The Entire Giants Organization is Supporting Josh Brown, for Some Reason

After a report surfaced on SNY last night that Josh Brown literally admitted to physically and emotionally abusing his wife over the course of their relationship, sometimes in front of their children, the New York Giants elected to not have him travel with the team to London for Sunday morning's game against the Los Angeles Rams. Outside of that, it doesn't sound like Brown is going to face much in the way of consequences either from the team or the NFL. In their statement in response to the news, the Giants actually said they supported Brown.

Full statement from the Giants. pic.twitter.com/oEC4om6G2N
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 20, 2016

Co-owner John Mara went on the radio in New York with Mike Francesa and stammered his way some through answers—at one point he actually said that Brown has "attempted to be honest with us," which is a nice way of saying he lied—but the long and the short of it is, they need more information before they act. I am not sure what more information a team could need than a serial abuser's written confessions of his serial abuse, but welcome to the NFL, kid, where we just say shit so people will get off our backs for one goddamned minute.

Brown's teammates have also voiced support, which is disappointing, but not surprising:

"I know Josh Brown. I know him personally. He's like a brother. We have Bible studies here. He's the leader of that group. It's hurtful what he's going through but I'm definitely here for him. He's helped me grow a lot from being a man off the field," cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said. "I've learned a lot from him. To just see what he's going through, I'm hurt for him. I'm here if he needs a shoulder, a hug or just to talk. I definitely know the kind of man that he is. I know that's not him. I know the things I've learned from him."

Victor Cruz also expressed support for Brown, saying that "His personal life is his personal life, but when he is in these doors and in this locker room, he is our teammate and that is the only thing we can go by." Victor's insistence on Team above all else is not so surprising, either, given Cruz had this to say about Colin Kaepernick:

"I think, personally, the flag is the flag. Regardless of how you feel about the things that are going on in America today and the things that are going on across the world with gun violence and things like that. You've got to respect the flag and stand up with your teammates. It's bigger than just you, in my opinion. I think you go up there. You're with your team, and you pledge your allegiance to the flag and the national anthem as a team, and then you go about your business, whatever your beliefs are.

The impulse to protect a teammate is understandable from a practical standpoint—you have to work with this person every day—but the flip side of that is: this guy admitted to beating his wife. She called the cops on him multiple times because of it, and later filed for divorce. You don't have to stand up for that kind of guy just because he's your teammate. And, really, chances are he is not going to be your teammate for much longer. It doesn't make any sense to keep him around, especially since the NFL and the Giants have now turned this into a frenzy with their own inaction. The Giants will be dogged by questions—those dreaded distractions—until they finally gather whatever information they think they're missing at this time. And for what? A mediocre kicker who abused his wife, admitted to viewing her as a slave, and then lied about it.