Cowboys arrive in Cincinnati in wake of team tragedy

• Cowboys learn of Jerry Brown's death and Josh Brent's arrest on plane prior to departure

CINCINNATI — The Dallas Cowboys were mum as they arrived at their downtown hotel on Saturday evening, hours after the latest NFL tragedy that claimed the life of recently-signed practice squad linebacker Jerry Brown and has nose tackle Josh Brent jailed in Texas on DUI manslaughter charges.

The Cowboys, preparing for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, were shielded from reporters as they checked into the hotel before meetings.

One player didn't travel with the team: Brandon Carr. The cornerback was expected to arrive on Saturday night with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who made arrangements for Carr to travel with Jones on the owner's private jet.

Carr stayed behind because of another NFL tragedy. The former Kansas City Chiefs standout attended funeral services on Saturday in Austin for Kasandra Perkins, who was slain by Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher.

Cowboys players were informed of Brown's death before the team's 1:30 p.m. CT departure by coach Jason Garrett during a team meeting on the team's chartered plane, shortly before they departed from Dallas.

Garrett, like the players, was unavailable to media on Saturday. A club official said that the coach will speak publicly about the tragedy following Sunday's game.

Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones told USA TODAY Sports, "It's sad. Very sad. It's tragic for everybody."

After a walkthrough practice at the team's headquarters, players were told that there was an accident involving the two former Illinois teammates, but that full details could not be divulged. The team couldn't immediately reveal the details because Brown's next-of-kin had not been notified.

When the players arrived for the flight, the club cleared the airplane of all non-team personnel (including some members of the media), and Garrett broke the news of the death and Brent's arrest.

Garrett also conducted a team prayer.

The team's 2½-hour flight was delayed by about 15 minutes. The team's psychologist accompanied the team, and grief counselors are expected to be in position in Dallas on Monday. A club official described the flight as quiet.

Brent, who has started five games this season, was slated start Sunday's game because starter Jay Ratliff has been ruled out due to a groin injury.

As usual, the team had a chapel service scheduled to begin an hour before a team meeting.