NFLPA may OK punishing lawbreakers

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- The head of the NFL Players Association said in Indianapolis Friday he would consider a proposal to discipline players who repeatedly get in legal trouble.

Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFPLA, said players are "sort of moving in the direction" of adopting penalties similar to the NFL's three-strikes program for players who violate the NFL's drug policy, the Los Angeles Times reported.

A group of players suggested the idea Thursday during a meeting in Indianapolis with Commissioner Roger Goodell, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney and Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen. The meeting was called to look at ways the league might deal with the increase in off-the-field behavioral problems involving players, the newspaper said.

"You can't continue to keep violating policies," said Upshaw. "You can't be in the wrong place three or four times. One time, two times maybe, but three or four times in the wrong place at the wrong time? They didn't like that."

An NFL player who tests positive for a banned substance is suspended for four games. A second failed test gets a player a one-year suspension.