“We reopened the investigation based on new info,” a league source texted to Schefter on Friday. “[We] concluded there was a violation of our personal conduct policy and imposed six-game suspension which he accepted without appeal.”

By adding six games to Brown’s ban, the league could be looking to establish a stronger precedent heading in the Ezekiel Elliott court case. The Cowboys star is pushing for a temporary restraining order that would allow him to continue to play this season.

“[The] timing has nothing to do with Zeke and made no sense to hold this until Zeke was complete,” the source said via text.

In 2015, Brown’s last complete season, he sank a career-high 93.8% of his field goal attempts. He also contends that he never actually struck his ex-wife. Still, no NFL team will take on the PR firestorm that would come with signing him or even auditioning him at this point.

Listed below are our rankings for the top 15 free agents at each defensive position. These rankings aren’t necessarily determined by the value of the contracts – or the amount of guaranteed money – that each player is expected to land in free agency. These are simply the players we like the most at each position, with both short- and long-term value taken into account.

Restricted and exclusive-rights free agents, as well as franchised players aren’t listed here, since the roadblocks in place to hinder another team from actually acquiring most of those players prevent them from being true free agents.

We’ll almost certainly be higher or lower on some free agents than you are, so feel free to weigh in below in our comments section to let us know which players we’ve got wrong.

Here’s our breakdown of the current top 15 free agents by defensive position for this offseason:

Edge defender:

1. Nick Perry
2. Jabaal Sheard
3. John Simon
4. DeMarcus Ware
5. Lorenzo Alexander
6. Andre Branch
7. Julius Peppers
8. Charles Johnson
9. Datone Jones
10. Dwight Freeney
11. Chris Long
12. Mario Williams
13. Paul Kruger
14. Courtney Upshaw
15. Jarvis Jones

Now that Chandler Jones, Melvin Ingram, and Jason Pierre-Paul have all been assigned the franchise tag, Nick Perry stands as the top edge defender on the free agent market, and is now in a position to cash in. The Packers opted against the franchise tender for the 26-year-old Perry, so he’ll hit the open market following a career year which saw him post 11 sacks.

The rest of this year’s crop of free agent pass rushers is a blend of young defenders searching for their first payday and veterans on the hunt for one last contract. Among players with youth still on their side, Datone Jones figures to interest clubs thanks to his versatility, as he can vacillate between end and linebacker, while fellow former first-round pick Jarvis Jones is solid against the run. John Simon has been overlooked while playing alongside the likes of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, and Whitney Mercilus but could represent a hidden gem, while the Dolphins are reportedly prioritizing Andre Branch.

After managing nine sacks over the first nine years of his NFL tenure, Lorenzo Alexander busted out with 12.5 quarterback takedowns in 2016, and now could be looking for a double-digit annual salary. Charles Johnson, meanwhile, looks like a good bet to return to the Panthers, but DeMarcus Ware could be something of a wild card — after missing 11 games in the past two seasons, does the 34-year-old have enough left in the tank? The same could be asked of Dwight Freeney, who at age-37 posted three sacks in a rotational role for the Falcons.

Interior defensive line:

1. Calais Campbell
2. Johnathan Hankins
3. Brandon Williams
4. Dontari Poe
5. Chris Baker
6. Bennie Logan
7. Nick Fairley
8. Alan Branch
9. Jared Odrick
10. Karl Klug
11. Terrell McClain
12. Lawrence Guy
13. Stacy McGee
14. Stephen Paea
15. Sylvester Williams
    Honorable mention: Paul Soliai

Calais Campbell is the best overall player among interior defenders, and though he’s entering his age-31 season and may not cost as much as Johnathan Hankins, Brandon Williams, and Dontari Poe, Campbell will still be highly-sought after as he searches for his last substantial payday Campbell’s agent met with the Cardinals last week, but other speculative fits for the veteran defender include the Broncos, Raiders, Ravens, Colts, and Titans.

Hankins is only 24 years old, and though the Giants are trying to retain him along with the rest of their defensive core, the 6’3″, 320-pound mauler should represent an attractive option to a number of clubs this offseason. Williams, too, offers a massive presence on the inside, while Poe could intrigue clubs based on his first-round pedigree and athleticism (though his play hasn’t always matched his potential). The Redskins’ Chris Baker is a solid, well-rounded defensive tackle, and could constitute a consolation prize for teams that miss out on their top targets.

