The Arizona Cardinals have moved to strip linebacker Daryl Washington of at least a portion of the $10 million option bonus he was due after the league announced last week the veteran defender has again tested positive for marijuana and will be banned for the entire 2014-15 season.
According to ProFootballTalk.com, the 27-year-old Washington hasn't received any of the earned money as of yet, partly because the team may have been aware of the positive test and had decided against awarding the veteran linebacker the additional income.
Daryl Washington suspended
Washington was also suspended for the first four games of last season after again failing a league-mandated drug test.
"It's completely unacceptable that Daryl has once again put us in this position," Cardinals GM Steve Keim said in a statement released by the team. "We all know what the consequences are and will deal with them. From a personal standpoint, our hope is that this suspension will give Daryl the opportunity to accept the necessary help and guidance to get his life back on track and we will certainly support him however we can."
Still, Washington's troubles don't end there. The five-year veteran is also facing a suspension stemming from his arrest last May on two counts of aggravated assault following an altercation with a former girlfriend where she ended up with a broken collarbone. He pleaded guilty in that case earlier this year and was sentenced to a year of supervised probation.
"As it pertains to our team, our approach is the same as it's always been: next man up," added Keim. "One player's absence is another's opportunity. That approach has served us well in the past and we will rely on it now."
In 12 games last season, Washington had 81 tackles -- 59 solo -- three sacks and two interceptions.
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