NFL

Tuesday's NFL: Cardinals suspend, fine GM for DUI

Associated Press
Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim

Tempe, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals suspended general manager Steve Keim for five weeks and fined him $200,000 after he pleaded guilty in court Tuesday to extreme DUI following a Fourth of July arrest in a Phoenix suburb.

A Chandler police report shows Keim had a blood-alcohol level of 0.19, more than twice Arizona’s legal limit of 0.08 for drivers.

It wasn’t immediately clear when Keim would be sentenced or if he was facing a jail term.

The Cardinals report to training camp at University of Phoenix Stadium on July 27.

Keim has been the Cardinals GM since 2013 and signed a contract extension in February through the 2022 NFL season.

According to the arrest report, Keim told police he only had two beers and ate pizza two hours before he got pulled over around 12:30 a.m. in Chandler.

But officers said they smelled alcohol on Keim’s breath and he had slurred speech.

Keim also refused to take several field sobriety tests, but did consent to have his blood drawn.

“As stated at the time of the incident, this behavior is indefensible and completely unacceptable,” the Cardinals said in a statement Tuesday. “While Steve has accepted full accountability and responsibility for his actions, that does not diminish their gravity nor the severity of the consequences that result from them.

“Those who work within the National Football League  particularly those in leadership positions  bear a greater responsibility and are held to a higher standard than simply a legal one and we feel that these measures are reflective of that.”

During his suspension, Keim will be barred from the Cardinals’ facilities and prohibited contact with the team.

He won’t be allowed to return to the team until after he’s completed counseling and evaluation plus a DUI education course.

The $200,000 fine will be donated to the Arizona chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

“Once again, I apologize to everyone who has been negatively impacted by my actions and incredibly poor judgment, in particular the Cardinals, our fans and my family,” Keim said in a statement released by the team Tuesday.

“I fully deserve and accept the punishment that has been issued. My goal is to do everything I can to grow from this personally and help others learn from my inexcusable behavior.”

Cowboys' Gregory reinstated

The NFL reinstated Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory, who was suspended all of last season over multiple violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy.

The league said that Gregory can join the Cowboys at training camp in California next week and will be eligible for games as long as he continues to meet the terms of his reinstatement.

Gregory was suspended just before the Cowboys lost a playoff game to Green Bay during the 2016 season. He had been banned 14 games that year and played in the final two regular-season games before the latest suspension, his third.

Dallas drafted the Nebraska standout late in the second round in 2015. Gregory slid in the draft over off-field concerns. He tested positive for marijuana during the NFL combine that year.

Extra points

The Los Angeles Rams agreed to a five-year extension with wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

The Rams traded their first- and sixth-round picks in the 2018 draft to the New England Patriots for Cooks and a fourth-round pick earlier this year.

Before joining the Rams, Cooks played in 58 regular-season games with 46 starts, and had at least 1,000 yards receiving in each of the past three seasons.

The fifth-year pro has 280 receptions for 3,943 yards and 27 touchdowns, and averages 14.1 yards per reception. He had nine 100-plus yard receiving games in 2016 with the New Orleans Saints.

... Tom Stephens, an original member of the Patriots and a two-way player, died at 82.

According to a funeral announcement, he died at his home last week in Naples, Florida. No cause was given.

Stephens was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1959. He signed with the Boston Patriots for their inaugural season in 1960 and played five seasons until 1964, appearing in 49 games as a tight end and defensive back.