Suddenly, suspension sounds a whole lot better than incarceration for former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent.

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The Dallas Morning News reported that Brent, serving a 180-day jail sentence after being convicted in January of intoxication manslaughter, was released at 12:08 p.m. Central Time. Brent was the driver in a single-car crash on a suburban Dallas highway in December of 2012, killing passenger and Cowboys teammate Jerry Brown.

Brown, who still is on 10-year probation, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.18, more than twice the legal limit for drivers in Texas, ESPN.com reported.

Earlier this month, Cowboys executive vice president Steven Jones said the team would explore the possibility of bringing back Brent.

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"The league will have a big say in when he can come back, but we'll certainly evaluate that situation when it comes," Jones said at the Cowboys' annual sponsors' golf tournament, according to ESPN Dallas. "I certainly wouldn't rule it out."

Brent retired in July. If he reapplies for reinstatement, he is subject to disciplinary action from the NFL. ESPN Dallas reported that the Cowboys have been in contact with the league about Brent's status, but a decision has not been reached.

The 26-year-old Brent must apply for reinstatement before he can return to the league. The Cowboys maintain his rights.

"It's a work in progress," Jones said, according to ESPN Dallas. "Obviously they're looking at it and we'll kind of see how it goes. Obviously he sat out a year and the bigger thing is Josh has got to see where his priorities are. There's a lot of things that have got to be determined there."

The Dallas Morning News added that Brent on Friday asked a Dallas County judge to let him serve the rest of his jail sentence in an in-patient treatment facility.

Dallas County First Assistant District Attorney Heath Harris told KXAS-TV (NBC5) that rehab "would help him get more help with those issues."

"We're not going to stand in the way of that," he said.

Is it appropriate for the Dallas Cowboys to bring back Josh Brent? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.