NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (AP) — 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.

Irsay did not comment outside the courtroom, but he apologized to Colts fans in a prepared statement.

Bills

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Three people close to discussions tell The Associated Press at least three groups have entered final negotiations to buy the Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula, real estate mogul Donald Trump and a Toronto-based group that includes rocker Jon Bon Jovi have received formal documents in advance of a bid deadline on Monday. The people spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the sale is being conducted privately.

Two other people familiar with the process say former Sabres owner Tom Golisano is not prepared to submit a bid.

Raiders

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Derek Carr has been groomed to be a starting quarterback in the NFL ever since he was an 11-year-old breaking down film with big brother David.

It may come as a bit of a surprise that he will reach that goal in the first game of his rookie season.

Carr used an impressive preseason to put himself on the fast track to becoming an NFL starter, beating out Matt Schaub for the No. 1 quarterback role on the Oakland Raiders heading into the season opener Sunday against the New York Jets.

But having watched his brother go from No. 1 overall pick and rookie starter to being run out of Houston, Derek Carr knows well to heed the advice from offensive coordinator Greg Olson that getting the opening day start is just the beginning.

Browns

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns have signed offensive lineman Vinston Painter to their active roster off Denver’s practice squad.

To make space, the club waived offensive lineman Caylin Hauptmann, who failed a physical. Hauptmann was claimed off waivers on Sunday from Seattle.

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Painter was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round last year from Virginia Tech. He spent most of his rookie year on the Broncos’ practice squad. He was elevated to the roster for Denver’s final two postseason games but was inactive.

Painter played in all four exhibition games this summer. He has played guard and tackle.

Cowboys

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Dallas 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.

With the anticipated move Tuesday, the second-round draft pick won’t be eligible to return to practice until after the sixth game, and not able to be play until after the eighth game.

Lawrence, a second-round pick from Boise State, broke his foot early in training camp and needed surgery. He was in a one-on-one drill with Pro Bowl tackle Tyron Smith when his foot got caught as Smith pushed him to the ground.