Injury Forces Irvin to Retire

I R V I N G, Texas, July 11, 2000 -- In a teary farewell, Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin said goodbye to his team and goodbye to football forever, reiterating how hard it was for him to leave his “family” in Dallas.

“Walking away from the game is hard, but walking away is a blessing,” Irvin said during his press conference.

Irvin’s “reality” came last year during the first quarter of an Oct. 10 game in Philadelphia. Although it was reason to celebrate having made the 750th catch of his career, tying him with Charlie Joiner for ninth in NFLhistory, but he was temporarily paralyzed by a herniated disc.

Irvin later learned he was lucky to get off that easy. Tests showed that he was born with a narrow spinal cord, a condition that made him vulnerable tomuch more serious injury. He faced that risk every time he’dstepped on a football field and never knew it.

Now that he knows about what's at stake, Irvin isn’t going to take any chances. “Would I be stupid enough to be playing football? Most definitely, if I was alone and by myself, most definitely,” he said.

Irvin’s Somber Exit

Prior to this press conference, Irvin has been uncharacteristically quiet since his injury. He’s avoided reporters, stopped working out at team headquarters and hardly spoken to his closest friends on the team.

But during his announcement, Irvin was somber and teary-eyed, even showing a more sensitive side of the player known for being so aggressive, that he helped reshaped the way referees make "offensive interference" calls.

The somber exit isn’t the way most will remember Irvin, who over12 years established himself as one of the top receivers and one ofthe biggest showboats the NFL has ever seen.

As much as his pass catching helped the Cowboys return to gloryin the 1990s, it was his swagger that truly sparked the revival of“America’Team.”

Dallas fans loved seeing No. 88 motion for a first down after acatch, while his gyrations gave Cowboys haters another reason togrind their teeth. Yet no matter whether you rooted for or againsthim, he was hard to ignore.

Leadership Vital for Super Bowl Win

Irvin’s flashy style overshadowed a leadership that also wasvital in pulling the team from a 1-15 record in 1989 to Super Bowlchampions three years later. Dallas went on to win titles after twoof the next three years, too.

“I come from a big family, and I know that there's a lot of things that go on,” Irvin said. “But I learned that a football team needs to be a family in order to win.”

Of course, it helped greatly that Dallas surrounded Irvin, itstop pick in 1988, with Troy Aikman in ’89 and Emmitt Smith in ’90. Together, the threesome became known as the “triplets” and were as devastating as any quarterback-running back-receiver trio in NFL history.

Irvin, who beat defenders to the ball using smarts and size,finishes with 11,904 yards, ninth in NFL history. He holds nearlyevery major career or single-season Cowboys receiving record.

Off-Field Problems

For all his on-field accomplishments, Irvin also will beremembered for some serious off-field problems.

In 1996, Irvin was arrested in a motel room drug bust in the weehours of his 30th birthday.

When his case went to trial, he arrived at court one day in amink coat and sunglasses, then autographed a security guard’sBible. Then the trial was briefly delayed when a Dallas policeofficer was arrested for allegedly hiring a hit man to kill Irvin.

The receiver ended up pleading no contest to a felony drugcharge. He received 800 hours of community service and four yearsof probation, which was lifted Thursday, 10 days early.

Irvin also was suspended by the NFL for five games. His imageand the team’s were seriously tarnished and he lost most of hisendorsement deals.

Controversy continued to dog Irvin. He was falsely accused ofsexual assault in December 1996 and in training camp 1998 he cutthe neck of a teammate during a scuffle over a haircut.

Despite his off-field problems, Irvin’s statistics andchampionships make him likely to be one day inducted into the Hallof Fame. As a favorite of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, he’spractically a lock to eventually be added to the team’s Ring ofHonor.

Irvin’s departure comes about six weeks after his good pal DeionSanders left for Washington.

Regardless of how their absence impacts the team, one thing iscertain. It sure will be quiet in Dallas without them.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.