TEMPE, Ariz. -- A crucial piece of information regarding Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington’s reinstatement was revealed Tuesday morning.
Washington applied for reinstatement on May 8, according to Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910.
Knowing that date helps puts Washington’s future into perspective. The goal is for NFL to decide on reinstatements within 60 days of receiving an application, according to the substance-abuse policy. That window closed a week ago.
Washington applied for reinstatement almost six weeks after he was eligible.
Washington was suspended on May 30, 2014 for “at least one year” for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. He previously violated the policy in 2013, when he was suspended for the first four games of the season. Washington was allowed to apply for reinstatement for his latest suspension on March 31 -- 60 days before the one-year anniversary of the letter suspending him, according to the substance abuse policy.
According to the substance-abuse policy’s “procedures for reinstatement,” if all the criteria were met by Washington and “all individuals involved in the process,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could have ruled on Washington’s reinstatement within 60 days of receiving the application – which would’ve been July 7.