New York Giants: The Damage Was Already Done
The New York Giants released kicker Josh Brown three months after a domestic violence arrest. The move was long overdue, but the damage is already done.
The NFL claims to have a tough stance on domestic violence. But case after case, it fails to investigate the cases properly. Furthermore, it adds insult to injury by going against its own personal conduct code and handing out lame suspensions that are obviously given so it can say it “punishes its players.”
It’s obvious that the NFL has mishandled these cases in the past, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they did so again with Josh Brown.
What did come as a shock to many was the response of the New York Giants when domestic violence affected one of their own. Actually, the initial lack of the response by the Organization was shocking.
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The same Giants team that taped the No More PSA announcements and partnered with My Sisters’ Place and the Joyful Heart Foundation (founded by Law & Order: SVU actress Mariska Hargitay) to raise awareness of domestic violence. An organization that even dedicated a game to honoring Domestic Violence Awareness Month while encouraging fans to speak up against the issue suddenly had nothing to say when it hit home.
People around the league spoke against domestic violence while the New York Giants avoided the topic. Issues like this don’t just go away on their own. If we don’t talk about it then how can we address it?
When the Giants did have something to say, it was insulting. New York Giants President and co-owner John Mara admitted the team knew of the abuse, but said “the extent of that abuse” was unclear. Abuse is abuse and shouldn’t be tolerated. Period.
The New York Giants may think they have solved their problem with Josh Brown. However, finally dismissing him does not make up for the damage done by the team’s failure to help Molly Brown and the children and its dismissal of the domestic violence incidents. The Giants shouldn’t have tried to sweep this under the rug and they shouldn’t have tried to keep mum on the situation. Instead, they should’ve stood by their efforts to stop domestic violence.