These are relatively unknown waters for the league because rarely, if ever, has a player violated both policies. Former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry violated both. There are also examples of players violating the substance abuse policy and the performance enhancing drugs or steroids policy. It has been reported that Vincent Jackson was suspended three games in July 2010 for violating both the substance abuse and personal conduct policies.
Though he doesn’t have a lot of precedent to lean on, Goodell doesn’t need precedent. But history shows that if the NFL addresses Washington’s personal conduct policy violation separately, he’s likely to get a one-game suspension.
There is another case that recently wrapped up which could be a point of reference. Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence in 2012, but pled guilty to a lesser charge in February. Lynch violated the substance abuse policy five years after he violated the league's personal conduct policy stemming from a hit-and-run incident in Buffalo in 2008.
The league is unlikely to lump Lynch's offenses together because they took place five years apart.
Without clear-cut guidelines, the door is open for the NFL to punish Washington in any manner it sees fit.
