NFL Notes: Cowboys, Packers, Texans

Cowboys

Suspended Cowboys DE David Irving says he was “pretty disappointed” after receiving the news of his four-game ban.

“I was pretty upset,” Irving said, via Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News. “As soon as I got the letter I called right away, like, ‘What the [expletive]! This has to be a mistake.’ But it wasn’t. I made the mistake.”

Irving did, however, own up to the mistake of taking a banned substance that he says wasn’t properly labeled on the bottle.

“Everything listed on the bottle was fine,” Irving said. “It was supposed to be all natural, but [it had] a hidden ingredient. It was a substance that actually wasn’t even listed on the bottle. When I asked about the substance, they don’t even know the substance. I guess my testosterone levels were too high.

“It gets you going. I started taking it after the season when you’re not working out with the team, you know, something to get my ass in the gym. It’s funny, I thought I was hitting a second puberty.”

Packers

Packers president Mark Murphy told shareholders in Green Bay on Monday that he believes GM Ted Thompson is doing a great job and he would like to see him continue on with the team.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ted for 10 years, and I tell you, I couldn’t be more proud of the way he handles himself,” Murphy said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN. “I think he’s doing a great job as our general manager. And you’ll see, it’s very hard to win in the NFL, and the kind of consistent success that we’ve achieved during his tenure here. It’s pretty remarkable.

“My hope is as long as he’s healthy and continues to enjoy the job, is performing at a high level, he’ll continue as our general manager,” Murphy said.

Murphy explained that the current leadership has the team in position to set an NFL record if they’re able to make the playoffs again in 2017.

“I hear from a lot of fans that they’re disappointed that I’ve accepted mediocrity and I’m just happy to be in the playoffs and that I should fire Ted and Mike and then after I do that, retire,” Murphy said. “So you realize that it’s a spread and there’s all kinds of fans, but I would hope that the average or typical fan understands that when you work for the Packers organization and you set a record for most consecutive years in the playoffs with our history and tradition, that’s pretty good.

“If we are fortunate enough to make the playoffs this year, we would tie the NFL record, so it’s not something that is easily accomplished, particularly when the whole league is set up for parity. It’s hard to have consistent success.”

Texans

• Field Yates reports that Texans LT Duane Brown triggered a de-escalator clause in his contract with his decision to hold out of training camp for a new contract.
• According to Yates, Brown’s 2017 base salary has been reduced from $9.65M to $9.4M.
• John McClain confirms that Brown is, in fact, holding out for a new contract.