Michael Irvin is already making waves ahead of Thursday night’s 49ers-Rams matchup in Australia, and it has nothing to do with the game itself.
The Hall of Famer, who will serve as one of the Netflix pregame analysts, has come out in defense of 49ers owner Jed York following York’s recent arrest and no-contest plea on misdemeanor charges tied to a prostitution sting in East Palestine, Ohio.
“He got divorced five, six months ago, so I’m like, ‘Man, come on. Is that really a crime?
’ Let that man go. Leave it alone,” Irvin told N3on on a Twitch stream, via Qwame Skinner of Awful Announcing.
Irvin went further, suggesting the situation should be viewed with a little more sympathy.
“Like, imagine if . . . you’re going through a divorce and some, and some young girl, some pretty girl come up to you hitting on you, you know, and she’s undercover. You don’t know. And I don’t know how that happened or what happened with him.”
The reporting around York’s case says it was not a matter of someone approaching him unexpectedly. York reportedly sought out contact on a website connected to the sting, and after his third attempt to reach someone was successful, the meeting - and the setup - was arranged.
Even after that, Irvin wasn’t backing off.
“Everybody’s paying for it,” Irvin said. “You take [a girlfriend] out to eat, you’re paying for it.
Everybody’s paying for it. So what are we doing?
Why we gotta embarrass this man for 140 dollars? People think, ‘You’re a billionaire.
Why didn’t you go to high-end places?’ The high-end places get you in trouble all the time.”
That line of defense is drawing attention in part because of where Irvin is appearing next. With Netflix airing the 49ers-Rams game and featuring him on the pregame show, the question now is whether the topic comes up on the broadcast at all.
Netflix could choose to avoid it. It could also decide to address it directly. And there’s always the possibility that Irvin brings it up himself if the subject doesn’t make the rundown.
Either way, Thursday night suddenly has a little extra intrigue before the opening kickoff. And if Irvin decides to speak on it again, he doesn’t usually stop at a sound bite.
In Other News...
Braden Fiske Is Feeling The Rams' Blockbuster Move In A Real Way
The Rams trade for Myles Garrett has already sent ripples through the locker room, and Braden Fiske is among the teammates feeling the effects in a real way. Any move that significant changes the shape of a defense immediately, and for Los Angeles it also meant a familiar pass-rush presence was no longer part of the picture, creating an abrupt shift in how the front is expected to work.
Fiskes reaction underscores how quickly a blockbuster deal can alter the mood around a team, even when the headline is centered on the player coming in. The Rams clearly made the move to raise their ceiling, but the immediate aftermath is just as important for the players who have to absorb the change, adapt to the new look and figure out what it means for their roles moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Australia Opener Just Got An Added Spotlight Fans Will Notice
The Rams first trip into NFL regular-season history in Australia is getting a little more star power. When Los Angeles faces the 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the halftime spotlight will belong to the Jonas Brothers, adding a pop-culture layer to a game already carrying the weight of being the leagues first regular-season matchup on Australian soil.
The buildup around the September event is stretching well beyond game day, too. The NFL Kickoff Festival will run across three days at Melbourne Park next to the MCG and feature a slate of Australian artists, turning the opener into a broader celebration of football and local music as the Rams and 49ers take the field on September 11 AEST. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Shanahan Just Added Fuel To Rams Melbourne Debate
Kyle Shanahan has already put a fresh edge on the Rams trip to Australia, weighing in on the leagues decision to send Los Angeles annual meeting with San Francisco overseas. From his perspective, the move changes plenty about the setting but not the stakes, since the matchup still carries the kind of division implications that can shape tiebreakers later in the season.
The 49ers coach also made clear he does not think the Rams are getting much of a true home-field advantage at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Even with Los Angeles designated as the home team, Shanahans read is that the crowd will lean heavily toward San Francisco, turning a Rams home game into something closer to another 49ers showcase on Thursday night. [Read more 🡒]