Colts Owner Jim Irsay Suspended 6 Games, Fined $500K

The NFL has suspended Colts owner Jim Irsay for six games and fined him $500,000.

The suspension takes effect Wednesday at 5 p.m. and prohibits him from being involved in any team activities.  That means he's not allowed at games, practices, team events, league meetings, media interviews, team social media.  Yes, that means Irsay has been banned from twitter too.

The money isn't going to hurt Irsay one bit.  But the suspension?  That'll really affect him.  He LOVES owning the team and being around them.  For the next six weeks, he won't be able to.

This punishment is right along with what was expected.  We all expected the NFL to come down hard on Irsay to make a statement, and they have.  The $500K was the most Commissioner Roger Goodell could give without seeking special permission.  Goodell acted quickly, and Goodell acted fairly.

In Irsay's absence running the team, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Pete Ward, and Ryan Grigson will all take on increased roles in running the day-to-day operations.  During Irsay's previous absence from the team earlier this year while getting help for his issues, the three also stepped up, though Jim Irsay was still involved.  Now, he's not allowed to be at all (although, granted, he can still talk with his daughter).Earlier today, Irsay appeared in court, pleasing guity to one misdemeanor count of OWI.  He received a one-year probation that submits him to random drug testing.

Here's the full release the NFL sent out:

Following his plea of guilty to one misdemeanor count of driving while impaired, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has been suspended for the team's first six regular-season games and fined $500,000 for violating the league's Personal Conduct Policy,  NFL announced today. Mr. Irsay will be eligible to return following the Colts' game against the Houston Texans on October 9.

Terms of the suspension imposed by Commissioner Roger Goodell include the following:

- During the suspension, which takes effect at 5 p.m. ET tomorrow, 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.

- In addition, Mr. Irsay is fined $500,000, the maximum permitted under league rules.
- Mr. Irsay will be subject to ongoing treatment, counseling, and testing as determined by medical professionals and the Indiana court.

Commissioner Goodell noted that no draft choice forfeiture or other competitive sanction will be assessed because the conduct did not have competitive consequences.

In a letter to Mr. Irsay, Commissioner Goodell said, "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."