Cardinals LB Washington sought by police

By foxsports
Published

Phoenix police are investigating a report involving Cardinals inside linebacker Daryl Washington in a domestic dispute. A woman called police Wednesday afternoon claiming she was assaulted by Washington earlier that day, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
When police arrived at the home in Ahwatukee on Wednesday, Washington had left. No arrests have been made, and police were still looking for Washington.
"These are serious accusations that we are closely monitoring. Until all the facts are determined, and out of respect for the process, we will decline any further comment at this point," a Cardinals spokesperson said in a statement.
Washington, 26, has been suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
This is not Washington’s first run-in with the law. When he was 17, he received probation for another incident in which he and a group of friends were involved in a fight and stole money from the lone victim. 
Washington signed a six-year, $32.5 million deal in September that runs through the 2017 season. He started every game last season and had 134 tackles, nine sacks and two forced fumbles while earning his first invitation to the Pro Bowl. He led the team in tackles and sacks.
Without Washington in the starting lineup for the first four games (and perhaps more, now), the Cardinals will have two new starters at inside linebacker. Paris Lenon, the other starter, has not been re-signed.
The other inside linebackers on the roster are Jasper Brinkley, Reggie Walker and Arizona State product Colin Parker, who spent last season on the practice squad. The Cards also drafted LSU’s Kevin Minter in the second round of last week’s NFL Draft.
The NFL declined comment until the legal process has played out, but Commissioner Roger Goodell has wide latitude in disciplining players who violate the league's policies on conduct. Those penalties include fines, suspension and even expulsion from the league. Players who are suspended often have to meet certain conditions before reinstatement.
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