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ARLINGTON, Texas -- When the Dallas Cowboys return to work on Monday, suspended defensive tackle Josh Brent will be eligible to join his teammates, according to multiple sources. Brent and the NFL agreed to a modified suspension on Friday in which he will still miss the first 10 games of the season, but he will be allowed to work out and take part in meetings with the Cowboys two weeks earlier than the original conditions of the suspension as well as other concessions.  On Sept. 2, commissioner Roger Goodell announced a 10-game suspension of Brent and put in place certain conditions that must be met before he returns to playing; the suspension stemmed from Brent's involvement in a December 2012 accident that cost the life of teammate and friend Jerry Brown. Under the original terms of the suspension, Brent would have been eligible to attend meetings and workouts starting in Week 7 and practice with the team in Week 9. He was only allowed at Valley Ranch to meet with counselors as part of his rehab. Brent will be allowed to begin practicing in Week 9 and will be allowed to travel to London with the team on Nov. 3 as the Cowboys prepare for their Nov. 9 meeting against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium. Initially, he was not allowed to travel with the team until he was cleared to play. Brent was sentenced to 180 days in jail after he was convicted of intoxication manslaughter and spent the final 45 days of his sentence in a treatment facility. He has been working out on his own at Michael Johnson Performance in McKinney, Texas. The agreement between Brent and the NFL came after he sought immediate reinstatement after the NFL failed to hold a hearing for his appeal within the time limits set forth in the collective bargaining agreement, according to multiple sources. According to the CBA, appeal hearings need to be heard within 13 days following the suspension, unless the two sides agree to a delay or if there is a finding by the hearing officer of extenuating circumstances. Brent filed his appeal on Sept. 2. There was no penalty to the league for failing to meet the deadline, according to the CBA. The first game for which Brent is eligible is Nov. 23 against the New York Giants.
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