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Tuesday, July 8, 1997

Bonus issue may force Michael Irvin to join Cowboys

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Knight-Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas - The odds of star receiver Michael Irvin joining the Cowboys' training camp next week seem to be getting better every day.

In addition to the $6.8 million he will walk away from during the next three years if he decides to retire, there are 2.7 million more reasons for him to play.

A source close to Irvin and the Cowboys said the team could ask Irvin to repay part of the $4.5 million signing bonus he received when he signed a five-year contract with the Cowboys before the 1995 season.

For salary-cap purposes, only $1.8 million of the signing bonus has been credited against the Cowboys so far. However, if he retires, the team will be charged the remaining $2.7 million over the next two years - money the Cowboys could ask Irvin to give back, the source said.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was unavailable to comment. Irvin's agent, Steve Endicott, declined to comment.

Veteran NFL player agent Jim Solano said that he hasn't seen Irvin's contract but said that contracts usually address bonuses.

"It's part of the bonus signing language in the contract," Solano said. "The bonus was given with the assumption that a player will fulfill his contract. If they leave the game early, it is not unusual for a team to ask for part of the bonus back. But it's up to the team."

Colts linebacker Trev Alberts is in a similar position. Alberts, who has been injured for much of his career, wanted to retire at the end of last season, but is coming back for another season because he would have to pay back part of his signing bonus if he had quit. Joyner talks

Free-agent linebacker Seth Joyner is expected to decide on his 1997 home in the next 10 days.

If the Cowboys hope to snare the former Pro Bowler, they will have to get a little more serious, Joyner's agent, Jim Solano, said yesterday.

The Cowboys are one of four teams to make an offer to Joyner, Solano said. He said two other teams expressed interest yesterday.

Though he refused to talk numbers, Solano said the Cowboys' first offer is unacceptable.

"They told me what they could probably do," Solano said. "And I told them the numbers they need to get out to get the deal done and to get back with me when they are ready to get serious."

(c) 1997, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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