What is the likely term of Josh Brent's suspension?

[perrykemp]

I'd be surprised if it was anything over 4 games based on what has been done in the past.

The NFL suspended Stallworth for the entire 2009 season without pay despite the fact that he hit and killed man walking illegally across a high speed road.

Why would Brent expect less than Stallworth?

 

[Echo9]

^ this.

I'd go one step further and say that the guilt of having to live with oneself after killing one of your friends is likely more painful than anything the legal system could inflict on him.

I hope that, once his punishment is meted out in the eyes of the law, Brent can come back and play for the cowboys. His star is pointing up, and I think it likely he's a better man after what he's been through.

There's another factor involved with this whole thing. Brown's daughter. I have heard ( on the various Cowboy's podcasts) that it's not out of the question that Brent's future income (or part of it) can be put into a trust for the child.

Whether it's instituted by the courts as part of a plea or is more of an NFL issue, I don't really know, but I think it may be part of a plea deal. Now many simply believe that Brent did a horrible thing and should just go to jail, but it may actually be more charitable to allow Brent probation and the opportunity to play again to make money for Jerry Brown's daughter's future.

As a far as a suspension goes, I'd guess it would be 1/2 a year to a year.

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

Brent has already been busted for drunk driving twice in 4 years -- one of those times killing a teammate.

Is that really the guy you want to give a 3rd chance? Is the organization willing to take that risk?

I'm glad most of you understand repeated bad behavior has consequences.

However, a few seem to want Brent to get off light and play for Dallas again...I can't reconcile this sense of "justice" with those of you that feel Vick has not been punished enough > http://cowboyszone.com/forums/dallascowboys.php?t=253400

Can't help but to think if Josh Brent was an Eagle there would be no mercy, while if Michael Vick was a Cowboy, we would have a few bleeding hearts for Vick.

Might get a member with PETA quote and flame me, but most here would consider killing a person worse than killing dogs, yet Vick gets more wrath.

Some may say comparing Brent to Vick is apples to orange - I'd say rotten ones - completely unacceptable conduct with consequences. Yes, let them have another chance, but not until they have served their time. And opportunities they have diminish each time they get in trouble.

 

[rbr651]

I'm glad most of you understand repeated bad behavior has consequences.

However, a few seem to want Brent to get off light and play for Dallas again...I can't reconcile this sense of "justice" with those of you that feel Vick has not been punished enough > http://cowboyszone.com/forums/dallascowboys.php?t=253400

Can't help but to think if Josh Brent was an Eagle there would be no mercy, while if Michael Vick was a Cowboy, we would have a few bleeding hearts for Vick.

Might get a member with PETA quote and flame me, but most here would consider killing a person worse than killing dogs, yet Vick gets more wrath.

Some may say comparing Brent to Vick is apples to orange - I'd say rotten ones - completely unacceptable conduct with consequences. Yes, let them have another chance, but not until they have served their time. And opportunities they have diminish each time they get in trouble.

Good post and I agree with you wholeheartedly. I am one that says live and let live, but when you infringe on my rights there needs to be consequences. This is not all about Brent, Prison is as much prevention and is it is punishment. I'm sure he feels horrible every night that he goes to sleep, and he should, and he should for the rest of his life. But now he needs to pay the piper on the legal side of this all, just because you feel bad does not entitle you to a lower form of punishment.

 

[jterrell]

Assuming he has never been convicted of a crime in Texas and continues to have the support of the victim's family he will likely get 10 years probated sentence. He'll have to pass regular alcohol counseling classes and attend AA.

He'll likely be suspended by the league 8 games. Depending upon the time of the agreement he may actually be able to play some in 2013 but likely it will be 2014 before he actually suits up again.

Not sure why people are so willfully ignorant but Brent not playing again hurts the Brown family far more than if he does so. If he does play he will make a significant financial restitution to them. If he does not he will likely not have very many quality employment option and thus pay very little to them.

He will likely never drive again without blowing in a tube and AFAIK he has never proven a threat to anyone beyond being drunk and driving.

He should most certainly be punished. He should also be allowed to contribute to society and repay the Brown family.

Being on 10 years felony probation is about as serious as it gets. A crime where he would likely get 2-3 years if he were punished right now he could end up serving 7 or 8 years if he fails any part of the probation requirements.

 

[jterrell]

I'm glad most of you understand repeated bad behavior has consequences.

However, a few seem to want Brent to get off light and play for Dallas again...I can't reconcile this sense of "justice" with those of you that feel Vick has not been punished enough > http://cowboyszone.com/forums/dallascowboys.php?t=253400

Can't help but to think if Josh Brent was an Eagle there would be no mercy, while if Michael Vick was a Cowboy, we would have a few bleeding hearts for Vick.

Might get a member with PETA quote and flame me, but most here would consider killing a person worse than killing dogs, yet Vick gets more wrath.

Some may say comparing Brent to Vick is apples to orange - I'd say rotten ones - completely unacceptable conduct with consequences. Yes, let them have another chance, but not until they have served their time. And opportunities they have diminish each time they get in trouble.

Vick was willfully fighting and killing dogs. Over a long period of time. For entertainment.

Brent was out drinking with his best friend. BOTH parties were drinking. BOTH parties got in the vehicle. Brent was taking the same foolish risk with his own life that he did with Brown but he was hardly electrocuting him or taking any pleasure in his suffering or pain.

Erik Williams was driving quite drunk and quite hazardously once upon a time too. He remained a Cowboy.

Brent should be punished and continue to be punished but comparing drinking and driving to willfully killing animals is definitely apples and oranges.

If you don't believe that just ask the Brown family.

