NFL bans former Giants kicker Josh Brown for 6 games

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Former New York Giants kicker Josh Brown has been suspended for a second time by the NFL for his repeated abuse of his former wife while they were married.

The league Friday suspended the 38-year-old free agent for six more games after taking a long second look at documents released by authorities in the state of Washington from their investigation into his domestic abuse arrest in 2015.

“These documents, which previously had been withheld from the public and the NFL, contained information regarding a series of other incidents separate from the May 2015 incident,” the league said in a release.

Brown previously served a one-game suspension at the start of last season after the league’s initial investigation of his abuse of his former wife, Molly. She had accused him of grabbing her wrist as she tried to reach for a phone, causing a contusion and bruising in a 2015 incident.

He was not charged in the case.

Brown was eventually released by the Giants in late October, a week after the King County Sheriff’s Office announced that it had closed its investigation in connection with the incident.

The documents it released included journals and emails and they detailed a history of abuse far greater than Brown acknowledged when he spoke about being disciplined before the season started.

Details in the report angered many because Brown received a suspension of only one game.

The league started taking a second look at the accusations after the police report was made public.

Brown’s suspension starts this weekend. He is not appealing the new ban because her hopes to play again in the league. He has played for five teams over 14 seasons.

Brown has been on the Commissioner Exempt list. The league said its comprehensive second investigation included a review of the documents and interviews with Brown and several other people.

“The league concluded there was a violation of the Personal Conduct Policy that warranted a six-game suspension,” the league said in its statement Friday.

Brown had acknowledged abusing his former wife over a six-year span. He apologized and had counseling.

Appearing on ABC’s “Good Morning America” after the Giants released him, Brown said his put his hands on his former wife, held her down and kicked furniture. He said he never hit, slapped or choked her.

“Domestic violence is not just physical abuse,” he said on the show. “We’re talking intimidation and threats, the attempt to control, body language. An abuser is going to abuse to a certain degree to acquire some kind of a reaction.”