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Dallas Cowboys: David Irving suspension caps off nightmarish offseason

By Steven Mullenax

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 18: David Irving #95 and Maliek Collins #96 of the Dallas Cowboys sack Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 18: David Irving #95 and Maliek Collins #96 of the Dallas Cowboys sack Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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For the second year in a row, the Dallas Cowboys will be without the services of defensive tackle David Irving, who received yet another suspension on Friday.

When it rains, it pours. That famous quote was never more apt than for Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle David Irving on Friday. The 24-year old is having a nightmarish offseason, one that will now delay his regular season debut until Week Five for the second year in a row.

According to several sources, Irving has been suspended for the first four games of the 2018 regular season by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The young defender was also suspended last season for the same amount of games due to his use of banned substance under the performance enhancing drug (PED) policy.

This new suspension caps off a hellish offseason for Irving, who missed the Cowboys OTA’s entirely due to be overweight, out-of-shape and while dealing with other undisclosed off-the-field issues. In April, an ex-girlfriend accused him of domestic violence, only to retracted the allegation afterwards. Irving was also reportedly awarded custody of his young daughter recently.

Even Irving has admitted that he could have handled the recently difficulties of his life much better.

"“I feel like I’m getting it all together. This offseason – to be honest, I know I should have done some things differently,” Irving told the team’s official website. “It’s been a tough OTAs and all this stuff, but I’m moving through it. I’m feeling better – much better.”"

The Cowboys apparently knew about this suspension weeks ago, and it’s likely one of the reasons Dallas advocated Irving missing OTA’s in order to try and straighten out his personal issues.

In the short-term, this puts Dallas in a difficult position heading into the regular season. They’ll be without the services of defensive tackle that racked up 7.0 sacks in eight games last year. Unless an appeal is made and won, Irving will miss the Cowboys matchups against the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, and the Detroit Lions.

Luckily for the Cowboys, defensive tackle Jihad Ward has been a pleasant surprise this offseason and figures to fill-in admirably for the suspended Irving.

Next: The all-time best defenders to wear the Star

In the long-term, this is bad for David Irving. The four-year veteran signed a second rounder tender as a restricted free agent earlier this year. Irving was certainly hoping to earn a lucrative multi-year contract at season’s end with the Dallas Cowboys. Now, that seems very unlikely.

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