Colts owner Jim Irsay likely won't face jail time if found guilty, legal experts say

[Rapunzel]

[Oceander]

If he's smart and has a good criminal defense attorney, he'll get a plea to a misdemeanor - the operating while intoxicated charge - with a fine - a large fine - and lots of community service, including personal appearances to ads warning people of the dangers of using drugs illegally and driving while intoxicated, and a whole big heapin' helpin' of sincere regret for what he did, with thanks to God that he didn't hurt anyone.

[mountaineer]

The "Pardon the Interruption" guys on ESPN discussed last night what the NFL might do to him. After all, they argued, if Goodell punishes players who get into trouble with the law, he has to do the same to owners. 

Bob Kravitz writes in the Indianapolis Star:

In a twisted way, Jim Irsay's friends have been praying for this day. They've been praying for the day when he'd reach rock bottom and be forced to come to terms with a drug problem that he's battled for some time.

"He's a sick, sick man,'' one source told me. "He desperately needs help.''

There was a sad inevitability to what happened Sunday night in Carmel, Ind. Irsay faces four felony counts after being arrested on preliminary charges of driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance. For years, Colts insiders have known that Irsay was struggling again with drugs. For years, they fought to get him into rehabilitation. At the very least, they fought to get him a driver in the hopes of keeping away from getting behind the wheel. ...

rest of story at  USA Today

He also addresses what Goodell might do.