Opinion: New York Giants Have Bigger Issues Than Offensive Line
By Nafisa H
In their 21-0 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills. The New York Giants’ offense couldn’t get anything going on the ground or in the air as its offensive line struggled to open holes, protect their quarterback, and block properly without causing the team multiple penalties.
What’s uglier is that the team continues to ignore the elephant in the room and not discipline kicker Josh Brown following news of his domestic abuse arrest and alleged twenty incidents against his ex-wife, Molly Brown.
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The Giants for years have been known as an organization that preaches honesty, trust, responsibility, respect, service and integrity.
The Giants, go above and beyond to make sure that their players make an impact on and off the field. On several occasions, the Giants have used their platform to bring awareness of multiple issues; issues that the NFL and several other teams try so hard to minimize.
Last October, the Giants released a video for the “You Can Play” project, becoming the first NFL team to support the group’s effort to end homophobia in sports.
Around the same time, the team partnered with My Sisters’ Place and the Joyful Heart Foundation (founded by Law & Order: SVU actress Mariska Hargitay) to raise awareness of domestic violence and dedicated a game to honoring Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
During the game, “No More” P.S.A. videos featuring then-Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, team co-owner John Mara, quarterback Eli Manning and other teammates played on the scoreboards. Fans were also encouraged to use social media to voice their opinions against domestic abuse and sexual assault.
Yet, now that this issue effects one of their starters, the New York Giants have chosen to stay silent on a topic that they were encouraging others to speak about just months ago. Furthermore, the team hasn’t taken any actions to discipline Josh Brown; it just agrees with the one-game suspension that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell delivered.
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Clearly the League doesn’t follow any logic or its rules when it comes to disciplining players. Its punishment guidelines for any league personnel who commit offenses relating to domestic violence or sexual assault state that the first offense would draw a six-game suspension, without pay, and that the league may impose harsher penalties for a first offense in cases that involve “ repeated striking, or when the act is committed against a pregnant woman or in the presence of a child” (which this case does).
The league can shorten or lengthen the suspension due to mitigating facts but this case calls for a much harsher suspension than one-game, just based on the discipline guidelines!
Even if there weren’t guidelines on disciplining players arrested of domestic violence, the League and the New York Giants have to use common sense! How can Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell be suspended three games for missing a drug test and Josh Brown be suspended for just a single game for domestic violence, especially when he hurt a child and a pregnant woman.
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The New York Giants can’t just accept the league’s decision and must further discipline Josh Brown by cutting him. They need to back up their talk and show that they will not tolerate domestic violence. I understand that Brown seems like the only feasible option at the kicking positions but keeping him is not worth the organization going against what it advocates for. No more making excuse, Giants!