Michael Irvin has been in limbo ever since he was accused of misconduct by a female Marriott Hotel worker. And the NFL Network has taken a stance on him heading into the draft.
The Hall of Famer’s legal team saw to the release of camera footage that does not exactly paint a bad picture of the former NFL star, while multiple witnesses have sided with him. However, it appears the NFL Network is still keen on distancing itself from Irvin, who has gone on the offensive in the wake of the allegations.
Irvin hasn’t appeared on the network since the incident was brought to light and, according to ProFootballTalk, he won’t be returning for the 2023 NFL Draft. The event is only a week away and, despite things looking extremely positive from a legal standpoint, the 57-year-old remains suspended and will have no involvement in coverage.
“This strongly implies that the league believes the allegations against Irvin have merit. And with no definite date for a return, it’s unclear when or if he even will,” the report notes.
As to whether the erstwhile Dallas Cowboys wide receiver is being paid while on suspension is unclear. It would be in his employers’ best interest to keep paying him as the ramifications wouldn’t be as significant should a court of law clear him of any wrongdoing.
The Network appears to be trying to hedge the factors as best they can as they don’t want to end up firing Irvin for something he’s innocent of while they also don’t want to lose a long-time sponsor in the Marriott brand if he is actually guilty.
