National Football League

NFL to reopen Brown investigation after abuse docs emerge

Published Oct. 20, 2016 5:41 p.m. ET

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) The NFL is going to re-open its investigation of New York Giants placekicker Josh Brown after police released journal entries and emails in which he admitted that he verbally and physically abused his former wife.

The NFL issued a statement on Thursday saying the league's investigators made repeated verbal and written attempts to obtain any and all evidence and relevant information in the May 2015 case from the King County Sheriff's Office in Washington, but were denied.

The sheriff's office released the journals and emails late Wednesday to SportsNet New York.

The league said law enforcement's response limited its yearlong investigation of the domestic abuse incident that led to Brown's arrest.

''We concluded our own investigation, more than a year after the initial incident, based on the facts and evidence available to us at the time and after making exhaustive attempts to obtain information in a timely fashion,'' the league said. ''It is unfortunate that we did not have the benefit or knowledge of these materials at the time.''

The NFL suspended Brown for the opening game of the season for a violation of its personal conduct policy.

''In light of the release of these documents yesterday, we will thoroughly review the additional information and determine next steps in the context of the NFL Personal Conduct Policy,'' the league said. ''We will not be making any comments on potential discipline until that time.''

Giants spokesman Corry Rush declined comment Thursday morning on the newly uncovered details. Brown was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence but no charges were filed against the 37-year-old player.

''I have physically, mentally, emotionally and verbally been a repulsive man,'' Brown wrote in one journal entry. ''I have abused my wife.''

Brown was in uniform and at practice Thursday. He practiced several kickoffs and worked with fellow special teams players during the portion of the workout that was open to the media. It was not immediately clear whether Brown would speak with reporters after practice.

The team planned to leave for London after the workout for a game on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

The journal was part of was part of 165 pages of documents that were turned over to authorities by Brown's former wife, Molly, after his arrest. She had accused him of more than 20 instances of domestic violence.

One of the documents dated more than two years before Brown's arrest was called a ''Contract for Change'' and appeared to be signed by both the kicker and his former wife.

''I have controlled her by making her feel less human than me, and manipulated her with money,'' said one of the eight items in the list. ''I have disregarded my stepsons' feelings and they have witnessed me abusing their mother.''

In a 2013 email, Brown said he caused his wife to fear him.

''From the bruise on your leg when we argued ... to the zipper that caught you last April. I am ashamed and disgraced to call myself a husband,'' Brown said.

Brown is one of the top placekickers in the NFL. He scored a career-high 134 points last season. He has made 11 of 12 field goal attempts this season and all eight extra points.

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