Recent events with former New York Giants kicker Josh Brown have the lingering issue of domestic abuse in the NFL being questioned yet again. Brown was arrested in 2015 after an incident with his wife. He was not charged, but served a one-game suspension by the NFL. A one-game suspension for abusing his wife. Since then, the NFL was able to obtain Brown's journal where he admits to abusing his now ex-wife physically, verbally, and emotionally. The Giants were very quick to release Brown after this. However, the Giants organization believes they made the right choices in handling this situation. My question to the Giants organization is how? Brown's ex-wife Molly has admitted the Giants knew of her husband's abuse. It seems to me this situation could not have been handled more poorly. The story of Josh Brown has been another statistic to the horrifying issue of domestic abuse in the NFL.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been promising revisions to the domestic abuse policy since the disgusting incident with Ray Rice. However, the Josh Brown case has further shown us that Goodell and the NFL will not act unless it's to save themselves. Goodell has made some pretty shocking comments about domestic violence and the incidents with Josh Brown. Goodell claims that the Giants nor the police were fully cooperating in regards to giving him the information he needed. Really? If this is the case, the New York Giants should be punished severely, but I do not believe this is the case. The NFL has had at least a little knowledge of Josh Brown's abuse to his wife since the 2014 Pro Bowl, when he harassed her so aggressively she asked NFL security to help her switch hotel rooms. When addressing domestic abuse once again, Goodell boldly said that public usually "misunderstands" the situations. Wow. With that statement, he has placed blame on all of us who believe something needs to be done about the issue of domestic abuse in the NFL.
Roger Goodell claims the NFL "does not tolerate" domestic abuse. But what is really being accomplished by two game suspensions? How can a man who abuses a woman be allowed to enjoy any perks of playing in the NFL? Extreme changes need to be made to the NFL's domestic abuse policy. On average, at least 20 teams will have a player who has been charged with either domestic violence or sexual assault. What will it take to make the NFL change the policy? Several measures, such as adding to the punishments for offenders must be taken by Roger Goodell and the NFL before it is too late. It is not acceptable to keep coming up short on such an important issue.
