Off-the-Field Fiasco

A list of recent legal problems involving Dallas Cowboy players:

* October 1994--Offensive lineman Erik Williams is involved in a one-car accident and injures his right knee, sidelining him for the rest of the season. He later pleaded no contest and received two years’ probation on a misdemeanor drunken driving offense.

* April 1995--A 17-year-old topless dancer accuses Williams of sexually assaulting her at his home. A grand jury decided not to charge Williams two months later after the teenager refused to cooperate with prosecutors following an out-of-court settlement with the player.

* November 1995--The NFL suspends defensive tackle Leon Lett and cornerback Clayton Holmes for four games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. A week later, Holmes’ suspension is increased to one year.

* April 1996--A Dallas grand jury indicts receiver Michael Irvin and two women on drug charges. Irvin pleaded no contest and was put on four years’ probation and fined $10,000.

* May 1996--Former Cowboy receiver Cory Fleming is suspended for violating league drug policy during the 1995 season while with the Cowboys.

* July 1996--Irvin is suspended by the league for the first five games of the 1996 season as a result of his no-contest plea the previous April.

* August 1996--Defensive end Shante Carver is suspended for the first six games of the upcoming season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

* Dec. 3, 1996--Lett is suspended from the NFL for a minimum of one year for violating the league’s drug policy a second time.

* Dec. 31, 1996--A 23-year-old woman accuses Irvin of holding a gun to her head while Williams and another man forced her to have sex.