Wednesday, May 15, 1996

Emmitt feels for Michael, not just as a teammate, but as a friend

It was an intense, emotional moment as Emmitt Smith sat with Michael Irvin on the bench at Candlestick Park 16 months ago, the final seconds of the Cowboys' NFC title game loss to the 49ers draining off the clock. They were consoling each other, but Smith also was imploring Irvin, soon to be a free agent, not to leave him.

"At that point, it was almost like having a brother and you're playing ball together," Smith said. "I don't know if many people have the opportunity to experience something like that, to have that kind of brotherly love at a time when both of us were down and needed each other."

Then, considering the Irvin developments of the past couple of months, Smith said, "Right now, I think this is a situation where man to man, teammate to teammate, brother to brother, where we need each other. I want to be there for him. You're talking about a teammate of mine and a friend of mine."

Irvin is in trouble. He was indicted April 1 on felony and misdemeanor drug-possession charges in connection with a March 4 seizure of cocaine and marijuana at an Irving (Texas) hotel. And a TV report in Dallas last week alleges Irvin bought cocaine two days before the indictment and two weeks after it. The report is accompanied by videotape supplied by the man driving Irvin.

"I'm worried. I'm concerned. I'm about like anybody, asking the question: What is going to happen?" Smith said. "Nobody knows. I'm in awe just about like anybody else trying to figure out what ... is going to go on."

Smith is one of the NFL's true role models. He owns three Super Bowl rings, four rushing titles, the single-season TD record, has a shot at the all-time rushing championship. And last week he picked up his college degree in health and human performance, six years after leaving Florida following his junior year. He was at Central Park on Monday as one of the spokesmen for the NFL's Play Football youth development effort.

He's not about to abandon Irvin, who did not abandon Smith when he signed a five-year contract a year ago.

"I just want to be that shoulder he can lean on," Smith said. "I want to be the backbone that he needs to give him the support. I'm quite sure he's getting a lot of support from a lot of people and a lot of people are really willing to help. For an individual in this situation, you don't know who you can trust. I just want to be the one he can trust."

Smith has spoken several times with Irvin and reports: "His spirits are up, they appear to be up. You never know how an individual is handling it internally."

Smith was asked if he had any indication Irvin might have a drug problem. "No clue whatsoever. No clue. No clue," he said.

And when the drug story broke, "I was like, 'Whoa.' I was as shocked as anybody else," Smith said.
Even as well as Smith knows Irvin? "I know him, but it's not like people think it really is," he said. "We know each other. We hang out a little bit, but it's not like every day. It's not like that. When we get together, it's a jelling and a bond together. During the season, that's when camaraderie is needed. But during the offseason, we're all individuals and doing our own thing."

In the last few days there have been reports about an Irvin trade to Miami. He is from Fort Lauderdale and the Dolphins are coached by Jimmy Johnson, his former coach at Dallas and the University of Miami. But a trade is financially unrealistic. If the 'Boys deal Irvin, $3.6 million of his signing bonus is immediately accelerated into their '96 salary cap. And, already short at wideout, they are not about to send one of their four best players to help Johnson win a Super Bowl.

What remains to be seen is what happens at his June 24 trial. If he is convicted but given probation, it would be a violation of the NFL's drug policy and Irvin likely will be suspended at least four games. It's at the discretion of commissioner Paul Tagliabue. But if Irvin is found innocent, it doesn't mean the talk will quiet down.

"Even if we do get this behind us, we are going to have to answer questions all year long anyway," Smith said. "It's a typical year for the Cowboys. Controversy after controversy after controversy. Everybody wants to talk about the Cowboys. Even though we are a team that just won three out of four Super Bowls, there are so many people looking to divide this team in so many ways. It just seems we are constantly scrutinized."

Smith is convinced people are trying to tear the Cowboys down. "Without a doubt," he said. "Why?
Envy and jealousy. A lot of people are tired of seeing the Cowboys win championship after championship after championship. They say America loves a winner. But America loves seeing different winners. We are the Yankees of old. They want to see somebody else get there now."
Smith getting his diploma provided a respite from the crime stuff. But he did not get his degree to send a message.

"I look at it as me being me," he said. "The image is not what is important. It's more important to have the diploma and achieving something I wanted to achieve."

Now he hopes for the best for Irvin. Sixteen months ago, Smith asked Irvin not to leave him. "I would say the same thing now," he said.
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(Gary Myers is a sports columnist for the New York Daily News. Write to him at: New York Daily News, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, N.Y. 10001.)
(c) 1996, New York Daily News. Distributed by Knight-Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

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