Michael Irvin works ceremonies, deflects attention to Hall inductees

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin made his first public appearance since he was accused in a civil suit of rape. He filed a $100 million countersuit against his accuser.

Irvin worked the Hall of Fame ceremonies for the NFL Network on Saturday. He was subdued at times but also emotional, especially when former teammate, running back Emmitt Smith, was selected for induction.

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"It's not about me, but that's it," Irvin told a small group of reporters before they had a chance to ask questions. Irvin said he would only talk about the Hall of Fame.

However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who is close to Irvin, spoke with the Hall of Fame wide receiver about what has transpired in the last week.

"I think I've got enough background there to basically be comfortable there," Jones said. "And I obviously don't have any jurisdiction in the talks [lawsuits] there. I am the chairman of the [NFL] network and he does work for the network, and we'll see how that goes."

No criminal charges have been filed. The Broward State Attorney's Office is investigating the case, and a spokesman told the Miami Herald that he expects a conclusion next week. The Herald first reported the story late Thursday.

Irvin's suit, filed in Dallas County, Texas, asks for $100 million in damages for allegations filed in a lawsuit that claim Irvin raped a woman identified as "Jane Doe" at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., in 2007.

The countersuit claims that the civil suit filed by the woman caused him to be fired from his radio job.

Irvin, who is in South Florida for the Super Bowl, had hosted a talk show on ESPN Radio 103.3 in Dallas and works as a television analyst for the NFL Network. The radio station announced Friday that Irvin would not return to the air because his contract was up and the show was not performing.

"This is nothing more than a thinly veiled effort to carry out Plaintiff's extortion plot while capitalizing on the media circus that is Super Bowl weekend," Irvin's lawsuit said.

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