Former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle, Josh Brent, was reinstated as a member of the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday by the NFL. However, he is suspended for ten games.
In 2012, Brent crashed his Mercedes while driving home from a nightclub on a highway in Dallas. Teammate Jerry Brown was in the car with Brent and was killed in the accident. Brent had a blood-alcohol level of 0.18 percent at the time of the accident, which is more than double the legal limit in Texas. He faced up to 20 years in prison for intoxication manslaughter, but was sentenced to 180 days in jail after a trial in January, according to the Associated Press. A prison sentence of 10 years was suspended.
"If Brent fully complies with these terms, and following an additional report and recommendation from the league's substance abuse program advisors, he will be considered for full reinstatement to return to play following Week 10," the NFL said in a statement. "Brent may appeal this decision within five days."
According to ESPN, Brent must fully comply with any evaluation, treatment, or counseling that’s required by medical or other professionals that are assigned to him. He must also comply with the requirements that the courts give him.
Brent retired from football last July to get his life back in order. On August 7, he met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to seek reinstatement. The Cowboys have the rights to Brent and activated him from the reserve/retired list.
Brent was drafted by the Cowboys back in 2010 as a seventh-round pick in the Supplemental draft. He has played in only 39 games. He has 44 tackles and 1.5 sacks in those 39 career games, according to NFL.com.
The Cowboys open the season in Dallas on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.