Rucker appeals league’s penalty

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Frostee Rucker is appealing a proposed one-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, the result of settling a domestic violence case in April.

If he loses the appeal, Rucker will become the third Bengals player suspended by the league for the Sept. 10 season opener. Commissioner Roger Goodell has suspended receiver Chris Henry for the first eight games for repeatedly violating the NFL’s conduct policy.

Middle linebacker Odell Thurman was suspended for last season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. His request for reinstatement was denied by Goodell, who decided he should sit out this season too.

Rucker is one of 10 Bengals who faced criminal charges during a 14-month span. His case resulted from an incident in 2005, when he was at USC.

“We’re confident in the merits of our appeal of the suspension,” agent J.R. Rickert said. “We’re 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.”

Rucker was accused of getting into a fight with his girlfriend at a party he was hosting in Los Angeles in August 2005. Misdemeanor charges were filed in June 2006 -- two months after he was drafted by the Bengals.

Meanwhile, Shayne Graham was hobbled by a right hip bruised while trying to make a tackle in Monday’s exhibition game, leaving the Bengals unsure about one of the NFL’s most accurate kickers for the season opener. The Bengals signed Aaron Elling as his replacement.

A son of Philadelphia Eagles Coach Andy Reid was charged with driving under the influence and drug violations while still awaiting sentencing for a separate road-rage incident in January.

Britt Reid was jailed last week for violating bail terms after police found 30 1/2 pills, including the painkiller hydrocodone, amphetamines and antidepressants, during a traffic stop in Plymouth Township.

Two weeks ago, Reid, 22, pleaded guilty to gun and drug charges stemming from a January encounter in which police say he brandished a gun at another driver.

Punter Scott Player, the Arizona Cardinals’ longest-tenured veteran, was released. Player, 37, was a Cardinal for nine seasons. He will be replaced by Mike Barr, 28, picked up on a waiver claim Tuesday after being released Monday by Pittsburgh.