Giants Release Josh Brown After Kicker Admits To Abusing Wife

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The New York Giants on Tuesday released Josh Brown, several days after police in Washington released writings by the Pro Bowl kicker in which he admitted to physically and verbally abusing his now-estranged wife, Molly.

In a statement, Giants president and co-owner John Mara conceded that the team's previous decisions regarding Brown "were misguided." The Giants re-signed him to a two-year, $4 million contract in April knowing about some of the abuse allegations.

"We hope that Josh will continue to dedicate himself to rehabilitation, and to becoming a better person and father," Mara said. "We will continue to support him in his efforts to continue counseling, and we hope that Josh and his family can find peace and a positive resolution."

Brown's release came a little more than an hour after he released a statement to ESPN denying that he ever struck his wife.

"I am sorry that my past has called into question the character or integrity of The New York Giants, Mr. Mara or any of those who have supported me along the way," said Brown, 37. "I have taken measures to get help so that I may be the voice of change, not a statistic. It is important to share that I never struck my wife, and never would.

"Abuse takes many forms, and is not a gray area," he added. "Through the past several years I have worked to identify and rectify my own behaviors. The road to rehabilitation is a journey and a constant modification of a way of life. My journey will continue forever as a person determined to leave a positive legacy and I embrace the opportunities to show and speak about what has helped me to be that man."

CBS2's Otis Livingston reports Brown still gets the remainder of his $1.1 million salary.

Following Brown's statement, the Giants reportedly called the kicker into their headquarters and gave him the news that he was cut.

Oddly, the Giants later released their own version of Brown's statement, which omitted the sentence about how he never struck his wife.

But in the newly released documents, Brown did admit to physical abuse. In a 2013 email to his wife, Brown referenced a bruise on her leg and said he was "ashamed and disgraced to call myself a husband."

MORE: Palladino: Giants MUST Beat NFL To Action And Cut Disgraced Brown

Molly Brown also told police the Pro Bowl kicker had gotten physical with her on more than 20 occasions, beginning when she was pregnant in 2009. In one incident, she claimed Brown grabbed her shoulders and pushed her into a door. In another, the football player pushed his wife into a large bedroom mirror, threw her on the floor, jumped on top of her and held her face down on the carpet, she told police.

The NFL, which suspended the kicker for the season opener, has reopened its investigation and could discipline him further. Brown was placed on the NFL's paid exempt list last week while the Giants traveled to London to play the Rams.

The Giants said they wanted to have time to review the new information before making a decision on Brown's future.

The original suspension stemmed from Brown's May 2015 arrest in Woodinville, Washington, on suspicion of assaulting his wife by grabbing one of her wrists as she tried to reach for a phone, leaving an abrasion and bruising, police said. Prosecutors did not pursue the case, citing insufficient evidence.