Ellington

NEW YORK (AP) — The players' union says the NFL has asked for the right to immediately suspend players who are arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

NFL Players Association executives told The Associated Press on Friday that the league's proposal to increase penalties for DUI offenses includes a provision to suspend or discipline a player before the completion of his legal due process.

"They want to immediately discipline for an arrest," said George Atallah, the NFLPA's assistant executive director of external affairs.

"We prefer to discuss these issues directly with the union," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

Atallah also noted that progress has been made on possible testing for HGH.

Both sides have held intensified talks on a variety of drug policy issues, what New York Giants long snapper and union executive committee member Zak DeOssie's calls "doing our due diligence."