New England Patriots president Jonathan Kraft took a strong stance against domestic violence Sunday afternoon. Tom Brady followed suit the following morning.
Speaking Monday on WEEI’s “Kirk & Callahan,” the Patriots quarterback spoke out against violence against women, a topic that unfortunately has returned to the NFL news cycle following recent developments in the Josh Brown situation.
“I grew up with three sisters, I was very fortunate to learn from a loving father and a loving mother how to treat and respect women,” Brady said. “I have a daughter of my own and domestic violence is a horrible issue. It’s a tragedy when it happens. Any type of abuse or bullying of people who can’t defend or fight for themselves, I have no respect for that.”
Brady then proceeded to take a subtle shot at the NFL, which initially suspended Brown just one game after the New York Giants kicker was arrested on a domestic violence charge in May 2015. Brady, of course, was suspended four games for being generally aware that a few footballs might have been a tad underinflated.
“Like I said, the NFL, they claim to take tough stances, and this is their situation,” the quarterback told “K&C.” “This is their situation to deal with. I’ll let them deal with it. Like I said, I was very fortunate to grow up with sisters, a mother — I condone no part of that. That is absolutely something I would never be a part of or do. It’s a terrible tragedy.”
Brady added: “I think it is the league’s issue. Obviously, there is a lot of controversy with that. I’m trying to stay out of all that. I will let them handle it. I think that is their responsibility. I certainly don’t condone any part of domestic violence. I think it is a terrible, terrible thing. I think the league, they have to handle those types of things.”
Brown on Friday was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, and the Giants plan to cut ties with him, according to a report from ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
