OWINGS MILLS, Md., Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Baltimore Ravens cornerback Fabian Washington has been suspended without pay for a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy.
The league levied the suspension Friday, which will cause him to miss the Ravens' 2008 season-opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sep. 7 at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium.
The three-year veteran out of Nebraska was arrested in February at his home in Manatee County, Fla., when a responding police officer noticed a red mark on the neck of his 21-year-old live-in girlfriend.
"I put myself in a bad situation, and I did not handle it the right way," Washington said in a statement to the Baltimore Sun. "I was wrong and made a mistake. My girlfriend, my attorney and I wanted a quick resolution and knew that a suspension could happen."
"We had knowledge of Fabian's situation prior to the trade we made for him," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said.
Last season, he played for the Oakland Raiders.
