INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Colts won't use former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel as a replay consultant until the seventh game of the season.
Colts vice chairman Bill Polian said Monday that Tressel won't join the team until late October. The team recently announced it would employ Tressel as a game-day consultant to help determine when the team should challenge plays with a video review.
In a statement, Polian said that ``questions were raised with respect to the equity of his appointment as opposed to suspensions being serves this season by present and former Ohio State players.''
Tressel was pushed out at Ohio State after an investigation into improper benefits by his players, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
Pryor recently was taken by Oakland in the NFL's supplemental draft and will face a five-game suspension in the NFL.
Tressel resigned from the Buckeyes job on Memorial Day.
During the weekend, Colts owner Jim Irsay, coach Jim Caldwell, Polian and Tressel discussed the situation and consulted NFL officials.
``At coach Tressel's suggestion, and with Mr. Irsay's ... support, we have decided to begin coach Tressel's employment effective with our seventh regular-season game (Oct. 23 at New Orleans).''
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello acknowledged the discussions with the Colts over the weekend.
The team fully understood the issues and committed to addressing them,'' Aiello said in an email to The Associated Press.We were informed last night of the decision reached by the team and Mr. Tressel. We believe it is appropriate.''
