Rucker Could Be Third Bengals Player Suspended From Regular Season Opener

The NFL reportedly suspended Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Frostee Rucker for the opening game of the regular season for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Rucker's agent told the Associated Press that Rucker is appealing the suspension.

Rucker pleaded no contest in April to vandalism and false imprisonment charges stemming from an August 2005 incident involving his girlfriend at a party in Los Angeles. Rucker was in college at the time. Charges were filed in June 2006, two months after he'd been drafted by the Bengals.

J.R. Rickert, Rucker's agent, told the AP that he was "not aware of any case where the personal conduct policy has been applied to a person for an offense that occurred while they were in college."

However, the NFL suspended running back Jamal Lewis, then with the Baltimore Ravens, for two games in 2004 after he pleaded guilty to using a cell phone to try to set up a drug deal in the summer of 2000, after he was drafted but before he entered the league.

Under the conduct policy, an appeal is heard by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell or a person designated by him. If Rucker's suspension is upheld, he would be the third Bengals player to begin the season under suspension, along with wide receiver Chris Henry and linebacker Odell Thurman. The league's conduct policy empowers the commissioner to punish a team with a significant number of offending players or other employees. Goodell has said that punishment could take the form of a fine or the loss of draft picks. But several league officials said they know of no plans by Goodell to punish the Bengals.

By Mark Maske |  August 29, 2007; 10:45 PM ET  | Category:  Bengals
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Posted by: Gregors | August 30, 2007 8:05 AM

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