Daryl Washington has received a one-year suspension by the NFL for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

Arizona Cardinals GM Steve Keim, not sounding very happy in a statement, called the violation "completely unacceptable."

"It's completely unacceptable that Daryl has once again put us in this position," Keim said. "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.

“As it pertains to our team, our approach is the same as it's always been: next man up. We talk a lot about how critical depth is to a team because situations always arise where you lose players, whether by injury or other circumstances such as this one. One player's absence is another's opportunity. That approach has served us well in the past and we will rely on it now."

The NFL and NFLPA continue to work toward agreement to implement HGH testing and there could be a few additional changes in the new policy.

According to ProFootballTalk, a player "deemed legally responsible" for his first DUI offense would be hit with a one-game suspension and a fine of one game check.

For instance, if a player was arrested with illegal drugs, the NFLPA wants that player's case to go before an independent arbitrator. The NFL would want Roger Goodell to hear a case of that nature.

Ray Rice has been accepted into a pretrial intervention program that will result in the dismissal of his assault charge if he completes the program.

Rice will have to attend the program for the minimum of one year. If he successfully completes it, the third-degree charge of aggravated assault stemming from the incident on Feb. 15 involving Janay Palmer, who is now his wife, will be dismissed.

The pretrial intervention program is a diversion program that permits certain defendants (particularly first-time ones) to avoid formal prosecution.

Robert Mathis has received a four-game suspension by the NFL for a violation of the league's performance-enhancing substance policy.

Mathis said in a statement he was seeking fertility assistance and acknowledged that he and his wife are expecting a baby.

Mathis had 19.5 sacks last season, and the Indianapolis Colts will miss his presence because its first two games in 2014 against the Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles.

The NFL's new drug policy will include changes specific to marijuana and other recreational drugs.

A source told ESPN.com on Tuesday that the renegotiation of the drug policy, which has been going on since 2011 and includes testing for HGH, also will significantly increase the threshold for a positive marijuana test and reduce the punishments for violations involving that drug.

The source said the NFL's policy on marijuana is outdated, pointing out that WADA has a higher threshold for a positive test than the NFL currently does, and in need of updating.

The NFL has continued to insist that the commissioner have final say over discipline matters.

The changes are unlikely to impact the length of Josh Gordon's ban.

Josh Gordon is facing a possible one-year suspension for a failed drug test.

Gordon was one of the NFL's best wide receivers last season for the Cleveland Browns.

Gordon reported tested positive for marijuana.

Marcell Dareus was arrested on Monday in Alabama on drug charges.

Dareus originally was stopped for speeding, but he was also in possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dareus is the Pro Bowl defensive lineman of the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills exercised the fifth-year option on his contract in April. However, Dareus ran into trouble with first-year coach Doug Marrone last season. He was held out from starting each of the Bills' final two games for violating a team rule.

Frank Alexander has been suspended for the first four games of 2014 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

Alexander has six starts and 3.5 sacks in two seasons.

Alexander was scheduled to be a backup defensive end behind Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson for the Carolina Panthers.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are planning on not having Justin Blackmon play in 2014.

"It would be something that would be relatively surprising," general manager David Caldwell said. "Haven't gotten a whole lot of updates from the league [of] where he's at or from Justin, to be honest with you."

Gus Bradley has had minimal contact with Blackmon via text message but said it's been weeks since he's heard from him. 

Blackmon was suspended indefinitely on Nov. 1, 2013, after his third violation of the league's substance-abuse policy. 

Blackmon caught 29 passes for 415 yards and a touchdown in four games in 2013.