Cowboys Reportedly Buy Silence

Owner Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys brokered a high six-figure settlement between wide receiver Michael Irvin and guard Everett McIver after their recent scuffle, The Dallas Morning News reported Sunday.

A source close to the deal told the newspaper the agreement was reached to prevent McIver from pursuing criminal charges against Irvin or publicly discussing the July 29 incident that left McIver with a deep cut on his neck.

Previously, McIver, Irvin, Jones and Coach Chan Gailey steadfastly refused to comment about the scuffle. Gailey would only describe it as “horseplay,” adding, “We’re handling it in-house.”

Jones strongly denied any knowledge of or role in the reported settlement, according to the newspaper.

“I was simply interested in making sure that the media speculation and media reports didn’t affect their relationship as teammates,” Jones told the newspaper.

The source told the newspaper Irvin wanted McIver’s silence because he faces up to 20 years in prison if he is found to have violated terms of his four-year probation. Irvin pleaded no contest to felony cocaine possession in 1996.

Irvin reportedly attacked McIver with a pair of scissors in a dispute over a haircut in a dormitory at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, where the Cowboys train. McIver needed stitches to repair a two-inch cut on the right side of his neck.

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The Minnesota Vikings are getting the most out of their draft choices. Randy Moss, this year’s No. 1 pick, caught a 44-yard touchdown pass, and last year’s top choice, Dwayne Rudd, scored on a 34-yard interception return as the Vikings beat New England, 28-0, Sunday night in an exhibition game at Foxboro, Mass.

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A long night for Tampa Bay didn’t end with a 17-13 exhibition loss to Kansas City. The Buccaneers spent half their day off on Sunday getting back to Florida from Norman, Okla., after the crew of their Northwest Airlines charter informed the team they could not fly after the game because the crew had reached its contractual limit on duty time.

So instead of getting home at 3:30 a.m. EDT Sunday, the team arrived about 2:30 p.m. after scrambling to find a hotel for an overnight stay in Oklahoma City.

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Carolina defensive end Sean Gilbert tore a ligament in his right thumb during Saturday’s 30-27 exhibition victory over Jacksonville and will be sidelined for at least a week. . . . Detroit Lions reserve linebacker Matt Russell tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the opening kickoff of Friday night’s game against Arizona and is likely lost for the season.