Keenan Allen remains with the Indianapolis Colts following a DUI arrest Sunday and, from listening to general manager Chris Ballard address the matter on Tuesday, that’s not going to change anytime soon.
“Good people make mistakes, OK?” said in articulating an initial defense for keeping the veteran wide receiver on the roster heading into the team’s regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.
“He’s a tremendous human being. Give him some grace. And he’ll work through the process of the legal system.”
So, it is clear that is what the Colts intend to do.
Allen was a late training camp addition because the Colts decided they needed insurance against Alec Pierce’s return to health from a lingering calf and heel issue.
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He signed a one-year contract on Aug. 19 and it made sense because the 34-year-old wide receiver is reuniting with head coach Shane Steichen, who previously worked with Allen in Los Angeles.
Allen also came with an endorsement from Philip Rivers, who played for the Colts previously and after Daniel Jones was injured last year. Rivers and Allen were teammates with the Chargers.
And that history is a major reason Ballard is defending Allen.
“Fourteen years in a league, no issues, OK?” Ballard said. “Decorated career, decorated teammate, as you know, our relationship with Philip Rivers. I know Philip holds him in extremely high regard, and Shane was with him.
“And after you meet his his mom and dad who are just amazing people, we feel good about who he is.
“Unequivocally.”
Allen played in only one preseason game for the Colts after being signed. But hours after that preseason appearance Saturday, he was arrested at approximately 1 a.m., Sunday in downtown Indianapolis.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said officers investigated after seeing Allen’s vehicle parked in a no-parking zone in the 100 block of South Meridian Street and reported signs of intoxication.
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Allen was booked on preliminary misdemeanor charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated while endangering another person and operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol concentration of at least 0.08%.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed Allens precise blood-alcohol reading.
Allen was transported to the Marion County Arrestee Processing Center, with records indicating he was released at 3:49 p.m., Sunday. No bond amount has been publicly reported.
The Marion County Prosecutors Office will make the final charging decision on Allen, while the NFL continues to monitor the situation, according to a league source. Allen could be subject to discipline under the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.
The NFL has quite a few Personal Conduct Policy issues pending.
Allen’s first scheduled court date is Sept. 16, three days after the Colts’ regular-season opener against the Ravens.
