-Brian Fagan
briandfagan@gmail.com
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| Josh Brent on the sideline as the Cowboys took on the Steelers. |
DALLAS, TX - - Josh Brent was on the sideline of the Dallas Cowboys’ overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. If you don’t know who Josh Brent is, he’s this guy. The Dallas Cowboy offensive lineman had a blood alcohol level of .18 when he chose to drive home from a nightclub with teammate, Jerry Brown, riding shotgun. That decision would prove life changing, and life ending, when he crashed the car, killing Brown in the process.
Anytime someone dies, its sad. Car crashes in their abrupt nature, are especially hard to handle. But when the death comes at the hands of the deceased person’s own friend, your heart has got to be aching.
Brent, facing manslaughter charges and serious jail time, is sure to be at a low point in life right now. Everyone had to be surprised to see him show up on the sideline this past Sunday. Brent was not dressed out for the game.
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| Josh Brent Speaks to the media. |
The
media had a field day with this act, some called the move some called the move insensitive and others questioned the Cowboys’ motives behind Brent’s presence. But teammates seemed to support the decision,
and by all accounts point to the decision to include Brent on the sideline to
have come from his teammates themselves. Who, mind you, are also the teammates of the
man he “killed.”
So was this the correct move by the Cowboys? To let your offensive lineman turned media labeled murderer roam your sidelines as a free man. Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboy’s outspoken owner, defended the move http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/17/jerry-jones-defends-having-josh-brent-on-the-cowboys-sideline/. Brown’s own mother has publicly forgiven Brent and even invited him to be at her side during her son's funeral
All in all, there is no reason to criticize the Cowboys, or Brent, for appearing at the game. His teammates wanted him there. They feel for him. Of course they miss Brown and surely mourn his loss. But in football, like in any sport, your teammates are your brothers. And Brent made a mistake, albeit a fatal one. That being said, we all make mistakes.
Driving drunk is an insensitive and reckless crime to commit, and those who are found guilty of such a crime deserve to be punished. Especially, as is the case with Brent, when it is a second time offense. Brent was convicted of a DUI in 2009. The legal consequences coming to Brent will be deserved, but perhaps will be no match to the emotional consequences Brent is going to have to live with for the rest of his life.
We are all free to formulate an opinion of Brent, what he did, and what kind of man he is. With disgusting reports of Brent ignoring his teammates’ last cries for help as the car reportedly went up in flames, it is easy to judge Josh Brent, and he will get what is coming to him, no doubt.
However, his teammates wanted him at the game; he was reportedly even driven by a fellow member of the Cowboys. It has come out that Brent thought it was a bad idea, but that his teammates urged him to attend the match so that he may be with his friends, his brothers. Dallas ownership and management wanted him there to support his team, and in turn, support Brent through this troubling time in his life. Due to all of the trouble that it caused with the media and the public opinion, Brent has since been banned from appearing on the Cowboys’ sideline. As controversial as it may seem, there is nothing wrong with him attending his team’s game. After all, it will likely be his last one.
So was this the correct move by the Cowboys? To let your offensive lineman turned media labeled murderer roam your sidelines as a free man. Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboy’s outspoken owner, defended the move http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/17/jerry-jones-defends-having-josh-brent-on-the-cowboys-sideline/. Brown’s own mother has publicly forgiven Brent and even invited him to be at her side during her son's funeral
All in all, there is no reason to criticize the Cowboys, or Brent, for appearing at the game. His teammates wanted him there. They feel for him. Of course they miss Brown and surely mourn his loss. But in football, like in any sport, your teammates are your brothers. And Brent made a mistake, albeit a fatal one. That being said, we all make mistakes.
Driving drunk is an insensitive and reckless crime to commit, and those who are found guilty of such a crime deserve to be punished. Especially, as is the case with Brent, when it is a second time offense. Brent was convicted of a DUI in 2009. The legal consequences coming to Brent will be deserved, but perhaps will be no match to the emotional consequences Brent is going to have to live with for the rest of his life.
We are all free to formulate an opinion of Brent, what he did, and what kind of man he is. With disgusting reports of Brent ignoring his teammates’ last cries for help as the car reportedly went up in flames, it is easy to judge Josh Brent, and he will get what is coming to him, no doubt.
However, his teammates wanted him at the game; he was reportedly even driven by a fellow member of the Cowboys. It has come out that Brent thought it was a bad idea, but that his teammates urged him to attend the match so that he may be with his friends, his brothers. Dallas ownership and management wanted him there to support his team, and in turn, support Brent through this troubling time in his life. Due to all of the trouble that it caused with the media and the public opinion, Brent has since been banned from appearing on the Cowboys’ sideline. As controversial as it may seem, there is nothing wrong with him attending his team’s game. After all, it will likely be his last one.
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