FORSYTH, Ga. -- Dallas Cowboys defensive end Peppi Zellner was released from a Monroe County jail Friday on $5,000 bond after being charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute.

Zellner and his brother, Mannon Lee Zellner Jr., were arrested Thursday by a narcotics investigators from the Monroe County Sheriff's office and the Forsyth police Department, said Sheriff John Bittick.

Magistrate Court clerk Diane Williams said Mannon Zellner remained in jail Friday with no bail set on the same charge. Bittick said Mannon Zellner was in violation of probation from previous drug convictions.

Investigators were in a high-drug area of Forsyth Thursday afternoon when they noticed a vintage 1965 Chevrolet Impala with Texas plates, which one of the officers knew belonged to Peppi Zellner, Bittick said.

A short while later, "something was thrown out of the passenger side of the vehicle," he said.

The investigators picked up the package, which they believed was crack cocaine and followed the car to a residence where they arrested Peppi Zellner, said Bittick. He said his brother turned himself in a little while later.

"We know what happened, and it's not what you're hearing," said Harold Lewis, Zellner's agent. "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."

Peppi Zellner, 27, is an unrestricted free agent, but the Cowboys have shown little interest in re-signing him. He was a fourth-round draft pick by the Cowboys in 1999 and a former star defensive end at Fort Valley State University in central Georgia.

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.