Cowboy charged after player dies in auto accident

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Josh Brent is charged with intoxication manslaughter after police in suburban Dallas say he flipped his car in a pre-dawn accident on Saturday, killing teammate Jerry Brown.

Irving police say Brent was speeding when the vehicle hit a curb and flipped.

The charge is a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison.

In a statement, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says "We are deeply saddened by the news of this accident and the passing of Jerry Brown." Jones added "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."

The team says Brent was not on the team flight to Cincinnati, where the Cowboys play the Bengals on Sunday.

Brown was a practice-squad linebacker who also was Brent's teammate at the University of Illinois for three seasons.

Former Illinois coach Ron Zook says he spoke with Brent's agent, Peter Schaffer, who told him that "Josh was distraught, and he didn't care about himself or what was happening to him," adding "All he cared about was Jerry's family."