The rest of the class offers an interesting mix of nose tackles (Bennie Logan), interior pass rushers (Nick Fairley, Karl Klug), and run stoppers (Alan Branch), so clubs hoping to bolster their defensive line should find no shortage of options. Jared Odrick recently hit free agency after being released by the Jaguars, while Terrell McClain, Lawrence Guy, and Stacy McGee could be underrated finds for the right team. McClain, for what it’s worth, has already been linked to the Falcons.

Read more

[RELATED: Top 2017 NFL Free Agents By Position: Offense]

Listed below are our rankings for the top 15 free agents at each defensive position. These rankings aren’t necessarily determined by the value of the contracts – or the amount of guaranteed money – that each player is expected to land in free agency. These are simply the players we like the most at each position, with both short- and long-term value taken into account.

Restricted and exclusive-rights free agents, as well as players who received the franchise tag, aren’t listed here, since the roadblocks in place to hinder another team from actually acquiring most of those players prevent them from being true free agents.

We’ll almost certainly be higher or lower on some free agents than you are, so feel free to weigh in below in our comments section to let us know which players we’ve got wrong.

Here’s our breakdown of the current top 15 free agents by defensive position for 2017:

Edge defender:

1. Chandler Jones
2. Melvin Ingram
3. Jason Pierre-Paul
4. Nick Perry
5. Jabaal Sheard
6. James Harrison
7. John Simon
8. DeMarcus Ware
9. Lorenzo Alexander
10. Andre Branch
11. Julius Peppers
12. Charles Johnson
13. Datone Jones
14. Mario Addison
15. Dwight Freeney

The Cardinals have already made it abundantly clear that Chandler Jones will see the franchise tag this offseason, and Melvin Ingram and Jason Pierre-Paul are also candidates to be tagged by the Chargers and Giants, respectively. If the latter two are able to hit the open market unfettered, however, they both figure to break the bank. Ingram, Pro Football Focus’ No. 6 edge defender, could be a fit for both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes, while JPP will be looking for a long-term commitment after signing consecutive one-year deals.

The rest of this year’s crop of free agent pass rushers is a blend of young defenders searching for their first payday and veterans on the hunt for one last contract. Among the players with youth still on their side, Packers edge defenders Nick Perry and Datone Jones figure to interest different clubs, as Perry is a better match for a 3-4 defense while Jones needs to restart his career as a 4-3 defensive end. John Simon has been overlooked while playing alongside the likes of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, and Whitney Mercilus but could represent a hidden gem, while the Dolphins are reportedly prioritizing Andre Branch.

After managing nine sacks over the first nine years of his NFL tenure, Lorenzo Alexander busted out with 12.5 quarterback takedowns in 2016, and now could be looking for a double-digit annual salary. James Harrison and Charles Johnson, meanwhile, look like good bets to return to Steelers and Panthers, respectively, but DeMarcus Ware could be something of a wild card — after missing 11 games in the past two seasons, does the 34-year-old have enough left in the tank? The same could be asked of Dwight Freeney, who at age-37 posted three sacks in a rotational role for the Falcons.

Interior defensive line:

1. Kawann Short
2. Calais Campbell
3. Johnathan Hankins
4. Brandon Williams
5. Dontari Poe
6. Chris Baker
7. Bennie Logan
8. Nick Fairley
9. Alan Branch
10. Jared Odrick
11. Karl Klug
12. Terrell McClain
13. Lawrence Guy
14. Earl Mitchell
15. Stacy McGee

Unlike the edge defender market, the 2017 cadre of interior defensive lineman shouldn’t be overly affected by the franchise tender. Head coach Ron Rivera recently confessed the Panthers will “probably” have to use the tag on Kawann Short, but the rest of the defensive tackles listed here should be able to hit the open market. Of the remaining defenders, Campbell is the best overall player, but given that he’s entering his age-31 season, he may not cost as much as Johnathan Hankins, Brandon Williams, and Dontari Poe.

Hankins is only 24 years old, and though the Giants are trying to retain him along with the rest of their defensive core, the 6’3″, 320-pound mauler should represent an attractive option to a number of clubs this offseason. Williams, too, offers a massive presence on the inside, while Poe could intrigue clubs based on his first-round pedigree and athleticism (though his play hasn’t always matched his potential). The Redskins’ Chris Baker is a solid, well-rounded defensive tackle, and could constitute a consolation prize for teams that miss out on their top targets.

The rest of the class offers an interesting mix of nose tackles (Bennie Logan), interior pass rushers (Nick Fairley, Earl Mitchell), and run stoppers (Karl Klug, Alan Branch), so clubs hoping to bolster their defensive line should find no shortage of options. Jared Odrick recently hit free agency after being released by the Jaguars, while Terrell McClain, Lawrence Guy, and Stacy McGee could be underrated finds for the right team. McClain, for what it’s worth, has already been linked to the Falcons.

