The NFL has an ugly history with regard to its handling of domestic violence cases involving players and coaches. The Ray Rice case immediately comes to mind, but there are many others that gained less media coverage.
Now, with more details come out about New York Giants kicker Josh Brown abusing his ex-wife, the NFL is under scrutiny again.
Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York has obtained police documents from the case, in which Molly Brown claims that the NFL and some Giants players knew about her abuse, long before charges were pressed.
Here are the major points from the report:
Article Continues Below-Molly accused several of Josh's Giants teammates of being “aware of the domestic violence in their relationship,” but not doing anything to stop it. She claimed other players around the NFL knew, too, though she did not name any players.
-In May, 2014, Molly said Josh came home drunk after a bachelor party and while they were sitting in bed discussing that, he jumped on the bed and stood over her. When she “scrambled” to get away he slammed her into a large mirror that was hanging on their bedroom wall. Molly said her head and arm hit the mirror so hard that the mirror cracked. When she tried to get away again, Josh got on top of her again and held her face down on the floor. Molly said their daughter, Georgia, witnessed the incident.
-Molly was told by police she was under no obligation to talk to NFL investigators after being contacted by a representative of the league. The league rep contacted the Kings County Sherriff's office several times over several months but was told by Robin Ostrum that she “would not discuss my open and active investigation.” Molly told Ostrum that she didn't want to speak to the NFL because she feared the league “would only be looking to bury this whole incident and protect Josh.”
The league has a domestic violence policy that automatically suspends players six games for any offense, but Brown only received a one-game ban.
Molly also gave more information supporting her assertion that the NFL knew about the abuse, with the league even acting on it:
Molly alleged that she was subject to “cutting comments” from Josh on that trip, and that he took her phone and searched through her texts, according to the police report. She also alleged that one night he got drunk and pounded on her door so loudly that NFL security and hotel security were called and had to escort Josh away. She also alleged that the NFL eventually put her and her kids up in a different hotel “where Josh would not know where they were,” the police report said.
The NFL just announced that they'll re-open their investigation of Brown.