When the New York Giants kick off their 2016 regular season, they'll be doing it without their kicker.
The NFL announced on Wednesday that Josh Brown has been suspended for one game for violating the league's personal conduct policy. The suspension means that Brown won't be able to play in the Giants' Week 1 game against the Cowboys.
The loss of Brown could be a big blow to the Giants if the opener ends up being a close game. Brown was voted to the Pro Bowl last year after ending the season in a tie as the NFL's most accurate kicker. Both Brown and Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey hit 93.8 percent (30 of 32) of their field goal attempts last season, which ranked first in the NFL.
The NFL didn't specify how Brown violated the league's personal conduct policy. However, according to NJ.com, Brown was arrested and charged with fourth-degree domestic violence after an incident in Washington state in May 2015. The arrest went under-the-radar at the time.
Brown doesn't sound too happy about the suspension.
"While I do not agree with the suspension, I will accept it," Brown said in a statement. "I have exhausted the appeals process and have no other options along those lines. I will continue to work hard for this team, and I have tremendous confidence in my teammates and in my ability to move on and contribute to the team."
For any fantasy owners out there who were thinking about drafting Brown, don't do it. Before the suspension, he wasn't even viewed as a top-10 kicker by our fantasy gurus, Dave Richard and Jamey Eisenberg. There's plenty of other options at the position, so there's no reason to waste a fantasy roster spot on a kicker who's not going to play in Week 1.
If you're dead-set on grabbing a Giants kicker, the team will likely turn to Tom Obarski in Week 1. Obarski, who's never played in an NFL game, is currently the only other placekicker on the Giants' roster.
Of course, if Obarski doesn't want the job, there's always Odell Beckham, who drilled a 46-yard field goal during Pro Bowl warmups in 2015.
