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Monday, July 22, 1996
Irvin decision still pending
By DENNE H. FREEMAN
AP Sports Writer
(July 22, 1996)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - And the Michael Irvin sweat goes on at
least another 24 hours for owner Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys should learn either Tuesday or Wednesday whether
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue has decided to punish Irvin for
his recent drug scandal.
"No announcement will be coming down today but it could
happen tomorrow or perhaps Wednesday," NFL spokesman Greg
Aiello said Monday.
Irvin, who showed up in Jimmy Johnson's camp at Miami on Sunday,
is absent from the Cowboys while he gets his life back together
after pleading no contest to drug possession.
He got a four years probation and will have to work 800 community
service hours.
The Cowboys thought they might hear from the NFL on Monday about
Irvin's possible punishment. Deion Sanders has been running first-team
wide receiver in Irvin's absence.
It hasn't been a good training camp for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys say they aren't counting on former first round draft
pick Shante Carver for the rest of the season after he left camp
for what Jones said was "personal reasons."
An NFL source said those "reasons" include a pending
alcohol-related suspension that could be for as long as one year.
The source said the Cowboys have been notified of the accusation
against Carver and the appeals process was under way.
Carver has been randomly tested for substance use by the NFL
since his rookie season. He provided the NFL for reasonable cause
when he rolled his vehicle early one morning and fled the scene.
He later admitted he was the driver after reporting that someone
stole his vehicle.
If the Cowboys aren't losing players one way they're losing them
another as three defenders suffered injury in a scrimmage on
Sunday.
Safety Roger Harper fractured his right arm and was expected
to miss at least two months. Tackle Hurvin McCormack suffered
a sprained ankle and rookie Mike Ulufale, a linemen, hurt his
neck and shoulder.
The loss of Carver and Harper hurts the depth-thin defense.
"Carver was going to be our third defensive end this year,"
said defensive coordinator Dave Campo. "This hurts us. We
felt he was making steady progress and was becoming one of our
better run technique players. We've taken a lot of knocks on
him because he was a first round pick (1994)."
The Cowboys took Monday off to play in a golf tournament and
resume two-a-day practices on Tuesday. They have a scrimmage
with the Houston Oilers on Wednesday night and play their first
preseason game on Saturday night against the Oakland Raiders
in Texas Stadium.
All content copyright 1996, AP, The Abilene
Reporter-News and Reporter OnLine
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