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Colts: Former top draft pick QB Art Schlichter caught gambling in prison

By Adam Weinrib

Art Schlichter #10, Quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts during the American Football Conference West game against the Los Angeles Raiders on 25 November 1984 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, United States. The Raiders won the game 21 - 7. (Photo by Tony Duffy/Allsport/Getty Images)
Art Schlichter #10, Quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts during the American Football Conference West game against the Los Angeles Raiders on 25 November 1984 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, United States. The Raiders won the game 21 - 7. (Photo by Tony Duffy/Allsport/Getty Images) /
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Former Indianapolis Colts top pick Art Schlichter has some gambling problems behind bars.

Being a highly-drafted QB in the NFL is far from an automatic ticket to success in the league — just ask any Colts fan.

For every Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning who lives up to their billing immediately, there’s a Jeff George or Art Schlichter, who never pans out fully.

Colts fans of a certain age may not remember Schlichter, but he was selected fourth overall in 1982 out of Ohio State University, and went just 0-6 in six starts across three NFL seasons, throwing a trio of TD passes and 11 interceptions.

The former Buckeye’s preparation for his sophomore season in 1983 swiftly went off the rails when, at age 23, he was suspended “indefinitely” for gambling infractions by Pete Rozelle, and his time away from the game lasted a full season. The former commissioner, and a team of psychiatrists, labeled him a compulsive gambler.

Unfortunately, Schlichter has spent the past 30 years unable to clean up his own act away from the game, as well. He’s been arrested several times, and has been serving 10- and 11-year concurrent sentences. Per reports, he’s unlikely to be released early, as Schlicter is placing bets from behind bars, with women doing the bidding for the jailed ex-Colts QB.

According to the prosecution, Schlichter was cited in March for gambling while behind bars. His defense attorney, on the other hand, says his client is suffering from severe health issues, including CTE and mental health spirals, and deserves a reprieve.

Unfortunately, the seriousness of Schlichter’s plight hasn’t prevented his name from becoming a punchline, rather than simply a worst-case-scenario cautionary tale.

While the former Colts signal-caller has done more harm than good during his post-career downturn, and didn’t do much on the field to elicit sympathy, either, we sincerely hope he gets well soon, while he’s still able.

It doesn’t sound like a happy ending is around the corner, though, with more prison time likely unavoidable.

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