Dallas Cowboys Player Jerry Brown Killed In Car Accident; Teammate Josh Brent Arrested, Charged With Intoxication Manslaughter

Brown, 25, was an undrafted free agent who spent time with the Indianapolis Colts this season before landing on the Cowboys' practice squad. He and Brent had been teammates at the University of Illinois before being reunited in Dallas.

ESPN reported that Brent was taken into custody and booked in the city jail at 4:14 a.m. Saturday morning. He was a three-year veteran on the team who was sentenced to two years of probation and 60 days of community service after a drunk driving arrest in June 2009 in Champaign County, Ill.

“Officers at the scene believed alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash. Therefore, Price-Brent was asked to perform field sobriety tests,” read a statement from the Irving police. “Based on the results of the tests, along with the officer’s observations and conversations with Price-Brent, he was arrested for driving while intoxicated. He was transported to an area hospital for a mandatory blood draw. Once it was learned that the passenger of his vehicle had died as a result of the crash, Price-Brent was booked into the Irving City Jail on one count of Intoxication Manslaughter.”

The Dallas Morning News noted that Brent had been travelling home after a night of partying at Club Privae in Dallas and failed a field sobriety test. Brown was reportedly unresponsive when police arrived on the scene. The fatal accident occurred near the 1400 block of John Carpenter Freeway.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones released a statement but did not mention Brent’s arrest.

"We are deeply saddened by the news of this accident and the passing of Jerry Brown," Jones said. "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."

Ian Rapoport, a reporter for NFL.com and the NFL Network, tweeted a screenshot of a recent Facebook post by Jerry Brown, implying he was preparing for fatherhood.

“Sometimes when I actually get a chance to be away from football I think of how bad I want a family (wife, children) and how the fast life isn’t as fun as it used to be after living it for so long,” Brown reportedly wrote. “I mean I do have my lil one coming soon and don’t get me wrong to see her and be everything for her. It’s just the circumstances I bring her into aren’t nearly as ideal as I’d like.”

Brown’s death comes one week after Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Javon Belcher murdered his girlfriend and later committed suicide outside Arrowhead Stadium while team personnel looked on.