NFL Re-Opens Investigation Into Giants’ Josh Brown For Domestic Abuse

The NFL will review the case of New York Giants kicker Josh Brown after documents released show he confessed in his own journal entries to physically and verbally abusing his wife before being arrested in May 2015, and charged with fourth-degree domestic violence assault.

NFL Re-Opens Investigation Into Giants’ Josh Brown For Domestic Abuse

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the NFL said it had not been aware of the 165 pages of documents released Wednesday by the King County (Washington) Sherriff Dept.

“NFL investigators made repeated attempts — both orally and in writing — to obtain any and all evidence and relevant information in this case from the King County Sheriff’s Office,” the statement read. “Each of those requests was denied and the Sheriff’s Office declined to provide any of the requested information, which ultimately limited our ability to fully investigate this matter. We concluded our own investigation, more than a year after the initial incident, based on the facts and evidence available to us at the time and after making exhaustive attempts to obtain information in a timely fashion. It is unfortunate that we did not have the benefit or knowledge of these materials at the time.”

The statement continued: “In light of the release of these documents yesterday, we will thoroughly review the additional information and determine next steps in the context of the NFL Personal Conduct Policy. We will not be making any comments on potential discipline until that time.”

The Giants declined to comment on the story when reached by NFL.com.

Brown was suspended for the regular-season opener for violating the league’s domestic violence (Personal Conduct) policy. Under this policy, cases involving domestic violence can be reconsidered if there is additional information provided after a suspension has been handed down. The investigation into Brown’s case lasted 10 months.

The kicker was spotted practicing with the Giants on Thursday as the team prepares for this weekend’s matchup in London against the Los Angeles Rams.

After learning of Brown’s arrest in 2015, the NFL became aware of a court statement filed by Brown’s then-wife alleging previous altercations with her husband. Molly Brown declined to speak to league investigators regarding the alleged incidents and law enforcement officials declined requests from the NFL for information.

Charges against Brown were dropped less than a week after he was arrested.

“I have physically, mentally, emotionally and verbally been a repulsive man,” Brown wrote in one of his journal entries, which was obtained by Newsday. “I have abused my wife.”

He wrote in a document called “Contract for Change,” an agreement facilitated by a Seattle-based marriage counselor he and Molly Brown were seeing in 2013, that he had “disregarded my step son’s [sic] feelings and they have witnessed me abusing their mother.” Molly Brown has two sons from a previous marriage.

The document, dated March 28, 2013, also cited Brown admitting he had psychologically manipulated her during their marriage.

“I have controlled her my [sic] making her feel less human than me, and manipulated her with money. I have constantly made her feel as if she is not good enough for me to hide my own insecurities and self hate.”

A hearing officer upheld Browns’ suspension on appeal from the kicker and the NFL Players’ Association, according to an August statement from the league on its investigation into Brown.

In August, Giants president and CEO John Mara defended the team’s decision to re-sign Brown, and added the team was “comfortable” retaining the kicker.

“When we made the decision to re-sign Josh back in (2016), we were certainly aware of the arrest,” Mara said. “We were also aware of the allegations associated with that arrest and the fact that the charges were dropped within a couple of days after the arrest. Based on the facts and circumstances that we were aware of at that time, we were comfortable with our decision to re-sign him.”

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – AUGUST 12: Kicker Josh Brown #3 of the New York Giants kicks a field goal as Brad Wing #9 holds against the Miami Dolphins during the first half of an NFL preseason game at MetLife Stadium on August 12, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Dolphins defeated the Giants 27-10. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)