Cardinals GM Steve Keim returns from suspension after DUI

Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim returned Wednesday from a five-week suspension stemming from his July 4 DUI arrest.

Keim plead guilty to extreme DUI at a Chandler court two weeks after his arrest and was suspended on July 17. He was additionally fined $200,000 and entered counseling and evaluation programs as part of his punishment. He was not allowed to contact the Cardinals during his suspension, which was lifted after he served the suspension and went through mandatory DUI education programs.

“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 in mid-July. “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.”

After his arrest, Keim’s blood alcohol content registered at .19, according to the Chandler Police Department’s forensic report.

Cardinals president Michael Bidwill took on some of Keim’s duties during the GM’s suspension and said the five-week length was conditional to whether Keim completed his education programs.

During Keim’s absence, the team most notably signed safety Tre Boston and defensive linemen Jacquies Smith and Arthur Moats, who could vie for spots on the 53-man roster.

“We can pretty much predict Steve’s decisions here with great accuracy. We’re going to try to make the decisions Steve Keim would make,” Bidwill said on July 27. “We feel there has been no drop-off here from his absence.

“The only issues that I’m really weighing in is some decisions on player signings. I’m trying to just move along in a very business-like fashion.”

Arizona has yet to come to an agreement on a contract extension with running back David Johnson, who will be a free agent after the 2018 season.

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