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Tuesday, June 3, 1997

Aikman critical of Irvin's absence

By Frank Luksa

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

IRVING, Texas - Quarterback school for the Cowboys began Monday with a familiar problem that won't go away, although he wants to. Troubled wide receiver Michael Irvin, who wishes to be traded, was again absent.

Irvin's no-show drew sharp rebuke from quarterback Troy Aikman, whose remarks represented a departure in locker-room attitude toward the receiver. For Aikman to exhibit public impatience with Irvin echoed as a warning that the team has tired of defending its prodigal pass catcher.

Irvin's legal problems, five-game suspension from the NFL last season, failure to attend mini-camp last month and this latest desertion have plagued the Cowboys' fortune for more than one year. Players who rallied 'round Irvin during his period of personal crisis now feel they're due the small favor of his workout presence in return.

Aikman leads those of mounting frustration with Irvin's indecision on whether to play for the Cowboys if he's not traded. Apparently, he's spoken of quitting, but without full consideration to this question: Retire to what?

Aikman addressed Irvin's request to be traded as a futile hope. He didn't repeat all the reasons that boil away to a $2.8 million salary cap hickey the Cowboys would absorb. Nor did Aikman mention it's hard for a player to be traded to places that don't want him.

"He won't be traded, just like I won't be traded and Emmitt Smith won't get traded and some other guys. Whether or not we want to be, it's not going to happen," Aikman said.

Jerry Jones acknowledged that Irvin requested a transfer long ago. He also laid odds on it happening.

"Many, many weeks ago the subject was broached," said the owner, "but it's impossible."

Aikman views the no-trade pledge as an Alamo-like line drawn in the dirt. If Irvin plans to fight alongside his teammates, it's time he crossed over and joined up.

"So it comes down to whether Michael wants to play for us or not," Aikman said. "I hope it comes to a conclusion so we can get going. If he wants to play, we want him to play here and get started on that. If he doesn't want to play, I guess we want to know that, too, so we can start moving in another direction."

This was a strong sally from Aikman, heretofore an ally of the receiver and the only member of the franchise who made an appearance at Irvin's trial on felony cocaine possession. Aikman had stronger things to say. As in, the effect of Irvin's limbo status holds the Cowboys hostage by preventing them from settling a thin situation at wide receiver.

"I think the world of Michael Irvin. But at the same time, enough is enough. If he's not going to be here, we need to address that. Not having him for five games in '96 was a huge blow to this football team," the quarterback said. "We need to know. I need to know. This football team needs to know. The organization needs to know if we need to go after other people. There's a lot riding on what Michael Irvin's going to do.

"I don't think it's fair to other guys out here practicing to go through camp not knowing what the future of this team is, or how competitive we're going to be, because of one guy who is failing to choose exactly what he's going to do."

No one seems to know because Irvin apparently is as hard to reach as an extraterrestrial. He's a topic Jones and coach Barry Switzer prefer to airbrush and avoid. Jones declined to reveal "how we're communicating" with Irvin. Switzer was relieved to refer all questions about Irvin to Jones.

Aikman said he last spoke to Irvin about two weeks ago. The quarterback had more luck reaching Irvin than the star running back.

"If you can't track him down, how can you talk to him?" Smith said.

Jones and Switzer were confident Irvin would report to training camp and continue playing for the Cowboys. Aikman also thinks Irvin will return, but he remains unappeased by Irvin's continued absence. Aikman stressed the need to establish a get-ready, all-is-well mentality in May and June. But all is not well already.

"This gets us started on the wrong foot, no question about it," Aikman said.

The basis of Irvin's trade request is thought to lie in living with the soiled image of himself that he created. He's no longer beloved or respected, a likely target of scrutiny by the law and may feel the in-house Charm School headed by Calvin Hill was designed with him in mind. Add to that list of woes the first signs of dwindling allegiance from teammates.

So it goes for Irvin, who feels trapped and confronted daily by an age-old product of his past. Which is, it's easier living it up than living it down.

(Frank Luksa is a sports columnist for the Dallas Morning News. Write to him at: Dallas Morning News, Communications Center, Dallas, Texas 75265.)

(c) 1997, The Dallas Morning News.

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