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 summer 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.
“We’ve moved forward with our lives,” Brown said. “While I’m not OK with the 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 on 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 Brown for that game. Coach Ben McAdoo said Obarski would get more reps in Saturday’s preseason game against the Bills.
“He has a golden opportunity,” McAdoo said.
Brown, 37, signed a two-year contract with the Giants as a free agent this offseason after a Pro Bowl season 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 believed strongly that since 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.”
..... - Newsday