Zach Thomann, Assistant Sports Editor

The high rate of domestic violence in professional and collegiate sports has been a concern to the public. The recent allegations of domestic violence against former kicker of the New York Giants, Josh Brown, has the NFL in a bind.

The Giants released Brown after he verbally admitted in journals and emails that he abused his wife. This was not the first time the media heard of Brown’s history of violence. The NFL suspended brown for the first game of the 2016 season for being arrested in May on charges of fourth degree domestic violence. The NFL has also taken action by exempting Brown from practicing with teams or attending games, CNN reported.

The NFL has been involved with many domestic violence cases including Ray Rice, Greg Hardy and Adrian Peterson within the past year. Brown has not been convicted which also holds true with the other domestic violence cases in the last year.

Head football coach at Utica College, Blaise Faggiano, has not seen any issues with domestic violence in his 10 years as coach, but is prepared to handle a situation like Josh Brown’s.

“Domestic violence is a serious issue,” Faggiano said. “There is no place for that on my team or hopefully any team at Utica.”

Faggiano doesn’t take domestic violence lightly, but wouldn’t hesitate to get help for any of his athletes if they face charges of that caliber. He also would consider the possibility of false accusations against his players, so removal from the team is a last resort.

Brown has reached out for help which was the reason why he admitted to abusing his wife. Although reports have stated that Brown has physically abused his wife, he has made it clear that his abuse was emotional.

“Abuse takes many forms,” Brown said to the media.

The United States Department of Justice views domestic violence as, “A pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person.”

It’s unclear on what form of violence Brown has used, but his statement admitting of his guilt has forced the Giants to move on. Former Chicago Bears kicker, Robbie Gould, has been added to the team to fill the vacant position Brown had left.

Initially, the Giants used the policy that coach Faggiano would use with his athletes by sticking with Brown through the one game suspension and the arrest in May. They signed him last August to a two year contract, but had no choice in his release once the journals and emails proved his guilt.