Giants release kicker Josh Brown in wake of spousal abuse

The New York Giants released placekicker Josh Brown on Tuesday, six days after police documents revealed Brown admitted to repeatedly abusing his former wife while they were married.

The move came shortly after the player issued a statement insisting that he never hit his wife during a six-year period when he admits spousal abuse.

Giants President John Mara says the team’s beliefs, judgments and decisions were “misguided” in how it handled its relationship with Brown. He indicated the Giants did not know the full extent of Brown’s problem until last week.

“We hope that Josh will continue to dedicate himself to rehabilitation, and to becoming a better person and father,” Mara said in a statement. “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.”

It is not immediately clear whether Brown will receive the rest of his $1.26 million salary.

Brown was previously suspended for the opening game of the season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy after the NFL investigated his arrest in May 2015 for spousal abuse against his now ex-wife, Molly. Brown was accused of grabbing his wife’s wrist as she tried to reach for a phone, causing a contusion and bruising. He was not charged by local authorities in the case in Washington state.

But documents released by the King County Sheriff’s Office, including journals and emails, detailed a history of abuse far greater than Brown acknowledged when he spoke about being disciplined before the season started.

“I have taken measures to get help so that I may be the voice of change, not a statistic,” Brown said Tuesday. “It is important to share that I never struck my wife, and never would. Abuse takes many forms, and is not a gray area. Through the past several years I have worked to identify and rectify my own behaviors.”

Two days after the admissions became public, Brown was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list on Friday while the league considered further discipline. The league said it tried but failed to get more details from authorities after Brown’s arrest. Molly Brown declined to speak to league investigators, saying she did not trust that the NFL had her best interests at heart, according to a police report.

Broadway Joe to Jets’ Geno on injury criticism: ‘My bad’

Broadway Joe delivered a headline-making apology. Joe Namath backpedaled Tuesday on his criticism of New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith for not returning to the game Sunday after injuring his right knee and standing on the sideline for the second half of a 24-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

Smith was hurt while being sacked in the second quarter. An MRI on Monday revealed that Smith has a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a season-ending injury.

“My bad Geno,” Namath wrote on Twitter to Smith. “In the dark ages we players had the say. I hope you heal and play as long as you choose! Joe.”

Smith started his first game since the 2014 season finale in place of the benched Ryan Fitzpatrick. He was 4 of 8 for 95 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown to Quincy Enunwa, but was hurt when he scrambled to his left and held onto the ball rather than throw it away on a third-down play, and took the sack.

After being examined on the sideline for several minutes, Smith walked to the locker room for further evaluation. He watched the rest of the game in the second half from the sideline while wearing sweats.

Namath took to Twitter when he saw Smith. “If you’ve got a right knee injury keeping you out of the game,” the Hall of Famer wrote , “why are you standing on the sideline the entire 2nd half? How bad can it be?”

After seeing Namath’s comments later Sunday, Smith responded on Twitter : “Somebody tell Joe that the doctors have the final say on whether you can or cannot get back into the game … and also that I love him!”

Namath eventually got Smith’s message and responded Tuesday morning.

Jaguars DT Miller out for season with torn Achilles tendon

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be without defensive tackle Roy Miller for the rest of the season because of a torn right Achilles tendon. The Jaguars (2-4) made the announcement Tuesday, two days after Miller left the game against Oakland and did not return.

Miller’s injury hurts “in a lot of ways,” coach Gus Bradley said. “Not only as a player, but what he brings to the locker room, what he brings to that defensive line group. He was a big part of us and always will be. You feel for him because football is so important to him. He’s hurt by the news. We’ll just support him and be there for him.”

The Jags replaced Miller on the roster by promoting defensive tackle Richard Ash from the practice squad. They also signed defensive tackle Louis Nix to the practice squad. Miller has 244 tackles, eight sacks and a forced fumble in eight seasons. He has missed just six games in his previous seven years.