Suspended Cowboys DL Irving quits NFL

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