MIAMI — A woman claims in a lawsuit filed only days before the Super Bowl that former Dallas Cowboys star Michael Irvin sexually assaulted her at a South Florida hotel, an allegation labeled a false attempt at “civil extortion” Friday by Irvin’s attorney.
“I call it civil extortion: pay us or we’ll ruin your life,” Irvin’s attorney Larry Friedman said. “Nothing happened. There was no encounter between this Jane Doe and Michael Irvin. The entire story is false, it’s bogus, it’s made up.”
The woman, identified only as “Jane Doe,” filed the lawsuit Thursday in Broward County Circuit Court seeking unspecified damages for the assault that allegedly occurred July 4 or 5, 2007, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel &Casino in Hollywood.
The incident was reported to Seminole tribal police on July 20, 2007, but the woman later signed a waiver of prosecution, Seminole tribe spokesman Gary Bitner said.
Irvin, 43, now an analyst for the NFL Network, is a member of the pro football Hall of Fame who starred at wide receiver for the Cowboys from 1988 to 1999. The Fort Lauderdale native was also a star in college for the University of Miami, playing on the Hurricanes’ 1987 national championship team.
Hands on ‘D’ role for Belichick
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick will take a larger role in overseeing the defense and not hire a coordinator to replace Dean Pees.
Pees announced he would not seek a new contract as defensive coordinator four days after the Patriots lost 33-14 to the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the playoffs last month. His four-year deal expired at the end of January.
Belichick was defensive coordinator for the New York Giants from 1985-90 and for New England in 1996. He called defensive signals for the New York Jets from 1997-99 before becoming coach of the Patriots in 2000.
Bears promote Marinelli
CHICAGO — Unable to find outside help, the Chicago Bears have promoted Rod Marinelli to defensive coordinator while rounding out their coaching staff. Marinelli, who retained his assistant head coach title, worked with the Bears’ defensive line this season after spending three years as the Detroit Lions’ head coach.
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