COWBOYS’ IRVING SUSPENDED AGAIN
Winslow Jr. jailed after pleading not guilty to multiple charges
Defensive tackle David Irving has violated the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, a league spokesman announced, and will serve a four-game suspension to start 2018, just as he did in 2017.
FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving was suspended for four games Friday for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, the second straight year the pass rusher is facing a ban to start the season.
The punishment announced by the league will not keep Irving from participating in training camp starting next month in California. The 24-year-old Irving’s four-game suspension to start last season was for violating league policy on performance enhancers.
Irving was away from the Cowboys most of the offseason tending to personal issues before showing up for the mandatory three-day minicamp that ended Thursday. He declined to go into details but did mention that he was solely responsible for the care of his 5-year-old daughter.
His former girlfriend, the daughter’s mother, accused Irving of domestic abuse before recanting in April. Police in the Dallas suburb of Frisco didn’t file charges, but the NFL is investigating.
“I don’t have time to be messing around and getting in trouble like I have been,” Irving said the day before the suspension was announced. “I have to make a lot of changes. My whole life basically changed this offseason, quickly all at once in a lot of different aspects. I just got to change. And I have been.”
After last season’s suspension, Irving had seven sacks in eight games before suffering a concussion that kept him out the remaining four games. He has 11½ sacks in 35 games over three seasons for Dallas. The first game he is eligible is Oct. 7 at Houston.
The latest suspension comes as defensive end Randy Gregory awaits word on his bid for reinstatement. Gregory was suspended all of last season over multiple violations of the substance-abuse policy. He met with Commissioner Roger Goodell in New York this week.
Between Irving, Gregory, DeMarcus Lawrence and former Dallas defensive end Greg Hardy, the Cowboys are set to start the season with at least one suspended defensive lineman for the fourth straight season.
WINSLOW JR.: Former NFL tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was jailed without bail Friday after pleading not guilty to multiple counts of kidnapping, rape and other charges.
The 34-year-old Winslow was ordered to return to San Diego County Superior Court on June 25 for a preliminary hearing.
If convicted, Winslow could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
His attorney, Brian Watkins, did not immediately respond to a message left at his office.
Prosecutors say Winslow began a crime spree last March that included rapes, kidnappings, indecent exposure and burglary and continued until just before his arrest this week.
According to charging documents, he allegedly kidnapped and raped a 54-year-old woman on March 13 and then a 59-year-old woman on May 13.
On May 24, prosecutors say, he exposed himself in a public place, the location of which wasn’t disclosed.
The burglary charges involved alleged break-ins at the home of a 71-year-old woman on June 1 and an 86-year-old woman on June 7.
Winslow was originally arrested June 7 in the burglary case. After posting bail he was arrested again Thursday on the additional charges. On Friday, Superior Court Judge Robert Dahlquist ordered him held without bail.
The son of Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow, the younger Winslow spent 10 seasons in the NFL from 2004-13 with Cleveland, Tampa Bay, New England and the New York Jets.
BROWNS: Cleveland offensive lineman Donald Stephenson has been suspended two games without pay by the NFL for violating its substance-abuse policy.