Jerry Brown, a linebacker on the Cowboys’ practice squad, was killed Saturday in an auto accident. (AP) |
The Cowboys arrived in Cincinnati on Saturday with heavy hearts, still looking for answers after what was already a tumultuous day that included the tragic loss of one teammate and an uncertain future for another.
Sunday's game against the Bengals seems rather trivial compared to Saturday's news that linebacker Jerry Brown was killed in auto accident and defensive tackle Josh Brent, the driver of the vehicle, was arrested for intoxicated manslaughter and remains in an Irving, Texas jail.
Brown, who joined the team earlier this season, was on the practice squad. Brent had started five games in place of Jay Ratliff and was expected to start Sunday. They were also teammates at the University of Illinois, where Brent was arrested in 2009 for DWI, which got him suspended for a year. He returned to the Illini the next year and was taken in the seventh round of the supplemental draft by the Cowboys.
When the team arrived in Cincinnati early Saturday evening, it was a somber walk from the team bus through the hotel, despite a host of Cowboys fan there to greet them as usual. But the spirits were obviously subdued this time.
Cowboys assistant head coach Jimmy Robinson, who is also the team's receiver coach, admitted it was difficult to put his emotions into words.
"It's hard to talk about right now," said Robinson, one of the few coaches or players who spoke to the media. "It's one of the saddest things you can imagine. You feel so badly for the people and the families involved."
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones issued a statement following the tragedy, but the team announced Saturday night there would be no further comments until after the game Sunday afternoon.
According to sources on the team charter, the Cowboys organization found out about the incident around 9:15 a.m. Dallas time. The team was told about the situation around 10:45 during a walk-through practice at the team facility. When more details were made available, the players were told again just before takeoff and after media and other staff member were removed from the plane momentarily.
Without Ratliff and now Brent, the Cowboys will likely count on Sean Lissemore and Robert Callaway, who was signed from the practice squad Saturday morning.
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