Cowboys’ Josh Brent releases statement, remains in custody

Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Josh Brent, who was scheduled for a hearing on charges of intoxication manslaughter stemming from a car crash that claimed the life of teammate and friend Jerry Brown on Sunday, released a statement expressing grief and sorrow over the fatal accident.

“I am devastated and filled with grief,” Brent’s statement read. “Filled with grief for the loss of my close friend and teammate, Jerry Brown. I am also grief-stricken for his family, friends and all who were blessed enough to have known him.

“I will live with this horrific and tragic loss every day for the rest of my life. My prayers are with his family, our teammates and his friends at this time.”

Brent was still in custody Sunday after failing to post a $500,000 bond for his release. His attorney, George Milner, said the bond was in excess of what the Cowboys had authorized him to post.

Police said Brent, who failed a field sobriety test, lost control of his vehicle at about 2:20 a.m. Saturday, when it rolled over and caught fire. Brent was reportedly pulling Brown out of the automobile when police arrived at the scene.

Brown, a practice squad member who was a college teammate of Brent’s at Illinois, was unresponsive at the crash site in suburban Dallas and later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Brent, who was originally arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, faces two to 20 years in prison if convicted of the second-degree felony of manslaughter while intoxicated.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the team had focused on Brown’s death Sunday morning, when the team held a moment of silence before playing the Bengals in Cincinnati.

“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 Fox’s NFL Sunday pregame show. “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.”

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