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Report: Dallas' Irvin urged to retire
Posted: Tuesday May 23, 2000 06:38 PM
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Michael Irvin has established himself as the greatest receiver in Cowboys' history and one of the NFL's best ever. Tom Pidgeon/Allsport |
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Michael Irvin, one of the NFL's great receivers, has been advised by doctors to stop playing football because of a spinal condition and plans to retire, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Tuesday.
The Dallas Cowboys' alltime leading receiver is uncertain when he will announce his retirement, the newspaper said.
The member of the Cowboys' organization, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Irvin has spinal stenosis, a congenital condition that could cause permanent paralysis, and he met with the player about it at the team's training headquarters the past week, the Star-Telegram reported.
Irvin's agent, Steve Endicott, was unsure why the news came out when it did. | End of an era? |
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IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Michael Irvin's locker at the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility is filled with personal belongings, football equipment, clothes, shoes and even a pair of Taco Bell Chihuahuas. About the only thing missing from the spot at Valley Ranch is the player himself.
It has been widely expected that Irvin would retire after a neck injury against Philadelphia on Oct. 10 left him temporarily paralyzed. He went on injured reserved Dec. 4 and did not play the rest of the season.
Irvin has since been told he has a genetic condition -- a narrow spinal cord -- that makes him more susceptible to serious injury if he takes another blow to the head or neck. Doctors have recommended he retire to prevent possible paralysis.
Although no official word has come from him, Cowboys players and coaches attending a quarterback school Tuesday talked about Irvin in the past tense instead of the present.
"He was a great, great football player for this team and this organization for a number of years, and you don't replace that," quarterback Troy Aikman said. "I don't know when Michael's going to make the decision, but whatever it is he's certainly going to be missed, no question about that."
Cowboys officials said they have heard nothing official from Irvin and the decision is up to him. Irvin does not have to make a retirement decision by next week when teams announce their June cuts.
Dallas already made plans for life without the 34-year-old star receiver when it traded for Joey Galloway in February.
"He's had a wonderful career and I respect his career, but he's making some very difficult decisions on what he's going to do and I don't think it would be appropriate for me to talk a whole lot about it," said Cowboys coach Dave Campo, who coached at the University of Miami from 1987-88 while Irvin was there. "It's a decision that's basically out of my hands. For me to talk about it until anything's official would be not a good idea."
As for when a decision will be made, no one really knows except Irvin, who was not at the Cowboys' minicamp in April nor either one of their quarterback schools this month.
"It's up to Michael to comment on that," said Irvin's agent, Steve Endicott. "Michael hasn't done anything yet or said anything yet."
Irvin has established himself over 12 seasons as one of the NFL's best receivers. His final catch last season was the 750th of his career, tying him for No. 10 in league history. He holds every significant receiving record for the Cowboys and is ninth in receiving yards in NFL history.
The 11th pick overall in the 1988 draft, Irvin signed a six-year contract extension worth $22 million last season before becoming a free agent. | | | | |
"I'm not sure why they're saying that now. They could have said that the last three months or the next two," Endicott said. "It's up to Michael to comment on that. Michael hasn't done anything yet or said anything yet."
It has been widely expected that Irvin would retire even though his locker is still full at the team's training facility. He has not participated in any of the Cowboys' off-season workouts.
"I know it's hard on him," Dallas running back Emmitt Smith said Monday. "It's hard on any man that has to put down the game in the fashion that he has to put it down. It's a tough situation. ...Nobody wants to go out like that."
Cowboys spokesman Brett Daniels said the team has not heard anything official from Irvin and the decision is up to him.
The Cowboys have already moved to replace Irvin in the lineup with their February trade for Joey Galloway.
Irvin, 34, does not have to make a retirement decision by next week when teams announce their June cuts. Cornerback Deion Sanders is expected to be cut because of the salary cap.
Irvin has established himself during 12 seasons as one of the NFL's best receivers. His final catch was the 750th of his career, tying him for No. 10 in league history.
But Irvin hasn't played since sustaining temporary paralysis after slamming his head into the ground following a catch Oct. 10 in Philadelphia. He later learned he has a genetic condition -- a narrow spinal cord -- that makes him more susceptible to serious injury if he takes another blow to the head or neck.
The neck problems forced Irvin to go on injured reserve Dec. 4, ending his season.
Irvin holds every significant receiving record for the Cowboys and is 9th in receiving yards in NFL history.
The 11th pick overall in the 1988 draft, Irvin signed a six-year contract extension worth $22 million last season before becoming a free agent.
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