Read more

More from the NFC East:

• There’s lots of speculation about Tony Romo‘s future, but former NFL coach Mike Singletary believes that his best bet is to stay pat with the Cowboys. “If I’m Tony Romo, I better stay here in Dallas,” Singletary told 105.3 The Fan (link via SportsDayDFW.com). “Let me put it this way: You’re the backup, but that is the best job in the NFL if you’re a backup on the Dallas Cowboys. I think they have one of the best lines, they’ve got a great running game.” The Broncos are said to be Romo’s ideal landing spot and they could pursue him in free agency, if he is available. The Texans are likely to draft a quarterback this year, but they won’t be targeting Romo.
• Mark Bullock of The Washington Post ran down 3-4 defensive ends that could be in play for the Redskins at different price levels. He starts by listing Kawann Short, a high-priced option who lines up as a three-technique defensive tackle in Carolina’s system. Value options for Washington could include Nick Fairley and Bennie Logan. The Redskins reportedly will target Logan in March, if Philly does not re-sign him before that point.
• Is center Jason Kelce on the chopping block? When given an opportunity to dispel rumors, executive vice president Howie Roseman didn’t exactly shoot down the rumors. By cutting Kelce, the Eagles would open up $3.8MM in cap space for 2017.

• Goodell said there’s no timetable on the league’s investigation into domestic violence allegations against Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY). About two weeks ago, Elliott indicated that he is unhappy with the pace of the NFL’s investigation. The league has been investigating Elliott since July, and it reportedly regarded him as “Public Enemy No. 1” as of November.
• The NFL is still reviewing the possibility of putting together a developmental league, Goodell said (Twitter link via CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora). review/study. “We have a debate that goes on,” he said. “It’s something we’re actively considering.” Troy Vincent, the NFL’s head of football operations, has been pushing the idea of a D-League or in-season academy to help groom young talent. Meanwhile, there will be a non-NFL affiliated spring league launching this year.
• Goodell says Josh Brown‘s domestic violence investigation remains open (Twitter link via La Canfora). Regardless of the outcome, it’s hard to see the former Giants kicker getting another chance in the NFL. If Greg Hardy and Ray Rice can’t get work, then I can’t imagine a team weathering a PR nightmare for a kicker.
• Goodell indicated that the league is ready to start discussing an extension to the collective bargaining agreement (Twitter link via Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports). The current CBA goes through the 2020 season.

[RELATED: Giants Sign Robbie Gould]

Despite being released by the Giants last week, Brown will still earn the remainder of his 2016 salary, per La Canfora, who reports that Brown is eligible for termination pay. Vested veterans are able to collect termination pay once during their careers, and the mechanism allows the player to collect his full base salary if he was on the Week 1 roster. Brown hasn’t filed for termination pay in the past, so he’s now exercising the right. If New York attempts to withhold his paycheck, the NFLPA will file a grievance on behalf of Brown, says La Canfora.

Brown, 37, is unlikely to play in the NFL ever again, according to La Canfora, who adds that several general managers say “they could not foresee a scenario in which [Brown] kicked again.”

We believed we did the right thing at every juncture in our relationship with Josh. Our beliefs, our judgments and our decisions were misguided. We accept that responsibility. We hope that Josh will continue to dedicate himself to rehabilitation, and to becoming a better person and father. 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. We have great respect and feel strongly about our support for the good people who work tirelessly and unconditionally to aid the victims of domestic violence and who bring awareness to the issue. We have been partners with My Sisters’ Place (a domestic violence shelter and advocate based in Westchester, New York) for nearly 20 years. The leadership of that organization has provided invaluable insight as we have considered our decisions in this matter. We value and respect their opinion, and we look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.

The Giants’ decision to release Brown comes shortly after the team met with the kicker. Earlier today, Brown issued a statement in which he took some responsibility for his “abuse” of his ex-wife while denying that he ever struck her. In time, Brown will likely be cleared by the league office to play again, but at this point, it is hard to see another team ever signing him. Barring any new revelations in his favor, Brown’s career in the NFL is probably over.

“I am sorry that my past has called into question the character or integrity of The New York Giants, Mr. Mara or any of those who have supported me along the way,” Brown wrote (via Schefter on Facebook). “I have taken measures to get help so that I may be the voice of change, not a statistic. 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. The road to rehabilitation is a journey and a constant modification of a way of life. My journey will continue forever as a person determined to leave a positive legacy and I embrace the opportunities to show and speak about what has helped me to be that man. In the interim, I am cooperating with the Giants and the NFL. Thank you to everyone that has supported me, I will not let you down.”

