 2016
Hope wifey is somewhere Far Far away... #JoshBrown @Giants @NFL https://t.co/vSFdR6S2dA
— Ben Soto (@AnyaShawamar) October 25, 2016
I never expected Josh Brown to be a bad guy. The least expected there. It's a damn shame
— Getitstarted (@rockheroz) October 25, 2016
Good for you @Giants for releasing #JoshBrown #StopDomesticViolence pic.twitter.com/BZqcuHkeY6
— Simply Travis (@tbohree) October 25, 2016
@Hugeshow The NFL makes no sense. Josh Brown let go but they let Greg Hardy play again. Goodell is a joke. Should all be equal and fired
— Nick Skipp (@spartyskipp) October 25, 2016
Respect to the @Giants for releasing Josh Brown and trying to be a classier organisation than the NFL
— Delano Bart-Stewart (@DBartStewart) October 25, 2016
Jail time, anyone? #JoshBrown https://t.co/tU9hG9dZii
— Talia Lepson (@tlepthechamp) October 25, 2016
Josh Brown done got cut from the Giants because of something completely non football related , that's crazy
— Ginetti (@92Bottles) October 25, 2016
#GiantsPride release #JoshBrown #NFL they should have done this a while back...
— Pro Sports Picks (@picksprosports) October 25, 2016
Guy on @espn said that #JoshBrown was "in an abusive relationship." NO...he was a serial abuser. His wife was in an abusive relationship!
— Tejado W. Hanchell (@TWH_PhD) October 25, 2016
Let me say for the record that I hope Josh Brown never plays in the NFL again and that I believe the Giants obviously did the right thing..
— Adrian Rivera (@AdrianoRivera) October 25, 2016
Josh Brown deserve everything thing he is getting right now. He's a scumbag & everyone needs to know this...
— Libra LaCroix (@iamTony3) October 25, 2016
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