Batch, Three Others Accused in Rape Case

Three NFL players and a former player were accused in a lawsuit Thursday of drugging and raping a woman at a Las Vegas apartment and hotel room in May 2000.

The woman is seeking at least $20,000 in damages, although she is able to seek a higher figure later.

Detroit Lion quarterback Charlie Batch and safety Ron Rice, former Lion defensive back Tyree Talton and Miami Dolphin wide receiver Dedric Ward are named in the lawsuit filed in Clark County District Court.

“I vehemently deny the allegations,” Batch said in a statement.

“The police investigated in May 2000 and found nothing illegal took place. These accusations are just another example of how success in sports makes someone a target.

“The courts will provide my complete vindication. We will aggressively pursue all available legal remedies.”

In a statement, Ward said: “These allegations are completely false and totally without merit.”

Criminal charges were never filed against the four.

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The Cleveland Browns, who already have one of the weakest rushing attacks in the NFL, put their top running back, James Jackson, on injured reserve.

Jackson, a rookie who leads the team with 554 yards rushing, will miss the rest of the season because of an ankle injury.

Jackson aggravated a left ankle sprain in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and left the game with two carries for six yards.

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Tennessee Titan quarterback Steve McNair missed practice for the third consecutive day because of back spasms and is questionable for Saturday night’s game against Oakland.

“There are concerns,” Coach Jeff Fisher said. “He hasn’t responded like we’d hoped.”

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Filling the roster spot vacated by the injured Gus Frerotte, the Denver Broncos signed free-agent quarterback Todd Husak.

Husak most recently was on the New York Jets’ practice squad.

The 6-foot-3, 216-pound Husak, from Stanford, was a sixth-round draft pick of the Washington Redskins in 2000. He played in the final game of his rookie season, completing both of his passes for minus-2 yards.

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The Cincinnati Bengals signed backup quarterback Scott Covington, waived earlier this season, because of injuries that left only quarterback Jon Kitna available for Sunday’s game at Baltimore.

Covington, a third-year player from Dana Point Dana Hills High, was on the Bengals’ roster for the season opener but was waived Sept. 10. He played in three games in 1999.

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Minnesota Viking quarterback Daunte Culpepper underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a sprained ligament in his left knee.

Punter Mitch Berger also underwent knee surgery. Berger, who was placed on injured reserve, broke a bone in his neck while making a tackle against Tennessee on Dec. 9 and developed back spasms and swelling in his knee.