NFL suspends Colts owner Jim Irsay for 6 games

Colts owner Jim Irsay will miss his first game since the team moved to Indianapolis in 1984 — and his second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth.

After a Hamilton County court sentenced Irsay to a year's probation in his impaired driving case, the NFL suspended the billionaire for six games and fined him $500,000.

The suspension begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday and prevents Irsay from attending practices or games, including Sunday night's regular season opener at Denver. Irsay, an avid user of Twitter, is also prohibited from using social media and doing interviews. The fine was the maximum under current NFL rules and tied for fourth-largest in league history.

Within about three hours Tuesday, the legal system and the NFL delivered punishments that had been speculated on since Irsay's March 16 arrest by Carmel police.

Late Tuesday morning, a Hamilton County judge accepted Irsay's guilty plea to one count of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor. Irsay admitted having hydrocodone, oxycodone and alprazolam (Xanax) in his system.

Irsay's sentence included one year of probation, during which he may not consume or possess alcohol, and his driver's license was revoked for one year and 40 days.

The punishment was "typical," said attorney Steve Stoesz, who has experience with cases similar to Irsay's in Hamilton County.

The prosecutor's office also made its first public comments on why it did not file felony charges against Irsay. The initial charges included four counts of felony possession of a controlled substance. Police reported "finding numerous prescription medication bottles containing pills."

Spokesman Andre Miksha said the prosecutor could only go forward with the felony charges if Irsay didn't have "a valid prescription or the authority of a doctor."

"Given what we had," Miksha said, "we didn't believe those would be charges we could make."

After his plea agreement hearing, with reporters waiting in front of the court building in Noblesville, Irsay used a tunnel to another building across the street to leave without being seen and speaking publicly.

Irsay later released a statement saying, "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."

The NFL announced its punishment in a statement from commissioner Roger Goodell. The league's owners, management and coaches "must be held to a higher standard than players," the statement said. It added that during a meeting, Irsay told Goodell that "owners should be held to the highest standard."

Goodell said the Colts did not have to forfeit any draft choices because Irsay's misconduct did not give his team a competitive advantage.

In the months leading to Tuesday's announcements, NFL players and many fans were wary of an owner receiving soft treatment under the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy, which gives Goodell sweeping power to impose discipline.

George Atallah, assistant executive director of external affairs for the NFL Players Association, declined comment on Irsay's punishment.

Irsay will be subject to random drug testing as part of his probation and the results will be shared with the NFL.

Judge J. Richard Campbell told Irsay in court that if he is arrested for operating while intoxicated within the next five years, the charge will be a felony.

While Irsay sought treatment in rehabilitation centers after his arrest, day-to-day control of the team went to his oldest daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, 33. The same arrangement is expected during Irsay's suspension, although the Colts made no formal announcement on the subject.

"Nothing's going to change," Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said on the Dan Dakich Show on 1070 AM just before the suspension and fine were announced by the NFL. "We've been down this road before when he was away. Nothing's going to change. We've had plenty of adversity around here. This is another one we have to overcome."

It is the first time in Goodell's eight years as commissioner he has disciplined an owner for impaired driving.

After the 2010 arrest of Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand for driving while impaired, Goodell suspended him for 30 days and fined him $100,000. The suspension was reduced to 21 days when Lewand completed steps required by the league and the Lions.

The late Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams was fined $250,000 for making an obscene gesture to the crowd during a game in Nashville in 2009.

Irsay has spoken of chronic pain in his hip and lower back and admitted his addiction to painkillers. He also underwent treatment in 2002 for drug addiction.

Irsay's full sentence includes 60 days in jail, 58 of which were suspended. He received two days of credit for time spent in jail after his arrest.

Irsay had to pay $368.50 for court costs and fees.

Irsay may have to appear in court in an unrelated case involving custody of two minor children who live with their mother in a million-dollar home Irsay bought earlier this year.

Morgan Superior Court Judge G. Thomas Gray has already ruled against an attempt to kill a subpoena requiring Irsay to testify.

The Martinsville custody case centers on Greg Martin's concern about the well-being of his minor children, ages 17 and 12, when they are in Irsay's presence.

In a letter to the court, Martin stated that his children were in the home of his ex-wife, Jami Martin, on the night of Irsay's arrest. The home is a few blocks from where he was arrested by Carmel police.

Stephen Holder and Phil Richards contributed to this story.

Contact Mark Alesia at 317-444-6311, @markalesia and mark.alesia@indystar.com.