Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett shares a legendary Michael Irvin practice story

Published Jun. 16, 2016 12:48 p.m. ET

foxsports

While the term "Valley Ranch" doesn't mean much to the average football fan, it remains one of the most iconic palaces in the sport. The Cowboys practice facility opened in 1985 and has been home to three Super Bowl champions and many of football's biggest stars, not to mention most dynamic personalities as well.

Of course, like all good things, Valley Ranch's run has to come to an end, and that end is today. The Cowboys will hold their final practice at the facility before moving to a brand new facility in Frisco, Texas, when they return from training camp this summer.

And as part of Valley Ranch's closing, ESPN did a deep dive into the facility, with many past and present Cowboys stars sharing their best memories. That included current coach Jason Garrett, who served as a backup quarterback with the club from 1993 to 1999, and was part of two Super Bowl-winning teams.

He was also a regular throwing partner of the legendary -- and infamous -- Michael Irvin, and shared a crazy practice story from their time together at Valley Ranch.

While we're not sure what a "Walter Payton mouthpiece means" (we assume one of the big, bulky variety), Garrett's quote really does show you how special Irvin and those early-to-mid '90s Cowboys teams were. Yes, they partied hard off the field, but there's also no doubt that when they walked in the four doors of Valley Ranch, they came to work.

And there might be no better example of that than Irvin. For all the brash, loud quotes he provided as a player, he was also a guy -- according to many from those teams -- who was one of the hardest workers. There is a reason, after all, that he finished his career with over 11,000 receiving yards and ended up in the Hall of Fame.

It was because of his work ethic, and because of stories like the one Garrett shared above.