When an NFL player is arrested, his team typically issues a perfunctory, non-committal statement. For the first time in the full-blown age of the Internet, an owner has been arrested.
And the Colts have issued a perfunctory, non-committal statement.
“We are gathering information at this time regarding last night’s incident involving Jim Irsay,” the statement reads. “The team will issue additional statements when the facts are sorted and we are aware of the next steps to this process. Many fans have reached out to express their concern and we appreciate their support.”
It’s unclear who is speaking on behalf of the organization when the owner is the subject of the statement. That gives an odd and surreal quality to a situation that is already odd and surreal.
The NFL will be walking a fine line here, balancing discipline against assistance and, ultimately, fairness to the Colts franchise. However, at a time when the league office has insisted on a high standard of conduct from players, the league office can’t afford to be perceived as anything other than consistent in the treatment given to an owner.