“Based on the facts and circumstances we were aware of at that time, we were comfortable with our decision to re-sign him, ” Mara said.
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“When we made the decision to re-sign Josh (for the first time) back in 2015, we were certainly aware of the arrest”, Mara said.
“In this particular case, as an employer, it’s a complicated and emotional issue, and you have to make decisions based on the facts and circumstances that are presented”, Mara said.
“We attempted to make an informed decision here and we’ll live with the results of that decision as we move forward”.
Despite taking what looks to be an incredibly lax stance on the issue of domestic violence, Mara said that the issue is something the team takes very seriously in spite of the new optics.
The 37-year-old Brown was arrested in May 2015, when he allegedly grabbed his ex-wife Molly by the throat and held her down with his knee in their Woodinville, Washington home.
The allegations from Brown’s ex-wife Molly, which lead to the suspension, are fairly disturbing.
The NFL concluded that Brown violated the league’s personal-conduct policy based on evidence provided in the police report from his arrest, which included statements provided by Brown’s wife to police.
Mara said he was privy to the information the National Football League had collected on Brown.
“We were certainly aware at the time that there were allegations of numerous incidents”, Mara said Wednesday in his first comments on the allegations. “We did our homework here, we got as numerous facts and circumstances as we could in front of us as we could and we made a decision”, he said. Everybody in this building, players and employees alike go through a training program on issues like domestic violence and sexual abuse.
“A lot of time, people try to make it black and white”, Mara added. “There are allegations made, you try to sort through the facts and try to make an informed decision. That is what we did here”.
Mara has a well-earned reputation among those around him – and that includes fellow owners, players and family members – for doing the right and equitable thing, especially with hard decisions such as the one he faced with Brown. I’m trying to be fair to him as well. I think that this is an organization that always tries to do the right thing. We did our homework here.
“It’s very hard to sort through all that and make informed decisions”, he said.
“Josh knows what is expected of him”, Mara said.
“We always liked him when we faced him”, Quinn said. The Giants’ signing of kicker Randy Bullock, who will kick during Brown’s suspension, could be a more permanent move if he is viewed as a better performer than Brown. Bullock will be the kicker while Brown serves out his suspension against Dallas in the season opener September 11.
“I’m not going to get into whether they were valid or invalid, ” Mara said.
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Brown had a Pro Bowl season a year ago, connecting on 30 of 32 field goals and 44 of 45 extra points for a career-high 134 points. “He’s been a good citizen since he’s been here”. “There will be a competition and that will be up to the coach”. “It’s going to be decided on the field”.
