Rucker suspended!

[SkinneymulleT]

Old news?

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7168132?MSNHPHMA

CINCINNATI - The Bengals have enjoyed a relatively quiet off-season when it comes to off-field player issues, but the previous legal problems of one backup defensive lineman have resulted in disciplinary action by the NFL.

Bengals defensive end Frostee Rucker will be suspended for the team's Sept. 10 season-opener against Baltimore, FOXSports.com has learned.

Rucker pleaded guilty in May to one count of false imprisonment and one count of vandalism stemming from an August 2005 incident with an ex-girlfriend. Rucker, who wasn't charged until June 2006, had a count of spousal battery against him dropped as part of a plea deal and was sentenced to 36 months probation.

Rucker told FOXSports.com on Wednesday that he has appealed the suspension.

"We'll just see how it goes," Rucker said. "It's pretty much in someone else's hands right now. All I can do is continue to grow as a player. If I get it, I get it. If I don't, thank the Lord and I'm going to play as hard as I can (against Baltimore)."

A 2006 third-round draft pick from Southern California, Rucker missed his entire rookie campaign because of a shoulder injury. Rucker is expected to contribute as part of Cincinnati's defensive line rotation this season, although he may miss Friday night's preseason finale against Indianapolis after aggravating a hamstring injury in Monday's 24-19 loss to Atlanta.

The suspension will cost Rucker $21,176.47 of his $360,000 base salary for 2007.

Rucker is the third Bengals player who will enter the season on the NFL's suspended list. Wide receiver Chris Henry was given an eight-game ban following four arrests in a 14-month span, while linebacker Odell Thurman remains suspended for a second consecutive season after being barred in 2006 for a series of problems related to drug and alcohol abuse.

Henry, a key member of Cincinnati's offense, is eligible for reinstatement after the first six games.

[markymark69]

No worries. My prediction is that Rucker will be cut Saturday when the rosters get down to 53. With him being injured and if this report turns out to be true, I can't imagine any way that he survives the final cut.

[gobengals19]

Give me a break.

In related news, the Bengals Pro-Bowl QB was suspended by NFL commissioner, Roger "God"dall, for being tardy too many times during his junior year in high school. The NFL released a statement concerning the situation, "The NFL will not tolerate unruly behavior by any of its players and it all starts with the little things like tardiness."

[HairOnFire]

Henry, a key member of Cincinnati's offense, is eligible for reinstatement after the first six games.

Is that accurate? It was reported earlier that Henry's suspension couldn't be shortened under any circumstances, unlike those given to the Tanker and the Pacman.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Henry, a key member of Cincinnati's offense, is eligible for reinstatement after the first six games.

Is that accurate? It was reported earlier that Henry's suspension couldn't be shortened under any circumstances, unlike those given to the Tanker and the Pacman.

I hope it is. The sooner we get him back, the better!

[cincy9275]

so goodell is going after rucker even though this happened before he was he took over as commissioner. maybe it just me but he seems to be targeting black players more than white, i mean why has he not done anything to stienbach. no word of that i am very surprise no one has called him out on his harsh punishment towards black and his slap on the wrist towards whites jared allen a drunk got 2 dui's and he suspension reduced steinbach a dui on a boat nothing. just seem kinda funny to me.

[HoosierCat]

Henry, a key member of Cincinnati's offense, is eligible for reinstatement after the first six games.

Is that accurate? It was reported earlier that Henry's suspension couldn't be shortened under any circumstances, unlike those given to the Tanker and the Pacman.

Supposedly during a radio interview Chad said Henry had appealed for the suspension to be reduced, but I don't know if that's true.

My bet is it's just a typo.

No worries. My prediction is that Rucker will be cut Saturday when the rosters get down to 53. With him being injured and if this report turns out to be true, I can't imagine any way that he survives the final cut.

I doubt they'll cut him because of a one-game suspension...and that game being one he'd probably miss anyhow thanks to a hammy tweak.

There was a pice on Henry in the Post prior to the Atlanta game that noted he will meet with Goodell once the preseason is over, FWIW...

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...PT03/708270307/

...also says that there's "no provision" in the suspension for any reduction...but of course GOoDell can do whatever he wants...

[Kazkal]

Godell is really on a power trip and even PFT Is calling him on the unfairness

FROSTEE FROZEN OUT OF OPENER

Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com reports that the NFL will suspend Bengals defensive end Frostee Rucker for the team's regular-season opener on September 10.

