What was the tipping point for Michael Irvin?

When he neglected to tell his ESPN bosses that he had been arrested after police found a drug pipe in his car, or when he jokingly attributed Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo's athletic ability to a slave ancestry?
Both gaffes played a role in the benching of "The Playmaker," but so did this: ESPN talent evaluators had mixed opinions of his work.

As is the case in athletics, bad behavior will be tolerated only if you're a star. It's the sliding scale of morality.

So Irvin is out at ESPN, and Bill Parcells might be back in. Reports out of Dallas say the network has already locked up the former Cowboys coach, but an ESPN official on Monday called that premature.

Parcells' return to "NFL Countdown" would be a natural. He brought his Jersey swagger to the show in 2001-2002 before returning to the sidelines in Dallas. If Parcells falls through, the network will look at Emmitt Smith.

The timing of the Irvin decision makes perfect sense. ESPN despises bad publicity, and firing Irvin after his arrest or his Romo comments would have caused national headlines—and perhaps prompted another legal headache.

ESPN already is in litigation with Harold Reynolds, the baseball analyst whom the network fired in July, presumably for sexual harassment. Reynolds is suing ESPN for wrongful termination and seeking damages in excess of $5 million.

While Reynolds left under protest, Irvin's response was mellow, particularly for a guy known for outrageous commentary and outlandish suits.

"I truly appreciate what ESPN allowed me to do, but it was time to move on," he told the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram. "These are exciting times for me and my family. There are a lot of opportunities to explore."

Irvin, elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this month, played Deacon Moss in the film "The Longest Yard" and said he wants to explore more acting gigs. He'll have to change his act if he ever wants another shot at ESPN.