No Michael Irvin on ESPN this week

Michael Irvin says he has been suspended by ESPN for one week for not telling the network about his arrest last week...(He)...was arrested Friday...for an outstanding warrant on an unpaid speeding ticket (and) was charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia after police searched his car...(He) has maintained that (a drug pipe) belonged to a friend...

Irvin said he didn’t tell the network...because...“I was just scared, hoping and praying that maybe it would go away...I was told that I paid the fine and it was over. I was hoping it was over.” (But) he said he had no problem with the suspension. “Being an employee and not giving them the information, certainly it’s fair,” Irvin said.

The paraphernalia charge is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $500 fine. In 1996, Irvin pleaded no contest to felony cocaine possession in exchange for four years of deferred probation...In 1996, Irvin pleaded no contest to felony cocaine possession in exchange for four years of deferred probation (and) a...fine...He also was arrested on drug possession charges in 2000, but they were later dropped.