In May 2007, Rucker pleaded guilty to one count of false imprisonment and one count of vandalism arising from an incident that occurred during his time at the University of Southern California. Concerns regarding Rucker's character caused him to drop to round three of the 2006 draft.

Though Marvez writes that the incident occurred in June 2006, Rucker was charged then. The incident occurred in August 2005, months before Rucker was even drafted.

We've got no problem with Rucker being suspended for one game in light of his conduct. But how is it that Rucker gets suspended for one game based on something he did two years ago, before even entering the NFL, and Dolphins linebackerJoey Porter doesn't get suspended for admitting to punching Bengals left tackle Levi Jones in a Las Vegas casino in March 2007?

We realize that the NFL needs to apply a high degree of confidentiality to matters of this nature. But, at the same time, the lack of details could prompt Bengals fans to become irate regarding the perceived disparity in treatment.

With that said, we suspect that the NFL has a good reason for the decisions reached in both cases. Unless and until that reason is disclosed, however, there likely will be loud complaints from Cincinnati about this one.

PS,It could all be about timing why says Henry has 6 games instead 8 mybe it's counting weeks so - 1 for bye and um dunno why else would be -1 for .>_<

[BengalByTheBay]

Well, that about ruins the case for Goodell only punishing those with some type of pattern of "prior problems" or whatever the lip-service is this week from the NFL. Tell me again why Joey Porter didn't get suspended because he didn't have any prior problems? This is far from a racial thing IMO -- it's just an arbitrary set of rulings that comes out depending on what the perception is about the particular player at the whim of Goodell. Also, I think it's pretty clear that there is an obvious attempt to punish the Bengals more than any other organization. Whether that's justified or not, I suppose is up for debate. It clearly is happening however.

Oh and FWIW, I don't think this really hurts the Bengals at all in light of the fact that Rucker probably wouldn't dress for week 1 anyway. Also, I do not think he will be cut.

[kenyon1977]

So when is GODell going to suspend the NFL's poster boy Favre for being a pill popping addict that admited to playing the game High????

[ShulaSteakhouse]

They won't miss Frostee for a game, if at all this season. The doofus can't ever stay healthy any ways.

Frankly I wish the Bengals' would just start weeding out all of thse injury prone guys and find some that can at least stay healthy for more than one week.

And Goodell won't suspend players if they don't get arrested, period. I don't think that's too much to ask of anyone.

[BengalByTheBay]

They won't miss Frostee for a game, if at all this season. The doofus can't ever stay healthy any ways.

Frankly I wish the Bengals' would just start weeding out all of thse injury prone guys and find some that can at least stay healthy for more than one week.

And Goodell won't suspend players if they don't get arrested, period. I don't think that's too much to ask of anyone.

And, apparently, he won't suspend some players that do get arrested depending upon.......well, I have no idea. That's the point. If the Bengals weed out all of their injury prone players, they probably wouldn't be able to field a team right now. I think Lewis has done a pretty good job (bordering on violative of the CBA) of "weeding out" injury prone guys. I think it's a little bit ridiculous to suggest they can, or should start cutting players based on prior injuries. Where does that lead? Should Madieu be cut? Levi? How about TJ? How many lost games counts as injury prone?

[HoosierCat]

it's just an arbitrary set of rulings that comes out depending on what the perception is about the particular player at the whim of Goodell.

It's unfair, yes, but not arbitrary. Rucker gets zapped while, for example, Porter walks because Rucker's a nobody and Joey's a star. SSDY, my man. I do agree with you that it isn't racial and that yeah, it sure looks like Goodell has a bug up his a$$ about the Bengals (thanks Mikey).

My question is, where is the NFLPA? I know they've become a lapdog for Goodell, but you would think that punishing their members for stuff they did before they even joined the league might even be too much for them. Guess not.

If this suspension stands, I think Hair and I have a resolution to our conversation about whether the league might eventually try to ban certain players with off-field issues from being drafted. Answer: with this suspension, they just did. If you are a GM and know that even if you get control of the kid and he's a saint, he still might get suspended because of something he did years before he was drafted, do you touch the guy? Probably not.

[BengalByTheBay]

it's just an arbitrary set of rulings that comes out depending on what the perception is about the particular player at the whim of Goodell.

It's unfair, yes, but not arbitrary. Rucker gets zapped while, for example, Porter walks because Rucker's a nobody and Joey's a star. SSDY, my man. I do agree with you that it isn't racial and that yeah, it sure looks like Goodell has a bug up his a$$ about the Bengals (thanks Mikey).

