Michael Irvin

Michael Irvin (born March 5, 1966 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) is a former American football star known for a dynamic, record-setting football career, but also for his flamboyant personality and some widely-publicized run-ins with the law that spotted his reputation as one of the most successful wide receivers in the history of the National Football League.

Cocaine arrest, assault allegation, career-ending injury

In March of 1996, Irvin was arrested on charges of cocaine possession at a hotel party celebrating his 30th birthday. He pled no contest to the charges and was sentenced to community service and probation. The NFL suspended Irvin for the first five games of the 1996 season.

Related Topics:
1996 - Cocaine - No contest - Probation

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In Irvin's 1996 absence, the Cowboys struggled out of the gate and never recovered. Upon his return from suspension, Irvin tallied 962 receiving yards in only 11 games.

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Controversy would rear its head again as the Cowboys played the Carolina Panthers for their NFC Divisional Playoff game. Media reports stated that Irvin and teammate Erik Williams had sexually assaulted a woman and, with a gun to her head, videotaped the interaction. Despite Irvin's denials of the allegations, the story overshadowed the game, which the Cowboys lost. The accuser was later proven to have fabricated the entire incident, but Irvin sustained even further damage to his reputation.

Related Topics:
Carolina Panthers - Erik Williams

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Midway through the playoff game with Carolina, Irvin left the playoff game with a broken collarbone.

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Irvin had solid years in 1997 and 1998. During the fifth game of the 1999 season, however, Irvin was tackled hard at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. As Irvin lay motionless on the Veterans Stadium field, he was famously greeted by hostile applause from Philadelphia fans, who had grown to dislike Irvin and the entire Cowboys' organization.

Related Topics:
1997 - 1998 - 1999 - Veterans Stadium - Philadelphia

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The play in Philadelphia proved to be Irvin's last. The Dallas wide receiver sustained a non-threatening spinal cord injury and was subsequently diagnosed with a narrow spinal column, which forced him into early retirement.

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