Michael Irvin is “perplexed” and “baffled” after he was pulled from covering Super Bowl LVII on the NFL Network and ESPN due to accusations of misconduct by a woman he had a “friendly conversation” with at a hotel.
The Hall of Famer told the news that the interaction occurred Sunday (February 4) in Glendale, Arizona, where the Super Bowl will take place on Sunday (February 12), after having dinner and drinks with former Cowboys safety Michael Brooks.
Irvin said he returned to his hotel after dinner, and he met a lady in the lobby whom he had a brief conversation with.
Honestly, I’m a bit baffled with it all.
This all happened in a 45-second conversation in the lobby.
When I got back after going out … I came into the lobby, and I talked to somebody.
I talked to this girl. I don’t know her, and I talked to her for about 45 seconds.
We shook hands. Then, I left. … That’s all I know.
…I don’t really recall that conversation, to tell you the truth.
We were out drinking. It was just a friendly conversation. ‘What’s up?’ I don’t even know. … I am totally perplexed.
According to Irvin, there is a video of the lobby encounter, but he has not seen it.
Irvin said there “absolutely was no sexual wrongdoing.”
What law did I break?
There was definitely nothing physical. … That’s honestly all that happened.
Nobody was in my room. It was a 45-second conversation in the lobby, a handshake and we left. … I don’t know.
I don’t know what this is, and it’s running me crazy.
A Glendale police spokesperson and officials at other local police agencies revealed on Tuesday (February 7) that they do not know about any incident involving Michael Irvin.
Irvin was a part of the NFL Network’s Monday (February 6) coverage of the annual Super Bowl Opening Night ceremony, and he said he was approached off-air by NFL Media officials regarding what occurred the previous night.
Irvin works for NFL Media, and he makes guest appearances on ESPN.
The NFL Media nor ESPN commented on the exact nature of the woman’s accusation.
NFL Media vice president of communications, Alex Riethmiller, released the following statement:
Michael Irvin will not be a part of NFL Network’s Super Bowl LVII week coverage.
An ESPN spokesperson told a media outlet on Wednesday (February 8) that Michael Irvin will no longer be a guest on ESPN’s debate show “First Take” on Friday with host Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim.
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Source: The Dallas Morning News
