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Giants Sharply Criticized For Delayed Release Of Brown; Mara Accepts Responsibility

The Giants yesterday released K Josh Brown after his admission of domestic violence, and team President & CEO John Mara "rightly is second-guessing himself and his organization for failing to grasp the implications of what it would mean to re-sign Brown to a two-year contract earlier this year," according to Bob Glauber of NEWSDAY. Mara yesterday "fessed up about his role in getting this situation so dreadfully wrong." Mara in a statement said, “Our beliefs, our judgments and our decisions were misguided. We accept that responsibility.” Glauber notes the Giants resigned Brown last offseason "all the while knowing that he faced a potential suspension for last year’s arrest on domestic violence charges." The Giants in recent weeks have been "pilloried, and they have no one to blame but themselves for believing Brown and not grasping the depth of his problem" (NEWSDAY, 10/26). USA TODAY's Nancy Armour writes, "In true NFL fashion, the Giants' only concern is saving face. Theirs, in this case." The "ugly details of Brown’s lengthy history of domestic violence, the total indifference initially shown by the team ... Mara seeming to suggest that some abuse might be acceptable -- we can all just pretend it never happened now that Brown is no longer on the team" (USA TODAY, 10/26).

STILL SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS: In N.Y., Gary Myers writes Mara "must know that a three-paragraph quote in a press release ... doesn't provide any answers as to why and how he came to make such a colossal mistake that damaged the Giants brand and his own reputation." The NFL has a "treasure chest of resources to help prevent 'misguided' decisions, but still is clueless how to deal with punishing players who abuse women" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/26). ESPN N.Y.'s Jordan Raanan wrote the Giants' reputation "took a major hit in recent weeks, as it should have." The team "employed an admitted domestic abuser for three-plus years" (ESPNNY.com, 10/25). In N.Y., Paul Schwartz writes the "moment to tell Brown he was never going to suit up for the Giants should have come before this." The handling of the situation has "wounded the Giants" and Mara (N.Y. POST, 10/26). In Newark, James Kratch notes Mara and Giants Senior VP & GM Jerry Reese "need to come clean." Kratch: "What exactly did they know? What did Brown tell them? What efforts did they make to uncover the truth? And why did they decide to keep Brown on the roster?" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 10/26). Meanwhile, ESPN's Dan Graziano said of the NFL, "They failed on this one. They need to examine why they failed and how they can do better going forward" ("Fantasy Football Kickoff," ESPN, 10/25).

GUMBEL GOES OFF: HBO’s Bryant Gumbel concluded his show last night by saying, "Finally tonight, a simple question: Just what do Roger Goodell and his NFL owners think domestic abuse looks like? I ask because the guys in charge of pro football seem to find it repulsive only when confronted with the ugliest and most obvious kinds of evidence." Brown was cut "not because he abused his wife with frightening regularity for years, but because others found and exposed the kind of detailed evidence of that abuse that the NFL didn't." Gumbel: "The commissioner and his slew of TV apologists are claiming concern, expressing sympathy and asking for understanding. None of which is deserved because we've seen this act before and it sadly lacks the ring of truth as they try to bury the story. What seems pathetically and abundantly clear is that NFL honchos are either unable or unwilling to address domestic violence properly, that they just don't prioritize the abuse of women. Deflated footballs? They exhaust all avenues. Battered women? Not so much" ("Real Sports," HBO, 10/25).

NOT A GOOD LOOK
: In New Jersey, Tara Sullivan asks, "What does the NFL do to give a fed-up, understandably cynical public a reason to believe it has learned anything in this ongoing search for accountability and believability in fighting domestic violence, a public that expects little more than for this ugly chapter to disappear into the haze of a few more Roger Goodell swipes at our intelligence and inability to grasp his machinations?" (Bergen RECORD, 10/26).  But THE MMQB's Peter King writes it is "absurd to think the NFL wanted to bury this case, or to do a slipshod investigation for whatever reason." The league "knows if it’s found to have ignored evidence, heads will roll and owners furious that they can’t get the domestic violence policy right would demand changes" (MMQB.SI.com, 10/26).

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