NFL teams
Chris Mortensen, NFL reporter 10y

Changes to drug policy on table

NFL

Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon are among the players hoping for a new drug policy that likely will get them reinstated from their current suspensions. Even some NFL owners have expressed displeasure with the rash of suspensions and the manner in which they were handled.

Two fluid deadlines to finalize proposals from the league and the union are Tuesday and a week from Wednesday, sources said.

One key hurdle, sources continued, is the league's desire for a team to deactivate players with pay if they are arrested for driving under the influence, which could have pertained to Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell, who was arrested last month for driving under the influence of marijuana.

One feature of the proposed policy -- besides HGH testing and modified neutral arbitration -- is that a large number of unidentified players who are presently in the substance-abuse program could avoid suspensions based on new thresholds that would be applied going forward with the proposed new policy.

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