Brown’s assertion that he never struck his wife will be a key point of contention when he eventually meets with team and league officials. As a part of his counseling program, Brown wrote: “I have physically, verbally, and emotionally abused my wife.” Brown is expected to meet with the Giants today, according to ESPN.com’s Dianna Russini (on Twitter).

While on the list, Brown will still collect his ~$1.15MM base salary. At some point, Brown will probably be cleared to play football again, but it’s hard to imagine him landing another NFL job given the public relations firestorm surrounding him. The Giants, meanwhile, have moved on after signing veteran kicker Robbie Gould.

The NFL has been criticized for only giving Brown a one-game suspension at the start of the season but a recent report indicated that the union was pressured the league office into rendering a decision in September rather than allowing the matter to drag on. Had the league waited, they could have given Brown a more appropriate punishment and avoided a PR nightmare.

Brown’s suspension for Week 1 came down more than 14 months after the domestic abuse arrest occurred, and the league acted before the King County (Wash.) Sheriff’s Office finished its investigation — one that produced the confession Brown had abused his ex-wife. The source informed Florio the NFLPA was putting pressure on the league to reach a decision quickly. That wouldn’t be a good look for the union considering the details unearthed by the legal investigation would have likely triggered a longer suspension. Brown is now on the commissioner’s exempt list, and the 37-year-old’s prospects of kicking again in light of these revelations are slim.

The NFLPA denies this claim, a source familiar with the union’s thinking told Florio, and dismisses the notion union-generated pressure would have mattered since the league has full autonomy regarding the application of the personal conduct policy. The NFL waited 14 months to render its tame verdict, and waiting until the police concluded their investigation could have saved it from some more bad PR optics.

Here’s more from around the league as the Sunday-night NFC West battle awaits its first touchdown.

• Brown’s placement on the exempt list is expected to clear a path for Robbie Gould to become the Giants’ full-time kicker, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Gould likely does not sign with the Giants if he wasn’t going to have the opportunity to win the job and have a chance to finish the season with the team, per Rapoport. The longtime Bears kicker worked out for the Browns earlier this season in what would have been for a shorter-term fix, but this unfortunate circumstance opened the door for another regular gig.
• The initial plan for LeSean McCoy was to miss Sunday’s Bills-Dolphins game, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. Anderson initially reported McCoy was facing a potential multi-game absence, but the Bills’ top ball-carrying weapon said postgame he felt fine during pregame warmups, per Josh Alper of PFT. Rex Ryan added he wouldn’t have put McCoy out there if he wasn’t 100 percent, though McCoy leaving the game early could delay his timetable and place his status for next week’s key Patriots tilt in question. Shady characterized the injury as minor, but hamstring maladies are particularly troublesome for skill-position talents.
• Cameron Erving left the Ohio showdown, and the Browns‘ starting center will undergo tests Monday, Hue Jackson said (via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com). Jackson categorized this as an illness, but Cabot notes if this is related to the bruised lung he sustained against the Ravens earlier this season then the second-year blocker could be lost for the remainder of 2016. The Browns removed him at halftime. Cleveland’s line, which moved on from Mitchell Schwartz and Alex Mack after free agency defections, already lost Joel Bitonio for the season earlier this month. Reserve center Austin Reiter also tore his ACL in Week 4.
• In advance of their 27-21 victory over the Saints, the Chiefs worked out guard Kadeem Edwards, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Edwards failed to make the Jaguars’ roster out of training camp.
• We heard earlier about the Joe Thomas trade market heating up again, but Florio notes trade-related chatter hasn’t been plentiful so far. If it does ignite in advance of the 3pm CT deadline on Nov. 1, Florio lists the Jets and Bears as potential sellers, with Sheldon Richardson, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery as logical trade chips. Richardson has incurred multiple suspensions and saw the Jets award Muhammad Wilkerson with a lucrative extension, while Jeffery is playing this season on a franchise tag worth $14.599MM. Marshall, of course, has been traded three times. He’s under contract through the 2017 season, but the 32-year-old receiver doesn’t have any guaranteed money left on a deal that would slot him with a $7.5MM cap number next season.

The NFL suspended the kicker for the Giants’ opener, but Brown returned to kick for the team for the next five games before this week’s revelations induced a trip for the veteran to the commissioner’s exempt list. Brown, who likely won’t kick in the NFL again if the careers of Ray Rice and Greg Hardy are any indication, admitted to domestic abuse in documents released this week by the King County (Wash.) Sheriff’s Office.

