It’s been a rough year for the National Football League. Just a week after Kansas City Chiefs player Jovan Belcher committed suicide minutes after allegedly shooting his girlfriend to death, a Dallas Cowboys player has been arrested in the death of a teammate in Irving, Texas.
From NBC 5 in Dallas:
Irving police said Josh Brent, 24, crashed in the 1400 block of the State Highway 114 service road at about 2:21 a.m.
Jerry Brown Jr., 25, a passenger in the vehicle, died at an area hospital. Brown was a practice-squad linebacker.
“We are deeply saddened by the news of this accident and the passing of Jerry Brown,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement Saturday. “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.”
Police said Brent, whose full name is Joshua A. Price-Brent, was speeding when his vehicle hit the outside curb, causing it to flip at least one time.
Police reportedly believe alcohol was a “contributing factor” in the crash. Brent was arrested at the crash scene after failing a field sobriety test. His blood was later drawn at a local hospital, and Brent was later booked on one count of intoxication manslaughter, after it was learned that Brown had died.
Brent reportedly had a prior drunk driving charge, dating back to when he was still a college student in 2009.
NBC 5 also reports that the team was informed of Brown’s death on the plane as they prepared to head to Cincinnati for a game Sunday.
Brown was not on the active roster.