Josh Brent will not play in 2013

According to a report in the Dallas Morning News, Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent will not play in the 2013 season.

But the club is remaining silent on the issue until the NFL has yet to announce what type of penalty it will hand down for Brent, who authorities have charged with intoxication manslaughter in the death of Cowboys practice squad linebacker Jerry Brown.

The reality is Brent could face a penalty as much as 20 years in prison and even if he serves much less time than that, incarceration could effectively end his career as a professional football player.David Moore of the Morning News reports Cowboys officials are “reluctant to acknowledge” what is ahead for Brent.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has yet to hand down a penalty and in the meantime Brent’s $630,000 salary for 2013 is taking up the same amount of space for a club that is right up against the salary cap. The Cowboys have remained supportive of Brent and if he is suspended the money would come off the books for purposes of the salary cap.