Jury Pool Trimmed For Irvin’s Drug Trial; 57 Potentials Remain

Eight potential jurors for the drug trial of Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin in Dallas were excused after they said they could not be impartial after reading and listening to news accounts of the case.

The jury pool started the day with 67 members, but was cut to 65 when one person failed to show and another was excused because of a scheduling conflict.

It was trimmed to 57 when eight prospective panelists said they had formed opinions as to Irvin’s guilt or innocence because of media coverage.

That dropped the number of potential jurors who are black to 10, a day after Irvin’s lawyers complained there weren’t enough blacks in the jury pool.

Irvin faces a maximum 20-year prison sentence if he is convicted of the second-degree felony cocaine possession charge. He is also charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession.

At Rockwall, Texas, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Bam Morris pleaded guilty to a felony marijuana possession charge in exchange for prosecutors’ recommendation that he not be imprisoned.

Rockwall County district attorney Ray Sumrow said Morris, who has no prior criminal record, agreed to the plea in exchange for Sumrow’s recommendation of probation. Also, a felony cocaine possession charge was dropped.

Morris, 24, could still be sentenced to 10 years in prison and be fined $10,000 for the third-degree felony at a hearing set for July 11 before state district Judge William B. Lofland.

Sumrow said he would recommend six years’ probation, a $7,000 fine and 200 hours of community service, along with other restrictions that include random drug testing.

At Phoenix, it remained unclear whether former NFL lineman Luis Sharpe was under the influence of drugs when he was found shot in the neck on a city street Tuesday. Sharpe, 36, initially fought with paramedics attempting to treat him, and police said the ex-Cardinals player kicked and spat at officers.

Police said they used pepper spray to subdue Sharpe, then took him to Maricopa County Medical Center, where he was listed in critical but stable condition Wednesday.

Former Washington State running back Frank Madu signed with the Oakland Raiders Tuesday. Madu was last with the 1995 Cougars team.