The Associated Press

DALLAS - Dallas Cowboys star Michael Irvin and three others who were in a motel room where police found cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia appeared before a grand jury yesterday in answer to subpoenas.

Irvin, former Cowboys tight end Alfredo Roberts, Angela Beck and Jasmine Nabwangu were tight-lipped about the behind-closed-door proceedings with the panel investigating the events that led to Beck's arrest on drug charges.

The All-Pro wide receiver - wearing dark glasses, a dark blue suit and a black mink coat - signed an autograph for one courthouse visitor, but refused to discuss the day's events with reporters.

''Why do I have to tell you guys anything?'' Irvin asked as he boarded an elevator at the Frank Crowley Criminal Courts building.

Attorneys also had little to say.

''We can't comment on anything that occurred today,'' Irvin's attorney, Kevin Clancy, said as he left the courthouse with his client as grand jurors recessed for lunch. ''I can't discuss anything right now.''

Irvin and his attorney met with prosecutors Monday but declined comment, citing a gag order issued by state District Judge John Creuzot.

The judge, who issued the five-page decree, said yesterday he was concerned about the amount of attention the high-profile case has received.

''It's obvious that there's been a lot of pretrial publicity surrounding all these grand jury proceedings. To be perfectly honest, I've seen so much in the media that is factually not true,'' Creuzot said, refusing to elaborate.

He said he was also concerned about the ability of somebody to get a fair trial in Dallas, should the grand jury return an indictment in the case.

Creuzot's order says ''it appears to the Court that the extensive pretrial publicity by way of interviews of the lawyers for both the state and defense and possible leaks of confidential information have compromised the ability of the grand jury to conduct its investigation ... in a fair, impartial and secret manner.''

The grand jury has a three-month term that lasts until the end of March.

Fort Worth television station KXAS, quoting unidentified sources close to the investigation, has reported that Roberts and Nabwangu refused to testify before the grand jury last week, citing their 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination.

The station said prosecutors would order them to testify Tuesday, promising that nothing they say will be used against them.

Only Beck was arrested after police entered an Irving motel room early March 4. A motel manager made a 911 call to complain about a noisy party involving possible prostitution and drug use.

Police said they found about 3 ounces of marijuana, 2 ounces of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Arresting officers said the drugs were in Beck's immediate proximity and she told them the narcotics belonged to her.

KXAS-TV, again quoting unidentified sources, reported that police found a glass container with cocaine residue in an overnight bag of Irwin's.

On Sunday, before the gag order was imposed, Irvin expressed faith in the legal system.

''The courts will straighten this out,'' he said.

Before the gag order, First Assistant District Attorney Norm Kinne criticized the decision to arrest only Beck.

''(She) only was arrested because she admitted to owning the drugs,'' Kinne told WFAA-TV of Dallas. ''I believe they had probable cause to arrest everyone in the room. They should have filed the charges and let us worry about (the prosecution).''

Jail records show that Irvin's attorney visited Beck at the jail shortly before 4 a.m. and helped arrange her release on $5,500 bond.

The coming season will mark Irvin's seventh in the NFL - all with the Cowboys €after attending Miami (Fla.). The Cowboys won their third Super Bowl in four years in January.