Former FSU Linebacker Released By Bengals

The Bengals released former FSU linebacker A.J. Nicholson,who pled not guilty to assault charges on Monday.

The woman who claimed that Nicholson hit her, told reporters at his arraignment Monday that Nicholson never hit her.

Nicholson was arrested on a domestic violence charge Friday, the first arrest of a Cincinnati Bengals' player since commissioner Roger Goodell cracked down on misconduct last month.

Nicholson, a fifth-round draft pick from Florida State in 2006, appeared in only two games last season, when he had a hamstring injury. Nicholson had last March pleaded no contest to burglary and grand theft in Tallahassee and was sentenced to two months in a work program. He had been charged with stealing electronic equipment and other items from the apartment of a former Florida State teammate.

This is a sad ending to such a promising career but is a necessary thing that the NFL is doing to cut down on the criminal conduct of many NFL players.