Cowboys player's attorney: $500K bond excessive
Updated 1:15 a.m. EST Dec. 10
IRVING, Texas Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Josh Brent remained in custody Sunday on $500,000 bond, one day after being charged with intoxication manslaughter after what police said was a drunken-driving accident that killed close friend and teammate Jerry Brown.
Brent's attorney called the bond amount excessive and beyond what the team had authorized him to post.
George Milner said he was working to reduce the bond, but was doubtful his client would be released from the Irving jail until Monday. Milner also said he was trying to get the Cowboys to authorize payment of a higher bond amount.
"I'd say the bond is 16 times higher than it would have been for anybody that doesn't play for the Dallas Cowboys," Milner said.
Irving police said Brent was speeding in the Dallas suburb when the vehicle he was driving his a curb and flipped about 2:20 a.m. Saturday. The 25-year-old Brown was found unresponsive at the scene and was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Brent was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, and the charge was upgraded after Brown died. The manslaughter charge is a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison.
The grieving Cowboys managed to rally for a significant win Sunday.
Dan Bailey's 40-yard field goal as time ran out sent Dallas to a 20-19 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, ending a tough afternoon with playoff chances enhanced and more emotional days ahead.
Dallas overcame a nine-point deficit in the closing minutes behind Tony Romo, who held his hand over his heart during a moment of silence to honor Brown before the kickoff.
The Cowboys (7-6) learned about Brown's death on their flight to Cincinnati on Saturday. Coach Jason Garrett told his team that the best way to honor him was to play well in a game with playoff implications for both teams.
On Fox's NFL Sunday show, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the team had focused on Brown's death in the "last few hours." He didn't mention Brent.
"First of all we all know, but we remind ourselves that there is something more important than football, and this is life, and certainly the lost life of Jerry," Jones said. "On the other hand, they know the best way they can honor Jerry, because he was such a hard worker, so conscientious and enthusiastic about his career."
Brown's grandmother, Theresa Clark of St. Louis, told The Associated Press on Sunday that Brown and Brent grew close while they were teammates at the University of Illinois from 2007 to 2009.
"I'm quite sure that Jerry thought the world of him and respected that young man," Clark said.
She remembered her eldest grandchild — one of 20 — as a man who would stop at nothing to realize his dream of becoming a professional football player.
"He lived for football. He loved it with all of his heart," she said, noting that Brown built a foundation of faith, hard work and discipline for his younger cousins to follow.
"They praised him," she said. "They were all really upset and crying" when they found out about his death.
Brown's mother, Stacey Jackson of Champaign, Ill., told the AP that Brown was an expectant father.
"I'm very excited an anxious to meet my granddaughter," she said. "She will be here in 2 more months. She is going to be well loved.
"I have scrapbooks and everything to show her what type of father she had. My youngest son, Jeremiah, will be there to push her on to ensure that she can be the best woman that she can be."
It marked the second straight week the NFL found itself dealing with a tragedy right before gameday.
Last Saturday, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend before killing himself in front of his coach and general manager. The 25-year-old Belcher shot himself in the parking lot at the team's practice complex at Arrowhead Stadium.
In February 2009, 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, Ill., court records. Four months later, 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, played in the first 12 games this season and was bigger part of the defense than expected with starter Jay Ratliff battling injuries. He has 35 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks and was expected to start Sunday against the Bengals because Ratliff was out with a groin injury.
The Cowboys signed Brown to their practice squad Oct. 24, but he hasn't been on the active roster. He was released from the Colts' practice squad Oct. 20. Brown was active for one game with the Colts, a loss to the New York Jets on Oct. 14.