PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : 35 Redskins Face Possible Suspensions

An arbitrator ruled Wednesday the Washington Redskins must suspend any player who fails to pay union dues before Friday’s season-closing game with the Minnesota Vikings.

Thirty-five players on the Redskins have refused to pay the dues, saying they disagreed with terms of the contract between the union and the owners.

The arbitrator, Herbert Fishgold, rejected the Redskins’ claim that because the team practices in Ashburn, Va., the right-to-work laws in Virginia exempt the club from the provision in the labor contract requiring suspension of non-payers.

However, Fishgold said he would not direct the Redskins to carry out the suspensions until after a court hearing today in Leesburg, Va., on the same issue.

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Coach Dave Shula, whose Cincinnati Bengals have the worst record in the NFL, was given a two-year contract extension. . . . The Detroit Lions signed cornerback Melvin Jenkins to a three-year contract worth $3.85 million. . . . The injury-plagued Kansas City Chiefs signed defensive back Erik McMillan, who was released by the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 1.