Suspended Cowboys DL Irving quits NFL

Suspended Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman David Irving quit the league Thursday, making the announcement in an Instagram post during which he appeared to be smoking marijuana. Last week, the NFL suspended Irving indefinitely for a third violation of its policy regarding banned drugs.

"Basically, guys, I quit," Irving said. "I don't want to talk about a suspension and all this other nonsense. I'm outta there. I'm not doing this (junk) no more. You know, it's a lot of reasons. He said of his exit from the league, "They try to make me seem like the bad guy. ... I'll Kaepernick myself before they Kaepernick my ass. ... Football does not define me. ...

"Everyone questions my commitment to football, but let's get it straight, here and now. I love football ... I wouldn't be here without it. Don't get me wrong, I love football. However, I don't love the NFL. The NFL is not football, you need to understand that. What you all see us do, the game and (junk), that's, what, 20 percent of all the real (junk) we're doing." Irving added regarding marijuana: "It's funny, you know, some people: 'Oh, you're addicted to weed, you're addicted to this and that.' I mean (heck), if I'm gonna be addicted to something, I'd rather be addicted to marijuana, which is medical -- it's a medicine, I do not consider it a drug -- rather than Xanax bars or the (hydrocodone) or the Seroquel and all that crazy (junk) that they feed you. ...

"Like I said, it ain't about smoking weed. How many NBA players you see get in trouble about this? How many coaches you see get in trouble about this? How many baseball players get in trouble? UFC players getting in trouble? How many actors?" Irving, 25, spent the past four seasons with the Cowboys after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa State. He appeared in 37 games (10 starts) and recorded 12.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and 56 tackles. Irving played in just two games in 2018, notching one sack.

--Field Level Media