Report: Josh Brent's lawyer will appeal 10-game suspension

The agent representing Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent says he will appeal the NFL's decision to issue Brent a 10-game suspension, according to

The agent representing Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent says he will appeal the NFL's decision to issue Brent a 10-game suspension, according to CBSSports.com.

Brent was convicted of intoxication manslaughter in January for his role in a December, 2012 car accident that killed teammate Jerry Brown. 

Brent, who did not play last season after announcing his retirement in July, was sentenced to 180 days of jail time and 10 years' probation. He spent the final 45 days of his jail sentence in rehab.

The NFL announced on Tuesday that Brent had been conditionally reinstated. He can visit the Cowboys' practice facility after Week 6, practice after Week 9 and is eligible to play in games by Week 11.

"As a lawyer, I have a right to appeal and I will be invoking Josh's right to appeal, as provided for by the collective bargaining agreement," said Peter Schaffer, Brent's agent. "I was truly hoping that after Josh's meeting [with NFL officials], which I thought was fantastic, that there would be no need to appeal, that the Commissioner [Roger Goodell] would have imposed fair sanctions taking into account what has happened in the past, and we wouldn't have to do that, but we do."

The 26-year-old recorded 31 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 39 games over three seasons in Dallas after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2010 supplemental draft out of Illinois.

- Chris Johnson