Irvin Getting Spot at ESPN

After nearly two years as a regular on Fox Sports Net’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” Michael Irvin is leaving the show and will join ESPN’s “NFL Sunday Countdown” this fall.

Irvin, reached Tuesday night, confirmed that he is leaving the show -- his contract is expiring -- and heading for ESPN.

“It has been my ultimate goal to work on one of the three main football shows,” he said. “Although working on BDSSP has been great, I want to work on a football show. I want to remain in my element.”

Irvin, who played 12 seasons as wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys and was a key member of three Super Bowl championship teams, was hired by Fox Sports Net in June 2001 to be a part of the NFL show and he soon began appearing regularly on “Best Damn Sports Show Period.” Irvin also appeared on Fox Sports Net’s NFL pregame show the last two seasons, but the main NFL shows are on the Fox network, CBS and ESPN.

-- Larry Stewart