My question is, where is the NFLPA? I know they've become a lapdog for Goodell, but you would think that punishing their members for stuff they did before they even joined the league might even be too much for them. Guess not.

If this suspension stands, I think Hair and I have a resolution to our conversation about whether the league might eventually try to ban certain players with off-field issues from being drafted. Answer: with this suspension, they just did. If you are a GM and know that even if you get control of the kid and he's a saint, he still might get suspended because of something he did years before he was drafted, do you touch the guy? Probably not.

I tend to think it has more to do with the team that he plays for than his "star" quality. It is a combination of both probably. While if CJ or Palmer got arrested, it would probably cause Goodell a headache, but only because the league is trying its best to promote the hell of out of them. If it was.....I don't know....let's say Justin Smith -- I'll bet Goodell would come down like a load of bricks on him. I suppose we'll have to continue our basis disagreement about what the word "arbitrary" means. Since I've already quoted it to you and you continue to think that it can't apply where anybody has any agenda, regardless of how concealed it is, I suppose you will think it can't be considered arbitrary. If nobody in the NFL except Goodell knows what he will do in any particular circumstance (and I think this one supports that point) then I'll continue to think of it as arbitrary. Until you can tell me what's any response is going to be to one of these things BEFORE it comes out, I think I have the better part of the argument.

[HoosierCat]

Rucker's camp is playing the retro angle...smart IMHO.

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10322853

"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."

[cincy9275]

Well, that about ruins the case for Goodell only punishing those with some type of pattern of "prior problems" or whatever the lip-service is this week from the NFL. Tell me again why Joey Porter didn't get suspended because he didn't have any prior problems? This is far from a racial thing IMO -- it's just an arbitrary set of rulings that comes out depending on what the perception is about the particular player at the whim of Goodell. Also, I think it's pretty clear that there is an obvious attempt to punish the Bengals more than any other organization. Whether that's justified or not, I suppose is up for debate. It clearly is happening however.

Oh and FWIW, I don't think this really hurts the Bengals at all in light of the fact that Rucker probably wouldn't dress for week 1 anyway. Also, I do not think he will be cut.

o i think goodell did nothing with porter to cover his butt in case the racial card was played his ruling on joey was around or near the time allen got his reduced. i still think there is something funny there and i hope that some one catches on to this. only time will tell. imo the man should be fired any one that lets there personal opinion reflect their punishment towards players on a certain team or because of the skin color should not be in that position. i give goodell 2 more years and he will be gone that is MHO

[jjakq27]

Rucker's camp is playing the retro angle...smart IMHO.

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10322853

"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."

I am all for running a tight ship but this is ridiculous.

Better start checking on everyone else that went to college and hold them to the same standard.

[cincy9275]

Rucker's camp is playing the retro angle...smart IMHO.

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10322853

"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."

I am all for running a tight ship but this is ridiculous.

Better start checking on everyone else that went to college and hold them to the same standard.

yep the man just keeps digging his hole a little deeper. it's only a matter of time before he is done in the nfl. this recent suspension is a obvious attack towards mr. brown for not supporting him. lol goodell better watch it mr. brown is not the person you want to screw with.

[HairOnFire]

If this suspension stands, I think Hair and I have a resolution to our conversation about whether the league might eventually try to ban certain players with off-field issues from being drafted. Answer: with this suspension, they just did. If you are a GM and know that even if you get control of the kid and he's a saint, he still might get suspended because of something he did years before he was drafted, do you touch the guy? Probably not.

If that were true then players in the last draft would have fallen round after round or not been selected at all, as was once predicted after Goodell fired his warning shots at team owners and GM's. In reality, Goodell's warning was repeatedly and overwhelmingly ignored by the real power brokers in the NFL....leaving Goodell to wage an entirely symbolic media campaign against the NFL foot soldiers. That being, the individual player.

And why not? Individual players lack their own staffs of lawyers and media consultants, and when it comes do defending themselves they quickly find that their financial clout is a pittance when compared to the NFL's resources. So Goodell can very easily crush a few players and make it appear that he's actually doing something substantial. In reality, nothing has changed save for an increased number of so-called positive NFL headlines. But even that is a sham as headline after headline written about suspended players can hardly be considered a positive under anything but the bleakest circumstances.

In regards to race, I'm torn. It's true that all of the players who have felt Goodell's special wrath have been black, but so have nearly all of the players who have escaped punishment for reasons nobody can seem to fathom. It's also true that the NFL rosters are now staffed predominantly by black players and the odds that they'd be involved over and over agin are good.

