Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington expected to apply for reinstatement to NFL soon

Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington's eligibility to play this year should be determined within the next two months. The first step, applying to the NFL for reinstatement from suspension, will be taken "within the next week or so," said his agent, Jordan Woy.

Woy declined additional comment, and Washington has not returned messages during his suspension.

A labyrinth of events follows the application, including whatever punishment Washington will receive for a domestic violence incident. The NFL has yet to discipline him for that, so Washington could begin a third consecutive season on the suspended list.

Washington was suspended for the first four games in 2013 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. He was suspended last May for at least a year for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

Washington recently told Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 that he had not failed or missed a substance test during his suspension and had completed an anger management class.

No confirmation of that is available. The NFL does not make that information public, and the Cardinals are not made aware of test results.

Here's a look at the steps Washington, the NFL and the Cardinals must take before Washington can resume his career.

Washington

He must provide all "pertinent information" to the NFL about the following, according to the NFL's policy:

•His treatment.

•Abstinence from substances of abuse throughout the entire period of his banishment.

•Involvement with any substances of abuse-related incidents.

•Arrests and/or convictions for any criminal activity.

The NFL

Per the substance abuse policy:

•Within 45 days of receipt of the application, Washington will be interviewed by the medical director and the medical adviser, after which a recommendation will be made to Commissioner Roger Goodell with regard to the request for reinstatement.

•The commissioner's staff and that of NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith staff will review Washington's substance abuse history, including but not limited to attendance at counseling sessions (individual, group and family); attendance at 12-step and other self-help group meetings; periodic progress reports; and all diagnostic findings and treatment recommendations.

•Washington will submit to urine testing by an NFL representative at a frequency determined by the medical advisor.

•Washington will agree in a meeting with Goodell, or his representative(s), to comply with the conditions for his reinstatement.

•All individuals involved in the process will take steps to enable Goodell to render a decision within 60 days of the receipt of the application.

The Cardinals

The only team employee, other than other players, who could talk with Washington during the last year was Anthony Edwards, senior director of player development. Under the NFL's substance abuse program, Edwards could speak with Washington by phone every two weeks.

Coach Bruce Arians and General Manager Steve Keim have declined to speculate on Washington's future with the team.

"I really can't even talk about Daryl," Arians said last month at the NFL owners' meetings. "He's not even a part of our team so there's no sense in talking about him."

The Cardinals are operating this off-season as if Washington won't be available in 2015. There is a good reason for that.

Last year, they counted on having Washington, agreeing in February to pay him a $10 million option bonus. (Half of that bonus was deferred until March 2015, so Washington received a $5 million check while suspended.)

In late May, the NFL announced Washington's suspension. The Cardinals had proceeded through free agency and the draft as if Washington would be with them.

The Cardinals don't trust that Washington did all the right things during his suspension. So far, there is no proof of that.

But will they take him back if he's cleared by the NFL?

With Washington facing a third suspension (for the domestic violence incident), the Cardinals could decide it's time to move on.

But it will be costly. The Cardinals will incur a cap charge of at least $6.3 million if Washington moves on. Plus, they spent $10 million over the past two years to keep one of NFL's more talented linebackers.

With that kind of investment, the Cardinals might want to see if they can get a few days' work out of Washington.

Reach Somers at kent.somers@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8335. Follow him at twitter.com/kentsomers.