North Texas celebrities walked the red carpet Thursday night to benefit the Dallas Cowboys scout who was paralyzed in the collapse of the team's indoor training facility.
Michael Irvin gave up what should have been his night in the spotlight -- the premiere of his Spike TV reality show, "4th and Long" -- for Rich Behm.
"I thought to myself, 'Wow, what a courageous man this is,'" Irvin said. "I know the fear of laying on that carpet, thinking you may be paralyzed."
Irvin walked away from his scare, but doctors say Behm will never walk again.
His spine was severed nearly two weeks ago when high winds destroyed the Cowboys' indoor practice facility.
With the father of three is still in the hospital, his wife, Michelle, accepted a check for $40,000 on the couple's behalf.
"We all feel for him," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "He's got a different direction now, but boy, is he smart, and he's always been our brightest in our scouting department, and we are going to take advantage of that."
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Friends and family expect Behm to be released from the hospital next month and eventually be back to work.
"He's the kind of a guy that doesn't look back," coach Wade Phillips said. "He looks forward all the time, and it's really inspirational, and I think he will be an inspiration to everybody."
Donations for the family have been coming in from around the United States. Jones said another NFL owner sent the Behms a $25,000 check on the spot right after the collapse.
