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Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington, who was due to begin trial in April stemming from domestic abuse charges from a year ago, has changed the plea he entered previously. On Monday, he plead guilty to aggravated assault.
He will be sentenced on April 23 and, according to a court spokesman (via AZ Central), will face up to two years in prison. It is classified as a Class 6 felony, which carries a sentence between six months and two years.
He was accused of grabbing his ex-girlfriend, who is the mother of his young daughter, by the neck and pushing her to the ground during an altercation that resulted from an argument about their daughter. She suffered a broken collarbone in the altercation.
Washington, who missed four games in 2013 as a result of a suspension under the NFL substance abuse policy, is now facing a possible suspension under the league's personal conduct policy, in addition to jail time.
Local radio host and reporter Mike Jurecki believes he could see a one or a two-game suspension with a fine equal to another game's pay.
The Cardinals already committed to Washington for the season, as they paid him a $10 million roster bonus earlier this month.
Any lost time from the field will be felt, as the team lost Karlos Dansby to free agency. In addition to Washington, the team currently only has second-year players Kevin Minter and Kenny Demens at inside linebacker plus Lorenzo Alexander, who is listed as an outside linebacker but can play inside.
