Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill addressed the media for the first time on Friday following the DUI arrest of General Manager Steve Keim.
"In this day and age there's no excuse to drink and drive, we have Lyft, and we have Uber," said Bidwill. "It was not a mistake; it was not an accident, he made a conscientious decision to drive after he'd been drinking."
Body cam footage from the early morning hours of July 4 shows Cardinal GM Steve Keim with Chandler police officers. Keim was pulled over for driving erratically.
Police say Keim's eyes were bloodshot; his breath smelled like alcohol, he was slurring his speech, and reportedly unable to follow a pen with his eyes during a field sobriety test.
At the time, Keim declined other tests and a breathalyzer.
"You know I've suspended him for five weeks and fined him $200,000," said Bidwill.
Harsh penalties established after it was revealed Keim's blood alcohol was twice the legal limit.
"You know I came down hard on him, and he knew that was going to be that case," said Bidwill.
Keim must also complete state alcohol classes among other requirements before rejoining the team. Bidwill following up those penalties with a stern warning to the rest of the organization.
"There's no excuse, and I've had the conversation with our staff with our players, and to talk about what the expectations are," said Bidwill.
Keim is eligible to return to the team August 23.
