Monday, October 14, 1996

Irvin back: The prodigal son returns
By LANCE FLEMING
Staff Writer
(Oct. 14, 1996)

IRVING - The Cowboys' prodigal son returned to his "family" Sunday, and by the reaction he received, most fans were ready to put rings on his fingers and kill the fatted calf for him.

Yes, bad boy Michael Irvin returned from his five-game suspension apparently no worse for wear, still able to leap tall buildings with a single bound and right a Dallas season gone astray the last few weeks.

At least that's what the thousands who gave him a rousing ovation during pre-game introductions are hoping.

Off-the-field problems aside, Irvin is still a tremendous football player, and he showed those skills Sunday. He caught only five passes for 51 yards, but he made a nice catch on a crossing pattern, came back for the ball like a good wide receiver should, and his presence opened up the running game for the first time all season.

But Irvin acknowledged that his play can get better.

"I've got a lot of improving to do, and I'll get it done," he said. "I was rusty all over out there."
However, most of his teammates were happy to just have him out there.

"It was great to see him out there," running back Emmitt Smith said. "I had somebody to talk with out there like I always do. For five weeks I didn't have anybody to talk to. But today was the normal routine, and it was great to see him back."

The happiest guy might have been Troy Aikman, who has seen several catchable balls dropped by an inexperienced receiving corps over the first five games. But he had his favorite target back on the field Sunday, and afterward he was happy about it.

"He was very excited to get out on the field and be part of the game and be with his teammates again," Aikman said. "For a guy who had no training camp, didn't play in the preseason and missed the first five games, I thought he did a really nice job."

The question posed to the Cowboys during the week was how long it would take before Aikman threw a pass Irvin's way. The answer was not long.

The Cowboys' first play of the game - from their own 3-yard line - was a pass to Irvin that was broken up by Arizona cornerback Aeneas Williams. Aikman, however, said the play wasn't designed to go to Irvin.

Still, though, the Cowboys didn't waste time going to their playmaker.

"It was just great to have him back out there and look across the huddle and see him," Deion Sanders said. "Troy has so much more confidence in him than anybody else because he's the 'Playmaker.' "

Irvin was watched like a hawk, and that was before the game even began.

Everyone wondered what kind of reception he would get, and it turned into something of a Michael Irvin love-in.

Most of the 64,000 in attendance cheered almost his every move. There were, however, a few boos mixed in.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried about how I would be received," said Irvin, resplendant in a purple suit and gold and diamond necklace. "It was a warm welcome home and I appreciate that. I didn't hear the boos."

Certainly none of his teammates were booing Irvin's return, and he treated the game as sort of a reunion.

"I said before that it was great to see the guys you go to war with," he said. "And football is war. You see the guys you've been in foxholes with and you know who's made plays. It felt good to be back with the fellas."

Toward the end of the press conference, Irvin - planned or not - began to choke up when asked about what it meant to be able to get back on the field.

"It was a great feeling going to battle with my family, and that's what these guys are," he said. "It was hard ... real hard. It was hard sitting and watching on TV and watching my family battle without me. It was great to be back in the fight."

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