Media reaction continued on NFL Commissioner Paul
Tagliabue's five game suspension of Cowboys WR Michael Irvin. In
Dallas, Randy Galloway criticizes Tagliabue for a "soft ruling,"
adding Tagliabue avoided perceptions he had taken out a personal
"vendetta" against Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones and the team because
the NFL and Jones are still embroiled in lawsuits over last
year's marketing deals. Galloway, on Tagliabue's ruling: "Cowboys
win. Irvin wins. Tags, they were laughing at you in Austin"
(DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/25). ESPN's Bob Ley noted, "Some of the
Cowboys are privately breathing easily that Irvin and the club
got off easy" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 7/25). In Philadelphia,
Kevin Mulligan claims the NFL "used a feather to slap the wrists"
of Irvin. Eagles Players Rep. Raleigh McKenzie said the league
should re-examine its drug policy and "dole out harsher
punishments for offenders such as Irvin" (PHILA. DAILY NEWS,
7/26). In San Antonio, Tim Price notes, because his contract was
restructured, Irvin will lose only $361,764 in salary as opposed
to earlier reports which had that figure over $500,000 (San
Antonio EXPRESS-NEWS, 7/26).
