NFL Legend Michael Irvin Reveals Cris Carter Told His Wife To Leave Him In the 90’s

NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin revealed some personal information recently when the topic turned to Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon. In an interview with the Dan Le Batard Show, Irvin spoke out against fellow Hall of Famer Cris Carter’s recent statement that in order to help Josh Gordon, the Browns should cut him.

Carter compared Gordon’s situation to his own, with the Philadelphia Eagles having cut Carter in 1990. Carter credits Buddy Ryan for giving him the motivation to get sober and get his life on track by releasing him. Irvin cautioned that the tough love approach doesn’t work for everyone.

“Dan, this is a brain disease. Addiction is a brain disease,” Irvin told Le Batard, via Ryan Cortes of the New Times Broward-Palm Beach. “You know, we act as if someone should…How can you make that decision? You must be stupid. He’s not. That’s why they call substances dope. Because it makes you less intelligent and you make the poor decision. It’s a brain disease. And it affects everybody differently.

“Now, isolation for Cris may have been the best thing. Separation, for Cris, may have been the best thing. For Josh, maybe it’s the worst thing…”

Irvin then revealed that while battling his own cocaine addiction when he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys in the 90’s, Cris Carter told his wife she should leave him.

“I’m going to put a little personal on this even though I love Cris to death,” Irvin said. “I don’t know what year it was we were in the Pro Bowl. And all Cris is trying to do, he’s just trying to share his experiences. He said to my wife, ‘You know, Michael would never come out of this problem until you leave him.’ Till you leave him.

“For years, I’ve held it. I’ve never shared that with anybody. I’ve never in my life shared that with anybody. I was so irked with Cris because he was out of line then. His ass is out of line now. He is out of line.”

Both of these two legends want to see Josh Gordon get the help he needs in order to salvage not only his NFL career, but his life. Two different perspectives from two individual who both endured a similar battle. Sometimes you have to mix up the approach in order to get the results you’re seeking.