Dallas Cowboys’ Josh Brent Facing DUI Manslaughter after Teammate Dies; Does the NFL have a DUI problem?
Irving, TX- Dallas Cowboys’ Josh Brent’s career and freedom are the line following DUI accident over the weekend that killed his teammate Jerry Brown. Brent is the 18th player this year to be arrested for suspicion of drunk driving; do NFL players have a drinking problem?
According to Irving, Texas police spokesman John Argumaniz said that Jerry Brown Jr., 25, was no responsive when police arrived at the accident scene. Brown, who is on the practice roles for the Cowboys, was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, CBS reported.
According to Arumaniz, Brent was speeding when he lost control of his Mercedes in the Dallas suburb. Brent’s vehicle hit a curb and flipped over at least once. When officers arrived on the scene, Brent was pulling Brown from the wreckage which had caught on fire.
After questioning Brent, police determined he was intoxicated and sent his to the hospital for a blood test and treatment for minor scrapes and cuts.
Argumaniz wasn’t sure how fast Brent was traveling, but he is sure his speed was well-above the posted 45 mph.
Police charged Brent with DUI manslaughter, which can carry a penalty of up to 20 years in jail if convicted.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones issued a statement saying, “We are deeply saddened by the news of this accident and the death of Jerry Brown. At this time, our hearts and prayers and deepest sympathies go out to the members of Jerry’s family and all of those who loved and knew him.”
Brent has been in trouble before, in 2009 he pleaded guilty to drunk driving in Illinois. He served 60 days in jail and two years on probation.
Brent’s DUI arrest was the 18th for this year, leaving us to ask if NFL players have a DUI problem and is the NFL doing enough to keep their players out of trouble.
Although 18 seems like a large number or arrests, the DUI problem in the NFL has actually declined over the past few years. According to USA Today, the worst year for the NFL was in 2006 when 20 players were charged with suspicion of DUI. In 2011, 19 players were arrested.
NFL players are typically young men with wealth and the desire to have fun and let loose; this often entails a great deal of drinking. On average males aged 21-34 are responsible for 42 percent of DUI fatalities.
The NFL, having struggled with DUIs for many years, has taken steps to stop their players from making a huge mistake like the one Brent made.
The NFL has used discipline, drug and alcohol education to prevent DUIs. They even offer a driving service through the player’s union, all they have to do is call. But NFL players, like other drunken drivers, often don’t realize they are too drunk when they get into their vehicles.
“The program is there and I don’t know why every player on the league doesn’t use it,” Kansas City Chiefs’ Shaun Smith told USA Today, “I’ve used it before when I’ve been out, and I’m sure I’ll use it again. Personally, I’m not going to put myself or anybody else at risk by driving drunk. You wish everyone felt that way.”
So what can the NFL do? Do they need to have more strict discipline for players who are arrested for drunken driving? But the NFL isn’t the only franchise of pro-athletes that have a DUI problem; players from the NBA and NHL have also been arrested for intoxicated driving.
Pro-athletes are heroes to many people so they should take their influence on their fans more seriously. They have the privilege of wealth and fame which could be used to discourage drunk driving. Wake up guys and use your notoriety to stop drunk driving.
