Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has been suspended for six games and fined a half-million by the NFL stemming from his DUI incident last March. Irsay plead guilt in an Indiana courtroom to one misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The other charges were dropped in a plea agreement.
The 55-year-old Irsay admitted to a judge he was under the influence of the painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone. His toxicology report also showed Xanax in his system. Plus he had $29,000 cash on him.
“I acknowledge the mistake I made last March and stand responsible for the consequences of that mistake, for which I sincerely apologize to our community and to Colts fans everywhere,” Irsay said in a statement released shortly after the NFL announced the penalties. “Even more importantly, though, I am committed to do everything in my power to turn this whole experience into a positive event for myself, my family, and the community.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement where he expressed that coaches, owners and team execs are held to a higher standard.
“I have stated on numerous occasions that owners, management personnel and coaches must be held to a higher standard than players,” Goodell said to Irsay in a letter, which was attached to the league’s statement. “We discussed this during our meeting and you expressed your support for that view, volunteering that owners should be held to the highest standard.”
Irsay’s license has been suspended for one year for refusing to take a breathalyzer at the time of his arrest. He’s also not allowed to have alcohol for one year and must provide a valid prescription for all medication. In addition to that, Irsay is on a one-year probation and must submit to drug tests.
