The NFL has placed New York Giants placekicker Josh Brown on the Commissioner’s Exempt List following the release of new documents earlier this regarding regarding his admitted history of domestic abuse.
That takes the decision of what to do regarding Brown’s current playing status out of the Giants’ hands. It also clears a roster spot for Robbie Gould, signed to replace Brown as the Giants kicker for Sunday’s game in London vs. the Los Angeles Rams.
New York Giants coach Ben McAdoo, peppered with questions Friday morning about placekicker Josh Brown, said “We’re not going to turn our back on Josh.”
McAdoo said he had a “tough conversation” with Brown informing him of the team’s decision before the Giants boarded a plane for London Thursday.
“He’s working towards improving himself,” McAdoo said. “We’re not going to turn our back on Josh.”
Giants’ co-owner John Mara had said the team would not make a long-term determination about Brown’s future until returning from London.
Here is an NFL.com description of the exempt list:
"The Exempt List is a special player status available to clubs only in unusual circumstances. The List includes those players who have been declared by the Commissioner to be temporarily exempt from counting within the Active List limit. Only the Commissioner has the authority to place a player on the Exempt List; clubs have no such authority, and no exemption, regardless of circumstances, is automatic. The Commissioner also has the authority to determine in advance whether a player's time on the Exempt List will be finite or will continue until the Commissioner deems the exemption should be lifted and the player returned to the Active List."