After the Indianapolis Colts team owner pled guilty on Tuesday to operating a vehicle while intoxicated and was sentenced to a year of probation, the league came down with its own sanctions.
Irsay has been suspended for six regular-season games and has been fined $500,000 for violating the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy, the league announced in a statement.
Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote an open letter to Irsay, which stated: "I have stated on numerous occasions that owners, management personnel and coaches must be held to a higher standard than players. We discussed this during our meeting and you expressed your support for that view, volunteering that owners should be held to the highest standard."
Here are the terms of the suspension, per the NFL's release:
1. During the suspension, which takes effect at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Mr. Irsay may not be present at the club's facility, may not attend any practices or games, may not represent the club at league or league committee meetings or at any other team or league event, and may not conduct media interviews or engage in social media regarding any team or league matters.
2. Irsay will be subject to ongoing treatment, counseling, and testing as determined by medical professionals and the Indiana court.
The $500K fine levied on Irsay is the maximum allowed under league rules. What's more, Goodell stated that the Colts will not face penalties, such as forfeited draft picks, since Irsay's conduct did not present "competitive consequences."
Irsay was arrested on March 16, near his home in Carmel, Ind., when police spotted him driving erratically. He failed field sobriety tests and a multitude of prescription drugs were found in the vehicle.
Shortly after the suspension was nnounced, Irsay released a statement sent to members of the Colts organization:
Irsay has been suspended for six regular-season games and has been fined $500,000 for violating the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy, the league announced in a statement.
Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote an open letter to Irsay, which stated: "I have stated on numerous occasions that owners, management personnel and coaches must be held to a higher standard than players. We discussed this during our meeting and you expressed your support for that view, volunteering that owners should be held to the highest standard."
Here are the terms of the suspension, per the NFL's release:
1. During the suspension, which takes effect at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Mr. Irsay may not be present at the club's facility, may not attend any practices or games, may not represent the club at league or league committee meetings or at any other team or league event, and may not conduct media interviews or engage in social media regarding any team or league matters.
2. Irsay will be subject to ongoing treatment, counseling, and testing as determined by medical professionals and the Indiana court.
The $500K fine levied on Irsay is the maximum allowed under league rules. What's more, Goodell stated that the Colts will not face penalties, such as forfeited draft picks, since Irsay's conduct did not present "competitive consequences."
Irsay was arrested on March 16, near his home in Carmel, Ind., when police spotted him driving erratically. He failed field sobriety tests and a multitude of prescription drugs were found in the vehicle.
Shortly after the suspension was nnounced, Irsay released a statement sent to members of the Colts organization:
"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. 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.
"In retrospect, I now know that the incident opened my eyes to issues in my life that needed addressing and helped put me on the path to regain my health. I truly hope and pray that my episode will help in some small measure to diminish the stigma surrounding our country’s terrible and deadly problem of addiction. It is a disease like other progressive, terminal diseases—one that can only be successfully treated by understanding, committed hard work, and spiritual growth.
"I am deeply grateful for the tremendous outpouring of love and support during these past few months from my family, friends, care-givers, and our great community. Please know I am firmly committed to staying on my path to good health and I look forward to a great season."
This marks the first time the NFL has suspended a team owner since 1999, when the league banned then-San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. for an entire season — which included a $1 million fine — following his guilty plea in 1998 to a felony charge of failing to report that Louisiana's former governor allegedly extorted $400,000 from him to win a casino license."In retrospect, I now know that the incident opened my eyes to issues in my life that needed addressing and helped put me on the path to regain my health. I truly hope and pray that my episode will help in some small measure to diminish the stigma surrounding our country’s terrible and deadly problem of addiction. It is a disease like other progressive, terminal diseases—one that can only be successfully treated by understanding, committed hard work, and spiritual growth.
"I am deeply grateful for the tremendous outpouring of love and support during these past few months from my family, friends, care-givers, and our great community. Please know I am firmly committed to staying on my path to good health and I look forward to a great season."
