Bengals' Rey Maualuga pleads not guilty

Updated: February 18, 2012, 10:29 PM ET

Associated Press

CINCINNATI -- Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge.

Maualuga

The three-year veteran's attorney filed a written plea Friday in Hamilton County Municipal Court.

An employee at a downtown Cincinnati bar told police that Maualuga punched him in the face on Feb. 5.

Maualuga and the Bengals have not commented on the charge, which could bring a fine or suspension from the NFL.

Hensley ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley writes about all things AFC North in his division blog.

It's Maualuga's second court case in two years.

He pleaded guilty to drunken driving after police in northern Kentucky said he hit a parking meter and two parked cars in January 2010.

The league suspended him for two games for violating its conduct policy.

As a repeat offender, he could be suspended by the NFL for part of next season.

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