Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent is accused of driving drunk and causing the accident that killed teammate Jerry Brown, and as he may be forced to stay in jail until he stands trial after he tested positive for marijuana. So why don’t the Cowboys just get rid of this guy?
The answer is simple: According to ESPN’s Ed Werder, the Cowboys still believe Brent will be a contributor for them on the field, some day.
Brent’s legal problems make it unlikely that he’ll play at all this year. Even if he were to escape going to prison, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will probably suspend him for a full season, as he did with Donte’ Stallworth, who was forced to sit out the 2009 season after he struck and killed a pedestrian while driving drunk.
But the Cowboys still believe that Brent, whom they drafted in 2010, can be a valuable member of their defensive line, perhaps in 2014. And as a result, they’re likely to keep him on a reserve list and hope he can eventually play again.