Irvin Apologizes For Wrong Acts Will Not Report To Camp When It Opens Today

Brash and often arrogant, Michael Irvin endured the most humbling day of his life.

He apologized on Tuesday to his family, teammates and Dallas Cowboys fans for a sordid scandal that included allegations of drugs, topless dancers, sex parties and a murder-for-hire plot.

His eyes moist, Irvin faced almost as many cameras and reporters as team owner Jerry Jones did the night he fired Tom Landry. Irvin talked without notes about his mistakes. There were no questions.

“I hurt to the bone,” Irvin said while his mother, Pearl, and wife, Sandi, and his two daughters looked on. Chelsea, still being bottle fed, provided the only light moment for her father, who was interrupted several times by her jabbering.

Irvin even apologized to his late father, who died while he was a senior in high school.

“I’m not the man my father was,” Irvin said in a whisper. “There’s no getting around it,” he said. “I was wrong. I was wrong.”

The star receiver was 40 minutes late for his news conference at the Cowboys’ Valley Ranch headquarters hours after a judge sentenced him to four years’ probation and 800 hours of community service for his no-contest plea to a felony cocaine possession charge.

“I’d like to apologize to my family,” Irvin said. “I shall work on being a better father. I shall work on being a better husband.”

Irvin said he will not report to Cowboys training camp when it opens today in Austin. Instead, he said, he was going to Miami to be with his wife and children.

“I’m going home to talk with my wife, and we’re going to decide what we’ll do from there,” Irvin said.

Agent Steve Endicott said he didn’t think Irvin meant he was going to retire.

“I think he loves football too much to do that,” Endicott said.

Irvin did not say when he would join the team in Austin and left Valley Ranch carrying Chelsea without answering questions. Irvin cited a gag order in explaining why he would not discuss the case.

Jones said he wants Irvin to take as long as he needs.

“We support Michael’s wishes to spend some time with his family,” Jones said. “We do not want to speculate when he will return to the team.”

The receiver expressed regret that he had disgraced the team only months after helping the Cowboys win a third Super Bowl in four years.

“I worked so hard for the fans to bring Super Bowls here,” Irvin said. “I want to apologize for the off-season of turmoil instead of an offseason of enjoying the fruits of our labor.”

Irvin still faces punishment by the NFL. One league source said Tuesday the most likely suspension is four games, the same that running back Bam Morris received Monday after pleading guilty last week to felony marijuana possession.

In sentencing Irvin, State District Judge Manny Alvarez warned that violating terms of his probation could result in a far stiffer sentence, including a maximum 20 years in prison. Alvarez also imposed a $10,000 fine - about what Irvin earns in 6 minutes on the football field.

A one-month suspension from Commissioner Paul Tagliabue would be a big blow to Irvin’s $1.7 million salary. He makes about $102,647 a game.

Asked if Irvin was close to being broke because of his legal expenses, Endicott said, “No. Mike is a smart man.”

Last Friday, topless dancer Rachelle Smith described to the judge drug and sex parties in which Irvin participated. She said Irvin claimed ownership of marijuana and cocaine found at the March 4 bust at a motel that led to his indictment.

Smith also said Irvin had threatened her on several occasions, including having her body-searched for a hidden microphone.

Her boyfriend, ex-Dallas police officer Johnnie Hernandez, is accused of hiring a hitman to have Irvin killed, reportedly in retaliation for his threats against Smith.

Irvin already was the butt of jokes on some radio stations. One suggested Irvin’s automobile license tag “The Playmaker” be changed to “The Pleamaker.”

Asked why he didn’t strike a plea bargain earlier, Irvin said it was the first time prosecutors had offered that particular deal.

“I knew then I had to take it, because I had put enough hurt and enough shame on the community,” Irvin said. “They deserve better. This has been a sad off-season.”