The NFL has a problem on its hands.
It’s not the players who have made headlines over the last few months by protesting the national anthem or the ever-present threat of concussions and head trauma that permeates the game.
No, America’s most popular sport has been troublingly beset by something else over the last few years, and it’s already reared its ugly head this season: domestic violence.
The latest instance involves Josh Brown, a kicker for the New York Giants. His case is unsettling and circuitous, extending back to last year. In May 2015, he was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree domestic violence charge against his then-wife, Molly.
But the charges were dropped five days later. She didn’t want to continue with the police investigation. As a result, there were no immediate punitive measures handed down by the league or the organization. Brown played in all 16 games last season.
This past August, roughly 15 months after his initial arrest, Brown was suspended for one game by the NFL for a violation of the league’s personal-conduct policy stemming from his arrest. While speaking with reporters the day after this announcement, Brown referred to the incident as “just a moment.”
That was a lie.
Later that same day, an incident report became public that showed Molly Brown told police back in May 2015 that her husband had been physically abusive towards her more than 20 times, even while she was pregnant with their daughter. The public and the media didn’t know about this. But the Giants did, along with the NFL.
Despite this evidence, they stood firm. Brown was not going to be cut. A paltry one-game ban was all he would face. The media attention surrounding the story slowly dissipated as the season began and games were played.
But on Oct. 19, new damning information came to light in the form of 165 pages of police documents that contained written proof of Brown admitting to abusing his wife. The details were appalling, with Brown even stating at one point, “I viewed myself as God basically and she was my slave.” The Giants have since released him, finally.
Unfortunately, Josh Brown is just the latest in a seemingly growing list of mishandled domestic violence cases by the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell. The Ray Rice saga two years ago notably comes to mind, as does Greg Hardy’s case.
Rice was caught on tape punching his then-fiancee in an elevator. He was initially suspended for two games before public pressure forced Goodell to lengthen it. Hardy was accused of threatening his ex-girlfriend and throwing her on a bed full of loaded assault rifles.
He was banned for 10 games before a reduction to four. And now we have Brown, whose abuse of his wife garnered him the equivalent of a one-week vacation in the eyes of the league.
With all of these cases, the NFL has had the opportunity to show that any kind of violence toward women will not be tolerated. It’s the most popular sports league in the country, with revenue expected to exceed $13 billion this year. It wields considerable societal influence and has the financial muscle to back it up. Instead, it likes to focus on more trivial matters.
The NFL is swift to enact punishment on players who fall out of line on the field. There are fines for players who celebrate excessively or don’t wear league-regulated cleats. In 2015, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was suspended four games for allegedly deflating footballs during halftime of a game. That’s four times longer than Brown’s ban. Apparently, that’s more important.
Goodell frequently says these measures are in place to preserve the integrity of the game and “protect the shield” of the league. Hey, Roger, why don’t you start protecting women first?
Brian Lee is a UF English senior. His column appears on Thursdays.
