Packers defensive tackle Mike Pennel is taking the NFL and NFL Players' Association to court over an appeal of a possible second suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
Pennel is seeking additional neutral arbitrators because the arbitrator currently assigned to handle his case was "improperly assigned," according to court documents obtained by the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
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Pennel received a second suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy after having already sat out the first four games of 2016 of this season for the first violation. He is also asking a judge to put the disciplinary appeal — scheduled for Dec. 6 — on hold until the arbitrator is appointed.
A third-year pro out of Colorado State University-Pueblo, Pennel has played in all seven games since his first suspension, recording six combined tackles. He is looking at a ban of a least six games if his appeal fails.
Pennel is the second NFL player to sue the league and the union after a substance-abuse violation this year. Eagles tackle Lane Johnson filed suit last week over his 10-game suspension for a PED violation.