Admittedly I’ve never been a big fan of Michael Irvin, the Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys receiver turned loud, blustery analyst for the NFL Network. Too much flash, too big a mouth, a ton of off-field issues, and a stint on “Dancing With the Stars” didn’t exactly endear Irvin to me.

But I’m willing to give props when they’re due, and Irvin’s recent statements regarding the days following his Hall of Fame induction, and the prestigious jacket that goes with it, moves him up a notch or two in my book…

“I remember when I was inducted into the Hall of Fame and they gave me my Hall of Fame yellow blazer. I wore it for two straight days. Finally my wife was in bed and said she wanted to make love but that I had to take the coat off. I refused and kept the blazer on because I wanted to perform like a Hall of Famer on the field and off.”

Phenomenal, absolutely freakin’ phenomenal.

Despite all his foibles, after reading that, it’s clear to me that Michael Irvin truly is “The Playmaker.”

[Chicago Tribune]