Let me take that back. Brown may have been put on the Exempt List by the league, since Goodell has just met with Taylor. That, or an investigation would have been ongoing and the Patriots had options for what to do with him during that time. Goodell does in fact have the authority to use the IL even if criminal charges are not brought forth...this was discussed at length in another thread. He hasn’t before, may choose not to, but doesn’t indeed have that authority.
Either way, he was released just as the league’s investigated began because of the text messages, which a vocal crowd here (not saying vocal is right) thinks is a very underwhelming reason for a knee jerk release within hours. Put another way, let’s suppose hypothetically the woman did make up things about Brown and damaged his reputation and lied to him about being desperate for money, and he responded with those texts, referencing her public Instagram photo of her kids not looking so poor and penniless. That is grounds to void a contract? Because he disobeyed “orders” from the league who are not his lawyers and should stay the F out of a non-violent civil suit in the first place?
Anyway, that’s fine that other have different opinions on this. Up until 2015, it really bothered me when the Patriots signed low character guys, even Talib. That changed when it became apparent the league is a slimy, hypocritical pile of **** with zero actual ethics or principles anyway. You don’t have to loom further than Tyreek Hill to see the Patriots have put themselves at a competitive disadvantage and weren’t forced to, and once again, Brown was apparently expected to just change his impulsive behavior in two weeks instead of realistically getting through to him over time. Brady knee he could mentor him.
