Michael Irvin awaits his fate

by Dave Halprin on Feb 3, 2007 12:05 AM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

By sometime today, I better see Michael Irvin crying at some podium. And I'm not talking about crying because he got snubbed again. I'm talking about tears of joy because he got voted into the Hall of Fame. You know Mike, he's an emotional guy, and if he gets voted in, ESPN could have one wacky morning on its hands.

I've written previously about this subject so my views are well-known. There's no other reason Irvin isn't in the HoF except for a group of writers punishing him for a life off-the-field that was as explosive as his play on-the-field. I'm not one to sit in judgment of Irvin's life, although it's obvious he could have done a lot better in some areas. Some of the stuff he did, and some of the stuff he says - until this day - make me cringe, make me wonder - "Why, Mike, why?" But the HoF is about one thing, your play between the lines; it's about how you performed for three hours every Sunday. It says so right in the by-laws of the HoF voting - you can look it up.

If you want to have a discussion about the modern-day athlete, their role in society and their obligations to be role models, or any of many other moral and ethical issues, that's fine - and it's a worthy discussion to have. And you can throw Michael Irvin right into the middle of it. But if you want to discuss Irvin deserving the HoF - where his play on the field is the only criteria - then there is no discussion.

And if Michael Irivn doesn't make the HoF again, I hope some of the writers will have the guts to admit that they are sitting in judgment of Michael Irvin, the man - not the player.

JJT talks about Irvin, his mother, and the Hall of Fame in this article.

Michael [Irvin] put up numbers - 750 catches, 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns - in a 12-year career that ended prematurely because of a neck injury suffered while running one of his trademark slant patterns in Philadelphia.

He broke nearly every significant receiving record in franchise history, impressive considering Bob Hayes, Drew Pearson and Tony Hill owned those records.

More important, Irvin served as the Cowboys' emotional leader. Don't underestimate the importance of that, because Troy Aikman didn't have the personality to pull it off and Emmitt led more by example than words.

Irvin connected with everyone on the roster.

Buck Harvey discusses the role Irvin's actions have had on his Hall of Fame snubs.

Maybe that's why he keeps alluding to himself and his accomplishments while on the air for ESPN. Irvin has repeated throughout the week that he has three rings; that, unlike Marvin Harrison of the Colts, he had the muscle and determination to free himself in big games; that he lived for the very moments that should put him in the Hall of Fame.

He's not wrong on any of this. But it's part of the loud personality that has alienated the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee. This is a small crowd of sportswriters trying to be objective with a subjective set of criteria, and Irvin is a confusing subject.

I guess, but it's not that confusing and it's not that subjective.

Todd Archer isn't worried about finding a qualified candidate for head coach, but filling out the rest of the staff could be an issue.

Nick Eatman says a final goodbye to Bill Parcells and laments the fact that the Tuna didn't give the Dallas media one final press conference. Then he took a trick out of my book and made up his own Bill Parcells mock press conference.

Look-it, it's just time for me to hang it up. I didn't just indiscriminately come up with this decision. There's lot of moving parts you have to figure. I love coaching, but there's two sides of that pancake. Trust me, I'll be up to my ears in alligators. Hey, I'll still be watching what goes on, but I've got to keep my own house from burning down now. Seriously, I'm not trying to be funny . . . anything else, fellas?"

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i luv the playmaker....

I just wanted to say that first before i get nailed with stones and rotten eggs, but here it goes. Irvin does not belong in the HOF.... YET!!! the only just way to go about this is to put in(and it pains me to say this) Art "the quiet man" Monk first. many will argue that his shear playmaking ability sets him apart from Monk(which is told right off by their career yards per reception stats), but there is just no practical way we can make Monk wait this long and then put Irvin in there first. Talk about a Cowboy bias? what the hell is keeping Monk outta the Hall? I want the playmaker to be in the hall with Troy and Emmitt(assuming the Cardnal days didnt tarnish him, hehe), but fair is fair. It is true that Art streched his career numbers out over approx. 65 more games, but check the stats:

224 regular season games played
940 receptions
12,721 receiving yards
13.5 yards per recept(he's got u there art)
68 receiving TD's

Seasons among the league's top 10

Receptions: 1984-1, 1985-2, 1988-9t, 1989-3t
Receiving yards: 1984-4, 1985-3, 1989-10
Receiving TDs: 1991-9t

Among the league's all-time top 50

Receptions: 6
Receiving yards: 11
Receiving TDs: 29t
Yards from scrimmage: 26
Consecutive games with at least one reception: 2(183)
All-Rookie: 1980
3-time Pro Bowler: 1984, 1985, 1986
2-time All-Pro: 1984, 1985

and now Irvin:

159 regular season games played
750 career receptions
11,904 recieving yards
15.9 yards per recept
65 recieving TD's
Seasons among the league's top 10

Receptions: 1991-2, 1992-7, 1993-3, 1995-5
Receiving yards: 1991-1, 1992-2, 1993-2, 1994-8, 1995-4, 1997-8t
Receiving TDs: 1991-9t, 1992-8t, 1993-9t, 1995-10t, 1997-6t
Yards from scrimmage: 1991-4, 1992-10, 1993-8, 1995-9

Among the league's all-time top 50

Receptions: 20t
Receiving yards: 14
Receiving TDs: 37t
Yards from scrimmage: 39

Both have played in three super bowls with the deadskins going 2-1 in the bowls art played while Irvin was 3-0. by the way, he does actually have three rings just like the "Playmaker", he just didnt play in the Bowl against Dolphins that the Skins won early in his career due to injury. But can there really be such public outcry amongst Cowboy fans for Irvin not being a first, second, third or whatever ballot hall of famer when Monk has quietly gone about his buisness while being passed over umpteen years now?

All of these stats mentioned are cited from http://www.pro-football-reference.com

u looked like a bunch of retards tryin to hump a door knob

by jacksastud on Feb 3, 2007 1:58 AM CST reply actions

You got to be kidding

There is no way Art Monk deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, he had a nice career and was a good receiever, but he wasn't a player that teams game planned against like Irvin was because he transcended the game. Before irvin there wasn't a real big physical reciever that would go across the middle and demand the double teams that Irvin did. How many bigtime catches do you remember Art Monk making especially in the playoffs and superbowl, I bet you cant name two, he wasn't even the best receiver on the skins at the time, Reggie Sanders was. Micheal Irvin was the fire of the Cowboys during his playing days whose career was cut short because of a series injury, Off the field, I think he's an idiot with all the garbage he spews, but on the field, the only other receiever that was better was Jerry Rice. There is no doubt in my mind that because of Irvins drug problems and the garbage he spews now on a weekly basis on ESPN is the reason he hasn't got voted in. The Hall of Fame is for players that transcend the game, not for players with just good numbers, thats why Bullet bob hayes should be in, his speed and ability changed defensive schemes that teams ran.

by Deke on Feb 3, 2007 8:53 AM CST up reply actions

im not saying that irvin wasnt a great receiver...

but give monk his due. If steve largent is in, put art monk as well. Irvin did change the way games were played... just as emmit did and troy as well. the fact of the matter is that irvin was a great player on a team of great players. put him, just make sure u dont over look some others just because they arent one of our 'Boys.

u looked like a bunch of retards tryin to hump a door knob

by jacksastud on Feb 3, 2007 10:33 AM CST reply actions