Colts owner Jim Irsay faces two sixty-day jail sentences in connection with his arrest for driving while intoxicated in March. The two driving while intoxicated charges looming over the owner’s head stem from the presence of either oxycodone or hydrocone in Irsay’s system. In a best case scenario situation, the second generation NFL owner now looks at two misdemeanors, rather than felonies, from the episode.
Irsay immediately retreated to rehab after his arrest. Commissioner Roger Goodell, who revealed at his State of the NFL address prior to the Super Bowl that he undergoes random drug testing and passes, faces pressure to suspend and fine the owner for behavior that he would suspend and fine a player for. In addition to nearly $30,000 in cash, Irsay allegedly possessed scores of pills he didn’t hold a prescription for at the time of his arrest.
Irsay participated in the recent NFL owners meetings following his arrest and made a losing case for another Super Bowl in Indianapolis. Ben Roethlisberger, never even charged with a crime in connection to a sexual misconduct allegation, endured a six-game suspension meted out by Goodell in 2010. The divergent approaches to punishment has led to cries of hypocrisy.
“There have been no charges,” Goodell explained this week prior to the case filed against Irsay. “So the answer is, until we have more information or more facts, we will let it play out.”
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.