 

[dupree89]

My vengeance? More like reality knowing that this case will be very high profile

I admire your stance. At least you're not being a phony. Half these guys that are either hoping or even just suggesting that he will get off with a minimum penalty...these are the same guys that would be calling for his banishment if he was an Eagle or Commander player.

 

[BIGDen]

Assuming he has never been convicted of a crime in Texas and continues to have the support of the victim's family he will likely get 10 years probated sentence. He'll have to pass regular alcohol counseling classes and attend AA.

He'll likely be suspended by the league 8 games. Depending upon the time of the agreement he may actually be able to play some in 2013 but likely it will be 2014 before he actually suits up again.

Not sure why people are so willfully ignorant but Brent not playing again hurts the Brown family far more than if he does so. If he does play he will make a significant financial restitution to them. If he does not he will likely not have very many quality employment option and thus pay very little to them.

He will likely never drive again without blowing in a tube and AFAIK he has never proven a threat to anyone beyond being drunk and driving.

He should most certainly be punished. He should also be allowed to contribute to society and repay the Brown family.

Being on 10 years felony probation is about as serious as it gets. A crime where he would likely get 2-3 years if he were punished right now he could end up serving 7 or 8 years if he fails any part of the probation requirements.

Great post. I could see him getting off without jail time but with some strict probation requirements. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see Lord Goodell suspend him for at least half a season if not a whole season.

 

[Afigueroa22]

Vick was willfully fighting and killing dogs. Over a long period of time. For entertainment.

Brent was out drinking with his best friend. BOTH parties were drinking. BOTH parties got in the vehicle.

I thought they had found out Brown was completely sober?

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

^ you may say Brent and Vick is apples to oranges, but again both are rotten fruit. I'm looking at the result - not how hateable the perpetrator or the crime was.

You can say Timothy McVeigh or Charles Manson is more hateable than Adam Lanza or Andrea Yates - they are all mass murders, but back to Brent and Vick...it's unacceptable.

If Eric Williams did what he did twenty years ago, the outcome would be completely different.

 

[jterrell]

I thought they had found out Brown was completely sober?

He wasn't legally drunk but did have alcohol in his system during an autopsy. I am not a blood expert so can't say how his blood alcohol level may have been at the actual time of the crash. Obviously autopsies aren't performed immediately. He did however drink, that really isn't in question.

He rode to the event with Brent and they were roommates returning to the same residence. They were best friends.

 

[jterrell]

^ you may say Brent and Vick is apples to oranges, but again both are rotten fruit. I'm looking at the result - not how hateable the perpetrator or the crime was.

You can say Timothy McVeigh or Charles Manson is more hateable than Adam Lanza or Andrea Yates - they are all mass murders, but back to Brent and Vick...it's unacceptable.

If Eric Williams did what he did twenty years ago, the outcome would be completely different.

Hundreds of thousands of people have driven drunk. You are now comparing that offense with mass murder? Perhaps time for some perspective.

According to our legal system intent absolutely matters.

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

Hundreds of thousands of people have driven drunk. You are now comparing that offense with mass murder? Perhaps time for some perspective.

According to our legal system intent absolutely matters.

I'm ***NOT*** comparing what Brent and Vick did to mass murder - don't say I did after the clarification that follows.

I ***AM*** saying many people will be influenced by who did the crime. Was it by a woman? A young disturbed man? Or a unrepentant repeat offender? Or did they do something ***I*** did?

Yes, countless people have done DUI and therefore biased to giving anyone caught doing it a break because they have done it themselves. But a death is a serious thing - they are gone regardless if it was with malice or not.

_______________________


Summary: both Josh Brent and Michael Vick committed felonies - serious crimes.

Each of them merit doing time and penalties from the NFL - just too big to ignore.

Then they can start over again, but they will have fewer opportunities.

The nature and "flavor" of the crime is different, but both should suffer consequences.

And the team(s) they played for does should not matter.

It's up to them, but I hope both turn around before they completely run out of chances.

 

[AbeBeta]

I admire your stance. At least you're not being a phony. Half these guys that are either hoping or even just suggesting that he will get off with a minimum penalty...these are the same guys that would be calling for his banishment if he was an Eagle or Commander player.

Personally, i don't see what good comes from him going to jail. I do think the team was right to try to support him- being on the sideline was clearly wrong though. I also think he's never playing for us again. I do wonder how we would deal with it if it were a star player in this situation. Easy to do the right thing when it doesn't mean replacing elite talent

 

[burmafrd]

Personally, i don't see what good comes from him going to jail. I do think the team was right to try to support him- being on the sideline was clearly wrong though. I also think he's never playing for us again. I do wonder how we would deal with it if it were a star player in this situation. Easy to do the right thing when it doesn't mean replacing elite talent

you kill someone through your own stupidity you should go to jail.

 

[perrykemp]

AFAIK he has never proven a threat to anyone beyond being drunk and driving.

Heck, I'd say Josh Brent driving 110mph is nearly as threatening as him driving drunk.

Also note Josh Brent just finished probation for his previous drunk driving offense in 2011 -- he barely made it a year before he did it again.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

so when did justice become vengeance?

He willfully drank and drove and killed a person. Yet some here think that is nothing.

Justice for who exactly?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

The NFL suspended Stallworth for the entire 2009 season without pay despite the fact that he hit and killed man walking illegally across a high speed road.

Why would Brent expect less than Stallworth?

That's a good point. I didn't realize that.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

My vengeance? More like reality knowing that this case will be very high profile

Youre moving goalposts. This case will most likely never go to trial like those other cases never went to trial anyway.

 

[AbeBeta]

Youre moving goalposts. This case will most likely never go to trial like those other cases never went to trial anyway.

Going to trial is irrelevant. The prosecutors know this case will get a ton of attention. You don't lean toward leniency in those situations