The Dallas Cowboys and troubled Defensive Lineman David Irving appear to be at an impasse. According to a report from David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, the team has “no intention” of trying to re-sign Irving and will allow him to become an unrestricted free agent.
Irving started the 2018 season with a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He only appeared in two games after that, registering one sack and four tackles.
Despite reports of David’s ongoing issues with an ankle injury, Dallas never placed him on injured reserve. Then came the reports that Irving was missing practices and team meetings while dealing with personal issues related to the custody of his daughter.
The team stayed pretty mum on the subject of Irving’s status throughout the year, falling back on the ankle injury when pushed. But after months, it became clear that either David, the team, or both parties were disinterested in his return to football.
The Cowboys had high hopes after 2017, when Irving posted seven sacks in just eight games. They placed a second-round tender on him last offseason as a restricted free agent and were surely ready to give him a long-term deal if he’d built on that success.
But David’s issues, physical or otherwise, have clearly done the opposite.
Dallas is known for working with troubled players, as we’ve recently seen with Randy Gregory. That they’re closing the book on Irving suggests there’s an issue with his desire towards football.
It’s a sad loss for both. David’s potential is enormous, as evidenced by his productivity when he actually does play. But he appears more likely to hit the Commissioner’s exempt list in 2019 than the football field, given the reports of multiple failed drug tests over the last year.
Hopefully David Irving can turn things around one day and capitalize on his talent. But if it ever happens, it appears that it won’t be with the Dallas Cowboys.
