Retired NFL players’ suit is dismissed

A federal judge in San Francisco tossed out a lawsuit accusing the NFL players’ union of inadequately representing 3,500 retired players, ruling the complaints of fraud and antitrust allegations had little merit.

One of the many reasons U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup said he dismissed the lawsuit was because none of the three retired players -- Herb Adderley, Bernie Parrish and Walter Roberts -- who sued the NFL Players Assn. earlier this year could show they signed any formal marketing agreements with the union in the last four years, the length of the statute of limitations.

Alsup did give the retired players who sued a glimmer of hope by saying they could revise their lawsuit to address some of the many defects he identified in his 24-page decision.

The three former players sued the union and its marketing arm, Players Inc., and sought class action status on behalf of some 3,500 retired NFL players. The lawsuit claimed that only 358 retired players received marketing royalties in 2005.

Receiver Terry Glenn will sit out the Dallas Cowboys’ season opener against the New York Giants after injuring the knee that was operated on during the preseason.

Glenn sat out all four exhibition games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery Aug. 1 to remove a cyst from the back of his right kneecap. The latest injury came in practice two days ago, Coach Wade Phillips said.

Patrick Crayton will move into Glenn’s No. 2 role behind Terrell Owens. Sam Hurd will be the third receiver.

Phillips said cornerback Terence Newman (foot) and backup linebacker Kevin Burnett (ankle) would be game-time decisions.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Frostee Rucker won’t have to serve a one-game suspension from the NFL, but will sit out the season opener Monday night against Baltimore anyway because of a lingering hamstring injury.

The league proposed a one-game suspension after Rucker settled a domestic violence case in April. Rucker’s agents appealed on grounds that the incident occurred while he was a college student at USC.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be without starting linebacker Clint Ingram against the Tennessee Titans. He sprained his ankle during the exhibition opener at Miami on Aug. 11 and has practiced sparingly since. . . . Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Rod Coleman underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and might not return until the Week 5 game at Tennessee. Coach Bobby Petrino said the injury was probably caused during Coleman’s rehab following a procedure to repair his torn right quadriceps in late April.

The Minnesota Vikings and defensive tackle Pat Williams finalized a three-year, $22-million contract extension. . . . A jury in Scottsdale, Ariz., found Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Jerramy Stevens guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol. Stevens, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks, was arrested in March after police stopped his car in downtown Scottsdale.