Cardinals suspend GM Steve Keim for five weeks after he pleads guilty to DUI
Jul 17, 2018, 2:46 PM | Updated: 4:59 pm
Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim does an interview with The Doug & Wolf Show on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (Matt Layman/Arizona Sports)
(Matt Layman/Arizona Sports)
The Arizona Cardinals have immediately suspended general manager Steve Keim for five weeks after he pleaded guilty to extreme DUI at a Chandler court on Tuesday, the team said.
Arizona also fined Keim $200,000, a total that will be donated to the Arizona chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
Keim was arrested in the early hours of July 4 on suspicion of DUI. His blood alcohol content registered at .19, according to the Chandler Police Department’s forensic report.
“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 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.”
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Keim will not be allowed around the Cardinals facilities during his suspension and will be prohibited from contacting team personnel.
He will not be allowed to return to work until he has “completed comprehensive counseling and evaluation programs as well as mandatory DUI education.” The general manager will also “participate in community programs related to DUI awareness,” the Cardinals’ statement said.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the team and the NFL were in contact when deciding on the discipline given to Keim and the GM will face no additional punishments from the league.
“As stated at the time of the incident, this behavior is indefensible and completely unacceptable. 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,” the team’s release said.
“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.”
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