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Jim Irsay Pleads Guilty to One Misdemeanor Count of OWI

Colts owner Jim Irsay pleaded guilty this morning to one misdemeanor count of operating while intoxicated. The other misdemeanor charge was dismissed.

By Josh Wilson
Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

Colts owner Jim Irsay appeared in Hamilton County court this morning at 11 a.m. for a hearing on his change of plea deal.  Irsay this morning pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of operating while intoxicated.  The other misdemeanor charge was dismissed.

Irsay will be on probation for a year and will be subject to random drug testing.  He also has had his driver's license suspended for a year.  Here are more details from the courtroom:

We'll have more details as they come out, but Irsay's legal situation with this case has reached resolution.  Now, it't time to wait and see what NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's punishment will be.  Here's what I wrote on that subject last week:

"Additionally, with this situation coming to a resolution soon, it likely means that potential discipline from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will come soon as well.  Many expect it to be a suspension from around 4-8 games and then a hefty fine as well, though it remains to be seen what will actually happen.  Some wondered whether the incredibly easy punishment handed out to Ray Rice would mean that Irsay couldn't get too much either, but let's be quick to note that the league has since changed their policy on domestic violence and that the situations are not really comparable.  We don't know what punishment Irsay will get, but comparing it to the Ray Rice suspension isn't the right way to go.  What is certain, however, is that the NFLPA is watching how Goodell handles this situation closely, and there's certainly some punishment coming.  It looks like that might come sooner rather than later, as Irsay has reached a plea deal and will appear in court next Tuesday."

[UPDATE:] ESPN'S Adam Schefter (who's normally right), citing league sources, says to expect Irsay's punishment from the NFL to come before Thursday night's regular season opener:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Now that Colts owner Jim Irsay has pled guilty, NFL expected to discipline him before Thursday Night&#39;s GB-SEA opener, per league sources.</p>&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/statuses/506841339607388160">September 2, 2014</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Under the NFL&#39;s constitution, Jim Irsay cannot be fined more than $500,000 unless Roger Goodell went to owners to request heavier penalties.</p>&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/statuses/506841643702812672">September 2, 2014</a></blockquote>

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