Union to officially file request in Vincent Jackson case

The NFL Players Association plans within the next few days to request an arbitration hearing in an effort to limit Chargers holdout wide receiver Vincent Jackson’s pending suspension to three games and not six.

NFLPA spokesman George Atallah confirmed the union’s plans in a telephone conversation.

“We’re going to work to help Vincent out and make sure he doesn’t get the six-game suspension,” Atallah said.

Jackson faces a three-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He pleaded guilty in February to his second DUI since 2006. Jackson also faces a three-game suspension after being placed on the Chargers’ roster-exempt list on Sept. 4. Jackson has not reported to the team because of a contract dispute.

Due to concerns about whether Jackson might have to miss up to six games, a source familiar with the receiver’s situation said that teams considering a trade for Jackson are reluctant to do so because of uncertainty over his availability.

Jackson ’s agents, Neil Schwartz and Jonathan Feinsod, had no comment on the situation.

The Chargers have given Jackson permission to seek a trade, and the Seahawks have indicated a willingness to make a deal.