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The Cowboy way Irvin successfully completes probation for cocaine charge
Posted: Friday July 07, 2000 12:18 AM
DALLAS (AP) -- A judge Thursday ended Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin's monthly appointments with a probation officer, closing an episode that soiled the team's image and the player's reputation. The 34-year-old star pleaded no contest in 1996 to cocaine possession, and Dallas District Judge Manny Alvarez gave him four years of probation and two years of community service. If he slipped up, he faced a 20-year prison sentence. Even with the incident behind him, Irvin's future with the team he helped take to three Super Bowls is doubtful. 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. He did not work out with at the Cowboys minicamp in April nor either of the quarterback schools in May. Irvin 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.
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