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Noblesville, Ind. • The NFL suspended Jim Irsay for the first six games of the season and fined him $500,000 for violating its personal conduct policy, coming down hard on the Indianapolis Colts owner Tuesday just hours after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor stemming from an embarrassing March traffic stop.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said Irsay is barred from team facilities, practices and games and cannot represent the Colts at NFL meetings or events. The fine is the maximum allowed under league rules.

"I have stated on numerous occasions that owners, management personnel and coaches must be held to a higher standard than players," Goodell told Irsay in a letter released by the NFL. "We discussed this during our meeting and you expressed your support for that view, volunteering that owners should be held to the highest standard."

The 55-year-old Irsay pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving while intoxicated and acknowledged during his appearance before a Hamilton County judge that he was under the influence of the painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone when he was arrested March 16 near his home in the Indianapolis suburb of Carmel.

Around the league

Broncos • Receiver Wes Welker was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substance, according to cbssports.com. Welker failed a drug test after taking ecstasy laced with amphetamines while at the Kentucky Derby, according to ProFootballTalk.com.

Cowboys • rookie defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will miss at least half the season after being placed on the short-term injured list because of a broken right foot.

Texans • Defensive end J.J. Watt has agreed to terms on a contract extension for six years and $100 million, with $51.8 million guaranteed and a $10 million signing bonus. —

Week 1 schedule

Thursday

Green Bay at Seattle, 6:30 p.m., NFL Network

Sunday

11 a.m. games

Minnesota at St. Louis

Buffalo at Chicago

Washington at Houston

Tennessee at Kansas City

New Orleans at Atlanta

Cleveland at Pittsburgh

Jacksonville at Philadelphia

Oakland at N.Y. Jets

Cincinnati at Baltimore

New England at Miami 2:25 games

San Francisco at Dallas

Carolina at Tampa Bay

Indianapolis at Denver, 6:30 p.m., ESPN

Monday

N.Y. Giants at Detroit, 5:10 p.m.

San Diego at Arizona, 8:20 p.m.