National Football League gives reason why Giants kicker got 1-game suspension
The NFL says it spent 10 months investigating allegations of domestic violence by New York Giants kicker Josh Brown, but received little cooperation from his former wife – who alleged more than 20 incidents in court documents – or local law enforcement.
The league still found Brown in violation of the personal conduct policy for a previously unreported incident in May 2015 and issued a one-game suspension Wednesday, before his former wife’s allegations of previous abuse became public.
“In the course of the League's investigation, our investigators became aware that his wife had filed a statement with the county court alleging previous altercations between the spouses,” the NFL said in a statement.
“However, despite multiple attempts to speak with her about this incident and her previous statements, she declined to speak with us. We understand that there are many reasons that might have affected her decision not to speak with us, but we were limited in our ability to investigate these allegations.”
Brown, whom the league says did conduct interviews with the NFL during the investigation, has said he disagrees but accepts the one-game suspension.
The NFL came under heavy fire in 2014 for its handling of domestic violence issues, most notable in the now-famous Ray Rice case, which became the impetus for the league to institute guidelines for tougher punishments going forward.
That included a six-game suspension for a first offense involving domestic violence and an indefinite ban of at least one year for a second offense, though the policy also allowed for aggravating or mitigating circumstances to be considered in issuing discipline.
Brown was arrested in May 2105 on a domestic violence charge, and The New York Daily News reported Friday that court documents showed Brown’s then-wife, Molly Brown, told authorities in King County, Wash., that Brown had become abusive multiple times.
“Molly described in her statement the history of physical violence against her from her husband Joshua,” the indictment read. “Molly stated that Joshua had been physically violent to her on more than 20 different instances over the past several years. She said that Joshua became violent after she became pregnant with their daughter.”
The NFL’s full statement is below:
In May 2015, the NFL was informed by the New York Giants of Josh Brown's arrest for an incident in his home involving his then wife. We began an investigation into the incident and circumstances surrounding it.
In the course of the League's investigation, our investigators became aware that his wife had filed a statement with the county court alleging previous altercations between the spouses. However, despite multiple attempts to speak with her about this incident and her previous statements, she declined to speak with us. We understand that there are many reasons that might have affected her decision not to speak with us, but we were limited in our ability to investigate these allegations.
Over the course of the 10-month investigation, we also made numerous requests-as late as this spring-to local law enforcement officers for information on the case and previous allegations. They declined those requests for information.
As a result of these factors, our investigators had insufficient information to corroborate prior allegations. In addition, no criminal charges were brought forward regarding the incident in question or prior allegations. The NFL therefore made a decision based on the evidentiary findings around this one incident as provided to us by the District Attorney.
The NFL made a finding that Mr. Brown had violated the Personal Conduct Policy. We did so based on the evidence of this one incident as presented in the police report, Mr. Brown and his wife's statements to police that evening, and his statements in interviews with the NFL.
The NFL Personal Conduct policy allows for discipline to be imposed even when criminal charges are not presented. It further allows for us to consider both aggravating and mitigating factors regarding discipline for domestic violence.
After reviewing the evidence in this one incident, we imposed a one-game suspension for violation of the personal conduct policy.
Mr. Brown and the NFLPA appealed this discipline, but the decision was upheld by a hearing officer.
A.J. Perez contributed to this report.