Notes

LITTLE ROCK — COWBOYS Brent ‘well above limit’

DALLAS - Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent was driving with a suspended license and had a bloodalcohol content more than twice the legal limit at the time of the car crash that killed teammate and friend Jerry Brown, according to documents released by police Thursday.

The 24-year-old Brent was tested after the crash in the early hours of Dec. 8 at 0.189 percent, well above the Texas limit of 0.08. One police report said Brent was intoxicated, driving over the speed limit and swerving out of one lane when he struck a curb in Irving, a suburb of Dallas, causing the car to flip over.

The crash report also says Brent was driving with an expired and suspended driver’s license obtained in Illinois, where he pleaded guilty three years ago to driving under the influence, a misdemeanor.

Brown was pronounced dead at a Dallas hospital. Brent was arrested and indicted Wednesday on one count of intoxication manslaughter. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, though he could also receive probation. Brent is free on $100,000 bond and required to wear an alcohol monitor. His attorney, George Milner, did not return a phone message left Thursday morning.

Authorities say they also found an unopened bottle of Cognac liquor in searching Brent’s Mercedes sedan, along with “multiple receipts” and his iPad and cell phone. Brent and Brown reportedly spent at least part of Friday night at the club Privae Dallas. The iPad and cell phone found in the Mercedes have information “from the events prior to and during the crash that will aid this investigation,” other warrants said.

The 25-year-old Brown was on the Cowboys’ practice squad and played with Brent at the University of Illinois. The two men have been described as close friends. Brent has been placed on the NFL reserve/nonfootball illness list and won’t play again this season.

No court dates in his case have been scheduled.

Heath Harris, the first assistant Dallas County district attorney, said prosecutors hoped to turn over evidence to Milner as soon as possible. He said he wanted to have the case tried “as quickly as possible.”

“It has the potential to send a strong message about how we feel about our intoxication laws,” Harris said.

BROWNS

Top two QBs likely out

BEREA, Ohio - Third-string quarterback Thad Lewis is one day closer to starting for the Cleveland Browns.

With Brandon Weeden and Colt Mc-Coy not practicing again because of right shoulder injuries, Lewis worked with Cleveland’s first-team offense Thursday as the Browns prepared for Sunday’s season finale against Pittsburgh.

Weeden and McCoy were hurt last week against Denver, and although Coach Pat Shurmur has not ruled them out, it appears likely that Lewis will get his first NFL regular-season action.

Also, rookie running back Trent Richardson did not practice with a sprained left ankle and starting cornerback Sheldon Brown remained out with a concussion.

Shurmur will likely rule players out following Friday’s practice if they’re going to miss the Steelers game.

Lewis has spent two seasons with Browns, but has yet to appear in a game.

“He’s got a live arm,” Shurmur said.“He’s very athletic. He’ll execute our offense the right way and I’m glad he’s going to, if he becomes the starter here, will have an opportunity. He’ll do a good job.”

The team signed free agent quarterback Josh Johnson, who would back up Lewis if Weeden and McCoy can’t play. Shurmur said the team considered signing Seneca Wallace, who started seven games in two seasons with Cleveland before he was released in training camp.

With Cleveland’s front office expected to make sweeping changes during the offseason, Sunday could be Shurmur’s final game with the Browns.

Shurmur said he does not have a meeting scheduled with new owner Jimmy Haslam or Chief Executive Officer Joe Banner regarding his future.Shurmur said he’s only focused on the Steelers.

“Listen, I get this,” he said. “My concerns are for our team and making sure that we do all the right things during the game to give our guys the best chance to win. And then at some point after that, I’ll begin to think about what goes on from that. But I’m not worrying about it.”

Shurmur believes the Browns have improved during his tenure. Cleveland is 9-22 with Shurmur as coach.

“We’ve made improvements, some may say not fast enough,” Shurmur said. “But I think we’ve made improvements. And I think we came into a less-than-ideal situation when we got here. Every situation is different, and I’m proud of that. I’m proud of the work that the guys that I hired did in terms of inspiring the players to improve.

“We have not won enough football games. And I know that’s the way this thing works.”SEAHAWKS

Sherman wins appeal

RENTON, Wash. - Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman won his appeal of a four-game suspension for use of performanceenhancing substances on Thursday, making him eligible for the NFL playoffs.

Sherman posted “I won,” on his Twitter account Thursday morning, followed by teammates tweeting their congratulations. Sherman added, “Thank you @nfl for upholding the truth! To the 12s Thank you your faith is rewarded! Thank you lord.”

The decision was made by former NFL executive Bob Wallace.

Sherman was steadfast since news broke of his pending suspension thathe believed he would win on appeal. Sherman’s appeal was based on errors in the chain of custody of his sample and that there were mistakes made by the tester.

Sherman made his appeal late last week.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an e-mail the league is reviewing the decision, but was declining comment due to confidentiality provisions.

The decision makes Sherman eligible for the Seahawks’ season finale against St. Louis and, more importantly, the playoffs. Seattle has played the last three weeks without fellow starting cornerback Brandon Browner who is serving a four-game suspension for a banned substance violation.

Browner’s suspension expires after Sunday’s game against the Rams, so Seattle will have both of its starting cornerbacks available for the postseason.

“Congrats to Richard Sherman for winning his appeal! Happy for him & it’ll be great to have him with us as we move forward,” Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll tweeted Thursday morning.

According to STATS, Sherman is tied with Pittsburgh’s Keenan Lewis for the NFL lead with 23 passes defensed. He is tied for second in interceptions with seven.

Sherman was a surprise omission from the Pro Bowl roster announced Wednesday. Despite his numbers, Sherman was a first alternate at cornerback for the NFC, behind the Chicago duo of Tim Jennings and Charles Tillman, and Arizona’s Patrick Peterson.

Even before the Pro Bowl rosters were announced, Sherman didn’t seem to care about getting a trip to Hawaii.

“It don’t mean nothing,” Sherman said Wednesday. “I bet you I’ll be on the first-team All-Pro. That means more to me.”CHIEFS Crennel has fluid drained

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Romeo Crennel joined a long list of Kansas City Chiefs dealing with illness and injury Thursday.

Kansas City’s coach was hobbling around on crutches after having fluid drained from his left knee. Crennel said it’s been bothering him “off and on” all season, and it hurt enough Wednesday night that he visited a doctor, who drained a significant amount of fluid.

Crennel said he plans to coach from the sideline as usual Sundayat Denver. If the knee is still bothering him, he’ll move up to the press box.

SUNDAY’S GAMES All times Central Jacksonville at Tennessee, noon Carolina at New Orleans, noon NY Jets at Buffalo, noon Baltimore at Cincinnati, noon Cleveland at Pittsburgh, noon Houston at Indianapolis, noon Philadelphia at NY Giants, noon Chicago at Detroit, noon Tampa Bay at Atlanta, noon Oakland at San Diego, 3:25 p.m.

Arizona at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m.

St. Louis at Seattle, 3:25 p.m.

Kansas City at Denver, 3:25 p.m.

Green Bay at Minnesota, 3:25 p.m.

Miami at New England, 3:25 p.m.

Dallas at Washington, 7:20 p.m.