Pubdate: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 Source: Macon Telegraph (GA) Copyright: 2003 The Macon Telegraph Publishing Company Contact: http://www.macontelegraph.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/667 Author: Gray Beverley 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." - --- MAP posted-by: Josh