Josh Brent #92 of the Dallas Cowboys sits on the bench during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 7, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. AFP FILE PHOTO
IRVING, Texas— Police charged Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Josh Brent with intoxication manslaughter after he flipped his car in a pre-dawn accident that killed teammate Jerry Brown on Saturday.
Irving police spokesman John Argumaniz said the accident happened about 2:20 a.m. in the Dallas suburb, hours before Brent was to be on a team flight to Cincinnati for the Cowboys’ game against the Bengals on Sunday.
Argumaniz said the 25-year-old Brown — a practice-squad linebacker who also was Brent’s teammate at the University of Illinois for three seasons — was found unresponsive at the scene and pronounced dead at a hospital.
Brown’s death was the second tragedy to hit the NFL in a week. Last Saturday, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend before killing himself in front of his coach and general manager.
“We are deeply saddened by the news of this accident and the passing of Jerry Brown,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. “At this time, our hearts and prayers and deepest sympathies are with the members of Jerry’s family and all of those who knew him and loved him.”
Officers conducted a field sobriety test on Brent and arrested him on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, Argumaniz said. The charge, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison, was upgraded after Brown was pronounced dead.
Argumaniz said Brent, who pleaded guilty to a drunken driving charge three years ago at Illinois, was being held without bond. Brent was named as Joshua Price-Brent in the police news release. Argumaniz also said Brent missed a 10 a.m. booking session with a judge because he was intoxicated.
Brent was speeding when the vehicle hit a curb and flipped at least once, Argumaniz said.
He said when officers arrived at the scene on a state highway service road, Brent was dragging Brown from the vehicle, a Mercedes, which was on fire. Officers quickly put out the small blaze, he said.
The road has a 45 mph (70 kph) speed limit, and Argumaniz said investigators were certain they were travelling above the limit.
Before he was taken to the jail, Brent went to a hospital for a blood draw for alcohol testing and also received treatment for some minor scrapes.
Brent was arrested in February 2009 near the Illinois campus for driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license and speeding, according to Champaign County, Illinois, court records.
In June 2009, Brent pleaded guilty to DUI and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, two years of probation, 200 hours of community service and a fine of about $2,000. As part of his plea deal, prosecutors dropped one count of aggravated DUI/no valid driver’s license. Brent successfully completed his probation in July 2011, court records show.
Brent, a nose guard, has played in all 12 games this season. He made his first career start in the season opener against the New York Giants and has 35 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks.
The Cowboys signed Brown to their practice squad on Oct. 24, but he hasn’t been on the active roster. He was released from the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad on Oct. 20. Brown played in one game for the Colts, a loss to the New York Jets on Oct. 14.
“On behalf of the entire Colts family, our sincerest condolences go out to Jerry’s family and friends,” Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said in a statement. “He was a good teammate that was well liked by all. Today’s tragic news is just another reminder of how fragile life is and how everyday given is a gift.”