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Report: Josh Brent's appearance at Cowboys game surprised team personnel

Josh Brent appeared on the Cowboys sidelines the week after a crash that killed teammate Jerry Brown. (Photo courtesy of the Associated Press)

Josh Brent appeared on the Cowboys sidelines the week after a crash that killed teammate Jerry Brown. (AP)

Dallas Cowboys team personnel were surprised that defensive tackle Josh Brent made an appearance on the sidelines of the team's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, reports ESPN.com.

The report says that Brent was at the game after his teammates and Jerry Brown's mother urged him to go and that owner Jerry Jones and coach Jason Garrett were made aware that Brent was at the stadium just before the game was to begin. The Cowboys beat the Steelers 27-24 in overtime to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The team put Brent on the non-football injury list last week, so he is allowed to attend any team function. Brent left the game in the second half.  Brent, 25, is out on bail after being charged with intoxication manslaughter after the vehicle he was driving in hit a curb and killed Brown. Brent's blood alcohol level was reportedly more than twice the legal limit for the state of Texas.

"Our team and our players wanted him today on the sideline," Jones said. "Jerry's mother asked us directly as a group. She said, 'Support him. Help him. He needs your help. Jerry wants that. I want that.' His teammates asked him to come and be down there with them, and that's where we are. I do know that certainly that there's the other side of the coin, but this is a case that the people that arguably he's the closest to really wanting him around for him."