That said, I do squirm in my chair from time to time whenever I think about yet another white-skinned conservative Republican crushing the individual rights of a few people in the name of morality and the greater common good. Sorry, but that feels a little too familiar for my tastes...as does the sight of once proud young black men being forced to shuffle and bow before the man.

[HoosierCat]

If this suspension stands, I think Hair and I have a resolution to our conversation about whether the league might eventually try to ban certain players with off-field issues from being drafted. Answer: with this suspension, they just did. If you are a GM and know that even if you get control of the kid and he's a saint, he still might get suspended because of something he did years before he was drafted, do you touch the guy? Probably not.

If that were true then players in the last draft would have fallen round after round or not been selected at all, as was once predicted after Goodell fired his warning shots at team owners and GM's. In reality, Goodell's warning was repeatedly and overwhelmingly ignored by the real power brokers in the NFL....leaving Goodell to wage an entirely symbolic media campaign against the NFL foot soldiers. That being, the individual player.

Huh? My point is that Goodell is establishing a precedent that by definition didn't exist during the last draft. At best, Goodell had only made it clear he'd discipline players for their behavior while NFL players. This is the first time he's tried to punish someone for something that happened before they were in the league. If that stands, I don't see how it doesn't have a chilling effect on future drafts.

[HairOnFire]

Godell is really on a power trip and even PFT Is calling him on the unfairness....

Add Michael Wilbon of ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption" to the list.

Asked whether Lance Briggs deserves to be suspended for wrecking his car and then fleeing the scene, Wilbon went ballistic and loudly proclaimed NO.

He then added...

"When you say the name Roger Goodell you better bow your head."

"This better not result in discipline."

"Not everyone deserves to land in Roger Goodell jail."

"He may have been doing something stupid, something reckless, and something dangerous....but does that mean he has to be suspended?"

[HoosierCat]

Godell is really on a power trip and even PFT Is calling him on the unfairness....

Add Michael Wilbon of ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption" to the list.

Asked whether Lance Briggs deserves to be suspended for wrecking his car and then fleeing the scene, Wilbon went ballistic and loudly proclaimed NO.

He then added...

"When you say the name Roger Goodell you better bow your head."

"This better not result in discipline."

"Not everyone deserves to land in Roger Goodell jail."

"He may have been doing something stupid, something reckless, and something dangerous....but does that mean he has to be suspended?"

OTOH, someone who trashes a $600k Lambo deserves some punishment...say, being slapped silly by Richard Simmons...

[HairOnFire]

Huh? My point is that Goodell is establishing a precedent that by definition didn't exist during the last draft. At best, Goodell had only made it clear he'd discipline players for their behavior while NFL players. This is the first time he's tried to punish someone for something that happened before they were in the league. If that stands, I don't see how it doesn't have a chilling effect on future drafts.

It's a new wrinkle, but why would this warning have any greater impact on the same owners and GM's who just ignored known character issues and drafted players many had predicted would fall into later rounds?

For this to have any effect on future drafts, let alone a chilling one, the discipline would have to be applied to all teams equally....instead of just to the players selected by the Cincinnati Bengals. And there's the proverbial rub because we both know it won't be.

[HoosierCat]

It's a new wrinkle, but why would this warning have any greater impact on the same owners and GM's who just ignored known character issues and drafted players many had predicted would fall into later rounds?

Because at least in the existing system they are only responsible for what the guy does after he is drafted. Now, not only do they have that to take into consideration, but also the fact that some teenage crime the kid committed could cost him time, too. Think of it this way: it's like saying you can now divorce your wife on grounds of adultery if she had sex with someone else before you were married.

For this to have any effect on future drafts, let alone a chilling one, the discipline would have to be applied to all teams equally....instead of just to the players selected by the Cincinnati Bengals. And there's the proverbial rub because we both know it won't be.

Oh, I have no doubt Goodell has a special axe to grind with Cincy (thanks Mikey). But the real issue remains just how talented the prospect is going to be. Stars get kid glove treatment -- even Vick had to actually plead guilty to federal charges before His Holiness Roger would do anything. But Joe Third Stringer? His a$$ is grass.

[cincy9275]

can anyone tell me how many of the chargers players have been suspended since goodell took over i can't think of one. if there going to come after us then like hair said they better make it a league wide thing or mikey has a big time discrimination law suite in waiting