CINCINNATI -- Bengals defensive end Frostee Rucker won't have to serve a proposed suspension from the NFL, but will miss the season opener 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.
"We've received confirmation that the suspension was overturned," agent J.R. Rickert said Friday. "We're very happy about that. We think it's the right thing for Frostee."
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has declined to discuss the proposed suspension. Rickert said Lewis helped the second-year player with the appeal.
"He provided a statement of his character since he's been a member of the Bengals, and said he's never had one issue," Rickert said.
League spokesman Greg Aiello declined to comment. The league doesn't discuss proposed penalties unless they are enforced after appeal.
Despite the decision in his favor, Rucker will miss a game against Baltimore on Monday night because of the injury. He was listed as out for the game on the Bengals' injury report Friday.
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 Southern California.
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.
Rucker faced two counts each of battery and vandalism. Prosecutors said the woman sustained minor injuries, and her Blackberry and cell phone were damaged. A charge of false imprisonment later was added.
Last April 30, Rucker settled the case with a plea agreement. He pleaded no contest to one count of vandalism and one count of false imprisonment, and the rest of the charges were dropped.
He was sentenced in Los Angeles Superior Court to three years probation and 750 hours of community service. He also was ordered to get treatment for domestic violence and pay a $520 fine.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press