Colts Owner Jim Irsay recently discussed his DUI arrest with Bob Kravitz of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR, who reflected on Irsay's comments and wrote, "I heard some things in our conversation that gave me pause, specifically his reticence about apologizing for what happened in March." Irsay "put the Colts and the NFL in an unfavorable light," and "made the wrong kind of news for a league that is very proprietary about its image, which seems to take hits every other day." Kravitz: "Isn't that worth at least a modicum of contrition? Anything? Something? ... At times, I felt like Irsay had seen the light. At other times, I was as concerned about him as I was in the months, even years, leading up to his arrest. So the bottom line is, I don't know if he's OK now or not" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/14).
CRIME & PUNISHMENT: ESPN's Ashley Fox said the fact that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "has not rushed to judge Irsay while the legal process unfolds has enraged" NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith "and the players whom Goodell has not afforded the same courtesy." Fox: "But an NFL source told me it is not a matter of if, but when, Goodell will discipline Irsay -- and how harshly. The punishment needs to be substantial. An eight-game suspension and seven-digit fine would be a good start, but Goodell should dock the Colts at least one high draft pick and require Irsay to submit to drug-testing as long as he owns the Colts. Goodell made personal conduct his mission; now, when it comes to disciplining one of his bosses, he needs to prove he's not operating under a double standard" ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 6/15).
DID THEY SEE IT COMING? CSN New England's Tom Curran wrote, "It’s easy and convenient for the NFL to tsk-tsk about Jim Irsay now. I wonder how many in ownership or the league office had the courage and kindness to speak to him and not just about him the past few years if they were concerned about his behavior." Goodell and his staff "should have been more than monitoring Irsay but working on him" (CSNNE.com, 6/16).
