John Clayton, ESPN Senior Writer 17y

Rucker's one-game suspension overturned

NFL, Cincinnati Bengals

The NFL has rescinded the one-game suspension of Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Frostee Rucker, who had been deemed to have violated the league's conduct policy.

Rucker had been charged with two misdemeanor counts of spousal battery and vandalism in Los Angeles in August 2005 for an alleged incident involving his former girlfriend. In April, he settled the case by plea bargaining to one count of vandalism and one count of false imprisonment. He was sentenced to three years of probation and 750 hours of community service.

Any guilty plea to any type of domestic incident usually results in an NFL suspension, and Commissioner Roger Goodell gave Rucker the one-game suspension. Rucker appealed and his attorney, Peter Schaeffer, successfully argued for the suspension to be overturned.

Though Rucker is eligible to play in the opener against the Ravens, he has been ruled out because of a hamstring injury.

Senior writer John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

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