King County (Washington) Sheriff's office released letters, emails and a journal on Wednesday that fully detailed the extent of the domestic violence involving New York Giants kicker Josh Brown.
What it revealed was disheartening. According to reports, Molly Brown, Josh's wife, informed police of more than 20 incidents of abuse. Brown's own journal and emails reveal years of physical, verbal and emotional abuse.
The Giants organization, the NFL and the NFLPA all state they were unaware of the extent of the abuse allegations. Each one claims to only know of the May 2015 incident that led to Brown's one game suspension at the beginning of the 2016 season. However, according to an ESPN report, Molly Brown claims to have advised the police that the league knew about another incident at the 2016 Pro Bowl.
Whether Brown lied to cover up his years of abuse or the league failed to investigate the Pro Bowl incident further, the fact remains that Brown was only suspended for one game, despite the league's own domestic violence policy stating that six games is the baseline for a first offense. Even if the league did not know the extent of Brown's abuse, a one-game suspension for domestic violence flies in the face of everything the league claims to now represent.
The NFL has seen a decline in ratings this season. Whether this is in part to protest by players or the wide availability of games streaming online, the league cannot afford to lose more viewers and fans. The league has spent the last few years trying to appeal and woo female fans to football. The advertising and marketing targeting women viewers and the breast cancer awareness campaign during the month of October shows the league making greater attempts to appeal to its female audience. However, October is also Domestic Violence Awareness month, and a blunder of this magnitude is significant when the league is trying desperately to cling to viewers.
Having been the victim of domestic violence and being an avid lover of football, it is difficult to hear the extent of Brown's abuse in his personal accounts, and to not feel anger at the league who did little to discover the extent of the claims by his wife. I have known the viciousness of verbal abuse that lowers ones self worth and the fear of leaving your abuser even as he continues to assault you physically, verbally and emotionally. I know what it's like to feel like a slave to a tormentor who no one believes is that violent behind closed doors. Molly Brown's account is an all too familiar story to women abused by men with power.
In response to the newly released documents, the Giants did not take Josh Brown with them to their game in London. However, the team and the league have yet to vet out any further disciplinary action. Keep in mind, this is the same league who was quick to punish former Ravens running back Ray Rice after a tape revealing the extent of his abuse was released. Rice was subsequently released by the Ravens and suspended indefinitely. Even now after being reinstated by the league, no team will sign him. Brown should face no less punishment for his abuse. Brown's crime is not an isolated incident caught on video surveillance, but years of mistreatment that Brown's own words reveal.
Many players have spoken out against domestic violence and against Josh Brown in particular. In a league so concerned with player safety, it must still concern itself with player conduct and the public perception that incidents like this make on the general public. If the league hopes to stem the tide of falling viewership, drastic action will have to be made to rectify this calamity or lose the female viewers they have so aggressively pursued in the last few years.
I'm glad someone else sees this misogynistic behaviour
ReplyDelete