Tuesday, July 16, 1996

Irvin faces possible four-game suspension
By Ed Werder
Dallas Morning News
(July 16, 1996)
IRVING, Texas - Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin confronts a probable suspension by the NFL for at least four regular-season games without pay after his no-contest plea Monday to felony cocaine possession.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who had been confident Irvin would play 16 regular-season games, declined to speculate on the length of a prospective suspension.

"Those decisions are in the hands of the league and the commissioner," Jones said. "But I know what Michael did today was a positive for Michael and his family, a positive for our team and everybody concerned. I know Michael took all of that into consideration."

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue can lengthen suspensions for players who commit drug-related violations of law under terms of the league's substance-abuse policy. And he is empowered, apart from the drug policy, to increase Irvin's punishment for conduct detrimental to the league.

The commissioner will thoroughly review Irvin's involvement with illegal drugs, his contact with topless dancers and possible witness tampering before deciding what disciplinary action will be taken.

"His status will be reviewed under terms of our substance-abuse policy," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

Jones said Irvin would return to the team for meetings and conditioning testing Tuesday. He will report to training camp with the defending Super Bowl champions on Wednesday in Austin. Irvin probably can expect to participate in practice and exhibition games this summer.

A suspension for an off-season offense would not take affect until the Monday before the team's Sept. 2 season opener against the Chicago Bears. During that time, Irvin would not be allowed to participate with the Cowboys in any form.

He would be sidelined for contests against four NFL playoff contenders: the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills. A four-game suspension would cost Irvin $410,588 of his $1.7 million salary, an amount that would be refunded to the Cowboys for salary-cap accounting purposes.

The Cowboys would be losing the player who most impacts quarterback Troy Aikman and running back Emmitt Smith. Irvin has played a major role in the Cowboys winning three of the past four Super Bowls.

He had career highs in receptions (111), yards (1,603) and touchdowns (10) and set an NFL record with 11 100-yard games last season.

"With Mike there, we're a great team," said teammate Deion Sanders. "Without Mike, surely we're going to hurt. We hope Mike is with us 100 percent. But if he's not, then we've got to be prepared to play some games without Michael Irvin. But we're not looking at that. We're praying that is not going to happen. We love Michael. We pray for him, and we stand behind him 100 percent."

Cowboys coach Barry Switzer and his staff have been forming contingency plans for signing a veteran wide receiver. Whether the Cowboys pursue another player depends on the length of Irvin's suspension.

A team source said the list includes unrestricted free-agent Flipper Anderson, NFL career receiving leader Art Monk, Gary Clark and Jessie Hester. But Jones said his current mindset is to proceed with Sanders, Kevin Williams and second-round draft pick Stepfret Williams.

"Our plans right now are to make our decision regarding receivers without bringing in a veteran receiver," Jones said. "Right now, what we do would not be determined by what the league decides relative to Michael."

Sanders and other Cowboys players were attending a mandatory meeting with league drug counselors and NFL Security officials when Irvin's plea bargain was announced.

Irvin already has submitted to the evaluation and testing phase mandatory upon his enrollment in the league's program. A Cowboys source said the conclusion of those doctors who tested Irvin is that he does not have a drug problem.

But the league will closely monitor Irvin. He must submit to as many as 10 random drug tests per month for the next two years, compared with one advance-notice test for other NFL players. If Irvin fails a test or refuses to cooperate with administrators of the program, he could be suspended for one year.

Aikman, the only player to make a courtroom appearance in support of his teammate, said he has not considered the sweeping impact temporarily losing Irvin could have on the team's performance.

"I really feel looking at this situation and how it affects this football team is shallow, and so I really haven't looked at it like that," Aikman said. "I didn't show my support for Michael because I was concerned about having somebody to throw the football to. I'm concerned for him and his well-being. If what is in his best interest means he misses some games, then we'll fight through it while he's not there. But it is more important to me to see him do what is right."

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