Colts Owner Jim Irsay is "forbidden to have any sort of contact" with the franchise as part of his six-game suspension stemming from his plea to impaired driving, but team officials claim he "left a plan in place for how the team was to be run," according to NBC's Michele Tafoya. The Colts "would not give details" and they "refused to confirm some of the reports that are out there" ("Colts-Broncos," NBC, 9/7). In Indianapolis, Mike Chappell reported Irsay's daughters, led by Carlie Irsay-Gordon, will "handle the day-to-day operations during the suspension." That was the same setup when Irsay "checked himself into a rehabilitation facility" this spring. Colts coach Chuck Pagano said it would be "business as usual" during Irsay's suspension. Meanwhile, the financial impact of the $500,000 fine the NFL imposed against Irsay is debatable "for someone of Irsay's ilk," but no one should "question the impact a six-game suspension will have" on him. Colts WR Reggie Wayne prior to last night's game said, "I truly believe he's somewhere hurting right now not being able to be around here. To some degree, this is him home. Whenever you own something and they take away the keys so you can't go into your own establishment, man, that's tough." Chappell noted Irsay is "visible, but not intrusive," when it comes to the Colts. He offers "input and maintains veto power but believes in delegating authority and allowing those in decision-making positions to do their jobs" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 9/7).
OPINIONS STILL DIFFER ON PENALTIES: In N.Y., Mike Lupica wondered if the players who believe NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "went soft" on Irsay really thought Goodell "was going to give Irsay a year for a first offense." Were they "unaware that $500,000 was all Irsay could be fined under the league’s by-laws?" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/7). But in Boston, Ben Volin wrote, "Sorry, Goodell, but suspending Jim Irsay six games and fining him $500,000 following his DUI plea deal is not holding him to a higher standard" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/7). Meanwhile, CBS Sports Network's Amy Trask said, "We can talk all we want about whether that authority is the appropriate amount or if there should be an authority to go beyond that. What has amused me throughout this process is listening to people saying, ‘They should take away six weeks worth of national television money.’ There’s these things called debt covenant hurdles and EBITDA hurdles. Listen up folks, you cannot say to an owner, ‘We're taking six weeks of national revenues away from you.’ Because you do have these banking covenants, debt covenants, EBITDA covenants." Irsay "needs that money to pay the players," and he "needs that money to pay salaries and to meet those covenants." Trask: "I understand that people don't think $500,000 feels like a lot of money to a man or to a family that is worth the amount the Irsays are worth. But you have to let the organization still meet its business covenant" ("That Other Pregame Show," CBSSN, 9/7).