One owner told ESPN.com he regards the situation as “an embarrassment,” while another wondered how this could reach this point — with Brown being permitted to play again after a one-game suspension — after the events of 2014. A new domestic violence initiative was enacted under the umbrella of the personal conduct policy, calling for a six-game suspension for domestic violence cases. No player has been suspended for that amount of time, but multiple players have been essentially banished as a result of domestic violence connections, Jonathan Dwyer being another.

Two league officials claimed the interest in pursuing the Deflategate matter took precedence over this, per ESPN. 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith took to Twitter to voice his frustration about Brown’s status.

Brown can still collect his $1.15MM base salary and attend meetings at the Giants’ facility, along with a host of other permitted non-football activities. Although, with the Giants signing Robbie Gould, Brown doesn’t seem to have a purpose in Big Blue meetings any longer.

John Mara said in August the team was comfortable re-signing the 37-year-old Brown to a two-year, $4MM deal this offseason based on the information at the Giants’ disposal at the time. But the owner saying earlier this week that Brown admitted to them he’d abused his ex-wife but adding the team didn’t know the extent of the abuse did not sit well with many. The NFL could have also requested similar documents from the Browns’ divorce hearing, which is public record, prior to King County’s Sheriff’s Office releasing them this week.

Ben McAdoo said from London the team wasn’t going to turn its back on Brown despite signing Gould to kick in England, but multiple sources told ESPN they doubt Brown will kick in the NFL again.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two East divisions:

• Conflicting reports emerged earlier this year as to whether Bills general manager Doug Whaley and head coach Rex Ryan faced playoffs-or-bust ultimatums — but team owner Terry Pegula says the rumors were unfounded. “No. We just hired the guys!” Pegula told Tom Pelissero of USA Today. “Doug’s a new GM basically (promoted in May 2013). And we just hired Rex. We’re talking about continuity, and the players need that.” The Bills are now 4-2 and back in the thick of the playoff race after winning four straight.
• Offensive lineman Gabe Ikard was cut earlier today to make room for the return of Shaq Lawson, but the Bills plan to re-sign next week, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Ikard, a two-year NFL veteran, hasn’t played an offensive role for Buffalo this season, as he’s seen zero snaps. But he had managed to see the field for 11 special teams plays.
• The Jets brought defensive end/outside linebacker Sadat Sulleyman in for a workout, Wilson tweets. Sulleyman, 23, is a UDFA out of Portland State who didn’t make Denver’s initial 53-man roster. He’s also tried out for the Bengals and Chiefs this season.

[RELATED: Giants Sign Robbie Gould]

Given that Greg Hardy and Ray Rice have been unable to find work in the NFL, it’s not surprising to hear that Brown is persona non grata in the league. Brown is one of the league’s best kickers and is coming off of one of his best seasons, but he is certainly not worth the baggage that would come with signing him at this point. After all, Hardy is still a starting caliber defensive end, but his history and bad attitude have forced him to change sports.

The Giants have until 4pm ET/3PM CT Friday to place Brown on the commissioner’s exempt list. While on the list, Brown can still collect his ~$1.15MM base salary. He can also appeal being placed on the list, but that will be an uphill battle given everything that has come out in recent days.

[RELATED: NFL To Investigate Josh Brown]

The Giants were unaware of Brown’s journal entries, emails, and letters admitting to domestic violence, a team spokesman tells Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The team had not read or heard them until they were brought to light yesterday. However, as Diana Moskovitz of Deadspin writes, the league could have easily obtained similar documents by requesting a copy of the Browns’ divorce file, which is public record.

Additionally, the NFL had been involved in at least one incident involving Brown and his wife, a source tells Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. During the Pro Bowl in January, an intoxicated Brown reportedly pounded on his wife’s hotel room door, leading the NFL to help Brown’s wife in switching rooms.

Josh Brown will not travel with the team to London.

In light of the news reports regarding the documents released by the State of Washington yesterday, we think it makes sense to review this newly disclosed information and to revisit this issue following our trip to London.

The Giants do not condone or excuse any form of domestic violence. Josh has acknowledged that he has issues in his life and has been working on these issues through therapy and counseling for a long period of time.

We remain supportive of Josh and his efforts.

Brown, of course, was suspended for the first game of the season based on the information that the NFL had about his domestic abuse allegations at the time. Now, more information has come to light and the league is taking a deeper look at the kicker. In the interim, the Giants are keeping him off the field.

In his five games this season, Brown has nailed 11-of-12 field goals with his only miss coming from more than 50 yards out. Last season, Brown sank a career-high 93.8% of his field goal attempts.