Michael Irvin returns to NFL Network after reportedly settling Marriott lawsuit
Michael Irvin returned to NFL Network on Sunday after being suspended since February when a woman accused him of improper conduct at a hotel she worked at.
The Dallas Morning News reported on Sunday morning that the Hall of Fame receiver settled his $100 million defamation lawsuit against Marriott International and the woman. With the settlement completed, NFL Media, the company that operates NFL Network, lifted its indefinite suspension of the former Dallas Cowboys star. The amount of the settlement has not been disclosed.
In her complaint, the woman said that Irvin made lewd comments and unwarranted physical contact in a conversation with her on Feb. 5 in the lobby of the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown, a Marriott property. NFL Network suspended him, causing him to miss the Super Bowl. His suspension continued through the spring, causing him to miss the NFL draft as well.
Irvin sued the woman and Marriott the same week that she filed the complaint, saying he was wrongfully accused of misconduct. He said that he shook the woman's hand in a brief conversation on the way to his room and that he was startled awake by hotel security who escorted him out of the property without giving him knowledge of why he was being removed.
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There were no criminal charges filed. Irvin maintained his innocence throughout the civil process and even provided video footage from a security camera that showed the incident.
On his first NFL Network appearance back, Irvin participated in "NFL GameDay Morning" previewing Week 1 matchups and predicting the production of wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Michael Thomas. He said that Thomas playing with new quarterback Derek Carr "will be a great combination."
He gave his pick for the highly-anticipated Monday Night Football game where Aaron Rodgers will make his debut with the New York Jets against the Buffalo Bills.
"The Jets going to win this game and the Jets are actually going to make the playoffs and the Bills will not," he said. "I just gave you a little extra since I haven't been around in a while."
