DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - According to multiple reports, Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle David Irving has been suspended indefinitely for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
NFL.com's Tom Pelissero broke the news on twitter:
David Irving of the Dallas Cowboys has been suspended indefinitely for violating the Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 1, 2019Just two days ago, multiple reports came down that Irving was under evaluation for a potential suspension.
Dallas defensive tackle David Irving is under evaluation from the NFL for a potential suspension, league sources told ESPN on Tuesday. Irving was suspended for the start of the past two seasons for a violation of the NFL's drug policy.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 26, 2019105.3 The Fan's Mike Fisher reported that it was not a "new revalation" from the NFL, and believed the may not take action unless a team attempted to sign the troubled free agent. As it turns out today, the NFL went ahead and suspended him anyways.
David Irving's status is not a new revelation. He failed/missed multiple drug tests while in the #Cowboys employ in the final two months of the regular season. NFL may not even take action unless a team attempts to sign him. pic.twitter.com/ytI7QdPmMg
— mike fisher ✭ (@fishsports) February 26, 2019Fish reported last week that the Cowboys have been and are still done with the defensive tackle, which may have prompted Irving to speak out again on social media earlier this week.
"I'm in the NFL because I'm great at what I do," Irving wrote on Instagram Monday. "I'm not in the NFL because I'm an Eagle Scout, or the perfect model citizen. I didn't put on a mask or kiss ass to be where I am. I'm here on natural ability. This is God's plan. Not mine. Trust me, I'm adjusting to it as well. Once I step on the field and stop performing, THEN we have a problem … So does anyone have anything to say about my play?"
Fish reported that Irving was plagued by "off-the-field" issues the entire season as he missed "multiple" mandatory drug tests and didn't show up to the team's headquarters in Frisco to rehab an injured ankle.
"David Irving has a substance-abuse issue and that, combined with an absence of love for his job, caused him to fail to show up for work for the better part of months, thus rendering him unemployable," Fish reported on Feb. 19.
Irving's personal life remains in a state of turmoil due in part to his tumultuous relationship with the mother of his young daughter. But his football life was on hold only in part due to the high ankle sprain he sustained in practice on Nov. 2. More problematic: "He's just sort of checked out,'' one person close to the situation told Fish.
Earlier this year, Irving indicated that he was finding peace in all of this, saying, "I've been through a lot, (but) I've seen the light at the end of the tunnel.''
As talented as he is -- Irving has played in only 10 games over the last two seasons but registered eight sacks during that stretch.
