NFL'S ZELLNER, AN EX-MIDSTATE STAR, FACES DRUG CHARGES

FORSYTH - Dallas Cowboys defensive end Peppi Zellner was arrested in his
hometown Thursday and charged with possession of crack cocaine.

Zellner, who starred at Mary Persons High and later at Georgia Military
College and Fort Valley State University, was released on a $5,000 property
bond Friday after spending the night in the Monroe County jail.

Zellner, 27, was arrested with his older brother, Mannon Lee Zellner Jr.,
who is being held without bond on charges of a probation violation, said
Monroe County Sheriff John Cary Bittick.

Bittick said the Zellner brothers were riding in a vehicle with a Texas
license plate in a "high drug-traffic area" in Forsyth when narcotics
investigators with the sheriff's office and the Forsyth Police Department
saw a package being thrown from the 1965 Chevrolet Impala.

The brothers were arrested about 4 p.m. at a Forsyth home after
investigators found the package and suspected it contained crack cocaine.
Because of the quantity of the drug found, Bittick said the Zellners were
charged with possession with intent to distribute.

Dan Pitts, who coached Peppi Zellner at Mary Persons when he was named the
Telegraph's All-Middle Georgia Player of the Year in 1993, said he was
"shocked" by news of the arrest.

"When I heard about it, I thought, 'Surely that is a mistake,' " Pitts said
Friday. "He's a fine fellow. He really is."

Pitts, a member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, said Zellner was one of
the best players Mary Persons has had.

"He was a good leader," Pitts said. "We've all been so proud of him playing
with the Cowboys."

Shirley Henderson, a close friend and godmother of Zellner's daughter,
described Zellner as "just a great guy."

Zellner, a fourth-round draft pick of the Cowboys in 1999, is an
unrestricted free agent. According to The Associated Press, the Cowboys -
with new coach Bill Parcells - have shown little interest in re-signing the
defensive end.

The 6-foot-5, 286-pounder played in 57 games in four seasons with the
Cowboys. He started 15 games in 2001 and set career highs with 46 tackles
and three sacks. He started in only two games last season and had 29 tackles
and no sacks.

Monroe County Chief Magistrate Frank N. Wilder IV said that Peppi Zellner's
bond was "reasonable" for someone with no criminal history.

Mannon Zellner, 31, will have to petition Monroe County Superior Court to
set a bond, Wilder said. The elder Zellner was convicted in 2001 of
possessing crack cocaine, Bittick said.

The arrests occurred without incident, Bittick said.

Peppi Zellner's agent, Harold Lewis, said he expects the charges against his
client to be dropped.

"We know what happened, and it's not what you're hearing," said Lewis.
"We're very confident that within the next 24 hours, or no later than Monday
morning, you will see that Peppi Zellner will be cleared of any charges
against him."