The Associated Press

The NFL Players Association says the Cleveland Browns violated the collective bargaining agreement by suspending running back William Green for his arrest on charges of drunken driving and marijuana possession.

"We see this issue as falling under the substance abuse policy and the clubs don't have the right to suspend the player," NFLPA president Gene Upshaw said Tuesday.

Upshaw said he expects a grievance to be filed against the Browns. "They don't have the right to do what they did," he said.

Green sat out Sunday's game at Kansas City for what coach Butch Davis called detrimental conduct and being a distraction to the team. Davis and the Browns would not comment on whether the suspension was improper. "We don't ever discuss anything that has to do with the players," Davis said.

• Wide receiver Kevin Johnson, 27, was released by Cleveland, one week after he was benched.

Johnson, the club's leading receiver since 1999, had his starting job taken by Davis, who was displeased with the five-year veteran's performance.

MONDAY NIGHT: The Philadelphia Eagles are becoming quite a comeback team. For the fourth straight week, the Eagles won a game in which they trailed or were tied in the fourth quarter, rallying to beat the Green Bay Packers 17-14 in the final minute Monday night at Lambeau Field.

"This team showed its character, its mental toughness," Eagles coach Andy Reid said Tuesday. "It wasn't the prettiest game, but the guys persevered through it."

After struggling through the first three quarters, the Eagles' offense scored two touchdowns in the final 10 minutes, including Donovan McNabb's winning 6-yard TD pass to Todd Pinkston with 27 seconds left.

"In the first half, there were opportunities to make plays and we just didn't make them," McNabb said. "In the second half, guys challenged themselves to go in and make that big play. And what you saw was a team that was determined."

The victory allowed the Eagles (6-3) to stay one game behind the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East. After starting the season with two losses at home, the Eagles have won six of seven and are in position to make a run at their third consecutive trip to the NFC championship game.

CARDINALS: Arizona signed former Bengals kicker Neil Rackers, one day after cutting Tim Duncan. Rackers kicked for Cincinnati the last three seasons but was one of the final players cut by the Bengals before this season began.

His best year was 2002, when he made 15-of-18 field goal tries, and was 13 for 13 inside 45 yards. Rackers was a sixth-round draft pick by the Bengals out of Illinois in 2000.

Duncan had replaced injured kicker Bill Gramatica, but was cut after missing 4-of-10 field goal attempts. Duncan also missed a point after in Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh. Gramatica is sidelined with a back injury. He tried to kick on Monday but was sore.

RAVENS: Rookie quarterback Kyle Boller underwent surgery on his left leg, but remains hopeful he can return this season. Boller, injured in Sunday night's 33-22 loss to St. Louis, had surgery to repair a torn muscle in his quadriceps. The Ravens signed quarterback Ray Lucas as a backup to Chris Redman and Anthony Wright.

BRONCOS: Denver signed cornerback Ryan McNeil to fill an open roster spot. McNeil, an 11-year veteran, played for Detroit, St. Louis, Cleveland, Dallas and San Diego. San Diego released him after training camp.

BUCCANEERS: Tight end Rickey Dudley signed a one-year contract with Tampa Bay after he was released by the team before the season. Dudley, an eight-year NFL veteran from Ohio State, sprained his left ankle in the Bucs' final exhibition game and was released in late August.

He finished the preseason with three catches for 71 yards.

Dudley played in 14 regular-season games and three playoff games with Tampa Bay last season, helping the Bucs win the Super Bowl. He finished with 16 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns.

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