Just one week after Javon Belcher tragically shot and killed his girlfriend and then killed himself in the parking lot of Arrowhead Stadium, the NFL suffered another tragic loss.
Dallas Cowboys Nose Tackle Josh Brent was involved in a fatal drunk driving car accident that killed his best friend and former teammate former practice squad player Jerry Brown. Brent is now charged with intoxication manslaugther for the death. Brent is out on bond but was placed on reserve/non-football illness list which effectively ends his season with the Cowboys.
What makes this story all the more sad is Brent pleaded guilty to a driving under the influence charge while a player
at Illinois in 2009. Brent was sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years of probation for that case.
After serving time previously for drunk driving there is a hope that Brent would have learned his lesson. That he would no longer get behind the wheel of a car and drive drunk, but sadly he once again made a poor choice and now his best friend has lost his life because of it.
To make the matter worse, the NFLPA offers players a free ride home if they become intoxicated while they are out so they do not have to drive impaired and the Cowboys organization even offers a service to pick up your vehicle and take it to your home so you do not have to leave your car behind if you do so. With all these services here to help players make the right decision, why did Brent choose to make the wrong one?
This question is one that Brent will have to ask himself everyday for the rest of his life. With his NFL career most likely over, and possibly facing time for manslaughter, the worst thing Brent will have to live with is the fact that he killed his best friend in a way that could've been prevented had he made a better smarter choice. That is the saddest part of all.
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