Former Dallas Cowboys receiver\u00a0Michael Irvin recalled the heart-wrenching conversation he had with his wife, Sandy Harrell, when he was indicted on felony cocaine possession in March 1996.<\/p>\n
In the seventh episode of \u201cAmerica\u2019s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys\u201d \u2014 the Netflix documentary premiering Tuesday that delves into the history of Jerry Jones\u2019 ownership in the 1990s \u2014 Irvin explains how he handled facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy wife, she looked at me and she said, \u2018Don\u2019t\u00a0say a word, God has already told me\u00a0I am your wife and I am not going anywhere. But you have to make your peace with God,’\u201d Irvin says in the documentary. \u201cI don\u2019t think I ever\u00a0felt worse in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Irvin and Harrell married in June 1990, the same year he welcomed his daughter Myesha from a previous relationship. They have three kids: a daughter Chelsea and sons Michael Jr. and Elijah.<\/p>\n
Michael Irvin arrives to court for his 1996 court hearing over drug possession. AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a routine, after you win the Super Bowl [which the Cowboys did in \u201996], before the next season starts, you get about a month \u2014 and that month, you cut loose and have a good time,\u201d Irvin says in the documentary, adding that the festivities were slated to culminated with his March 5 birthday.<\/p>\n
Irvin pleaded no contest to felony cocaine possession in exchange for four years of deferred probation, a $10,000 fine and dismissal of misdemeanor marijuana possession charges after police found the All-Pro wideout with a few others in a Texas hotel room littered with cocaine and marijuana.<\/p>\n
Irvin ultimately took a deal and got probation\u00a0with restrictions and conditions. He was also suspended the first five games of the 1996 season.<\/p>\n
The doc also mentions there was a murder-for-hire plot against Irvin by a Dallas cop at the time, who was arrested and pleaded guilty and sentenced\u00a0to six years in prison.<\/p>\n
Hidden camera video tape shows Irvin discussing doing cocaine while in the passenger\u2019s seat of car.<\/p>\n
Michael Irvin scores a touchdown against the Eagles in 1998. AP<\/p>\n
On the night of March 4, 1996, police found Irvin, his former Cowboys teammate Alfredo Roberts and two females in a Texas hotel room, where police found drug paraphernalia, sex toys and substantial amounts of marijuana and cocaine.<\/p>\n
Police said one bag contained the largest chunk of crack cocaine they had ever seen.<\/p>\n
Irvin says Mike Gilette, the assistant DA of Dallas County at the time, was trying to prove he brought the drugs to the Residence Inn he was busted at, which Irvin denied. <\/p>\n
Jones, whose close relationship with Irvin was emphasized in the doc, set up a meeting with Irvin, his attorney and Gilette, who ripped him apart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Michael Irvin and Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, pose with Irvin\u2019s bust during the Class of 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement. Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said, \u2018Let me tell ya what the truth is, the truth is what I make it in the courtroom, and personally I think you\u2019re a piece of s\u2013t and you use your fame and your money to take advantage of these poor white girls and I\u2019m going to filet you like a fish and leave you in an alley,’\u201d Irvin says of his conversation with Gilette.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said Gilette when you get finished with this, somebody\u2019s gonna pay me millions of dollars to catch a football and\u00a0your lil sharp ass is gonna be broke and stuck down\u00a0here no matter what.\u2019 And then I said, \u2018I\u2019ll show you tomorrow what it is when you get here.\u2019<\/p>\n
Michael Irvin and wife Sandy Harrell in 2005. Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s why I put on a mink coat and the shades [to his first court appearance]. You want to show me up, let me show you. It was 95 degrees but the coat was needed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Irvin showed up to his court date at the time in a floor-length fur coat and sunglasses. His wife was with him. <\/p>\n
\u201cMichael is very well my favorite\u00a0player of my time,\u201d Jones says. \u201cWhat makes him be as substantive\u00a0as he is, is the fact that he plays and lives at the level he lives \u2026 Because\u00a0of some of his decisions,\u00a0he had become vulnerable.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has my back and\u00a0I have his back \u2014 certainly that was\u00a0the case in a dicey situation like this where you know the eye was on him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael Irvin celebrates for the Cowboys in 1993. AP<\/p>\n
Irvin won three Super Bowls in four years with the Cowboys as part of a dynastic offense that included quarterback\u00a0Troy Aikman\u00a0and\u00a0running back Emmitt Smith, the NFL\u2019s all-time leading rusher. <\/p>\n
\u201cI knew that we had a lot of players that weren\u2019t\u00a0choir boys but I didn\u2019t know some of the activity that ended up getting him in trouble,\u201d says Aikman, who supported Irvin at his first court date. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was concerned for my buddy, my friend, my brother,\u201d Smith adds. \u201cWhat does this mean for him and his career?\u201d <\/p>\n
“Daddy what were the ’90s like?” \u2014 Mark Nagi (@MarkNagi) July 17, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n In June 2001, a year following his NFL retirement due to injury, Irvin was arrested for felony cocaine possession in Dallas. The charges were later dropped. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t
“Michael Irvin showed up in court on cocaine possession charges in a full length mink coat and sunglasses.” pic.twitter.com\/zHlEPuT0Vb<\/a><\/p>\n