NFL notebook: Cowboys' Brent indicted in crash killing teammate
BY Associated Press
Thursday, December 27, 2012
12/27/12 at 5:11 AM
A grand jury in Texas has formally indicted Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent on one count of intoxication manslaughter.
Brent is charged in connection with a Dec. 8 crash that killed his friend and Cowboys practice squad member Jerry Brown. He is out of jail on $100,000 bond.
Dallas County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Debbie Denmon says the indictment was returned Wednesday.
Irving police say Brent was speeding when his vehicle struck a curb and flipped. Brown was pronounced dead at an area hospital.
Intoxication manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Brent could be eligible for probation.
Denmon says no court dates have been scheduled.
Jets' Tebow insists he never asked out of wildcat formation: Tim Tebow thinks he might have been misunderstood.
The New York Jets backup quarterback insisted Wednesday that he never asked out of running wildcat plays last week, but acknowledged what he said to coach Rex Ryan may have been misinterpreted as such.
"I never said, 'Hey, I don't do anything or I won't do anything,' " Tebow said. "That wasn't the talk at all. He knows that and everybody on this team knows that. I'd never not do something if I was asked, and I think that's what's disappointing about the whole situation, people saying, 'You quit,' or, 'You didn't do this.' It was not it at all.
"It was just me asking to get an opportunity to play the position I love, which is quarterback. It wasn't me asking out of anything."
Ryan chose to go with third-stringer Greg McElroy over Tebow in place of the benched Mark Sanchez for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers. After hearing the news, Tebow went to Ryan to discuss the situation.
"I was definitely disappointed and frustrated," Tebow said.
ESPN New York first reported Sunday that Tebow had asked out of the wildcat, and a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed that to The Associated Press. But Tebow thinks it was a situation in which he wishes he was "more clear" when he initially spoke with Ryan.
Cardinals turn to Hoyer to start at QB in finale: The Arizona Cardinals will give Brian Hoyer his first NFL start, less than three weeks after the team claimed him off waivers from Pittsburgh.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Wednesday the former Michigan State quarterback and New England backup will start in the season finale Sunday at San Francisco.
"He's been in the league, he's a veteran guy," Whisenhunt said. "He did a nice job in last week's game and this is an opportunity to see what he can do with a week of practice and where he can go from there."
Hoyer, who spent three seasons as a backup to Tom Brady in New England and was out of a job for most of this season, will be the fourth starter at quarterback for the Cardinals this year. He'll be operating an offense that ranks last in the NFL.
Bush might play final game for Dolphins on Sunday: With an underwhelming offense that needs upgrades to become playoff-worthy, the Miami Dolphins this winter could be eager to reach a deal with a 1,000-yard rusher who can also catch passes and score from anywhere on the field.
Or perhaps they'll deem Reggie Bush too expensive to keep.
On Sunday, Bush might play his final game for the Dolphins (7-8) when they close their season at New England. His two-year contract for nearly $10 million expires after the season, and the team hasn't offered him a new deal.
"I would definitely love to be back," Bush said Wednesday. "There's definitely some unfinished business here, some things we want to accomplish, some things I would love to accomplish."
Bush needs 40 yards rushing to reach the 1,000 milestone for the second year in a row since joining the Dolphins. He has been their primary playmaker, but he has yet to lead them to the playoffs - or even a winning season.
Browns ink QB Johnson; Weeden, McCoy miss practice: The Browns are down to their last game and a third-string quarterback. With major change looming, they're ending another losing season in disarray.
With both quarterbacks Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy missing practice Wednesday with right shoulder injuries, Thad Lewis took first-team snaps during Cleveland's workout. Rookie running back Trent Richardson remained out with a sprained left ankle.
Elevated from the practice squad Monday, Lewis could make his NFL debut in Pittsburgh on Sunday. If it happens, his backup could be Josh Johnson, signed as a free agent Wednesday.
Chiefs missing Charles, 2 others due to illness: An illness running through the Kansas City Chiefs the past few weeks kept running back Jamaal Charles, linebacker Tamba Hali and left tackle Donald Stephenson out of practice Wednesday.
Coach Romeo Crennel said that Hali and Stephenson were sent home soon after arriving at the team's practice facility. Charles was sent home a short time later.
