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Bucs cornerback Torrie Cox made a last-ditch effort to overturn his four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Cox, whose violation stemmed from drinking alcohol after being placed in a program that prohibited it, filed a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under the Americans with Disabilities Act, his agent said Thursday. Peter Schaffer believes alcoholism is a disability. The suit does not say Cox is an alcoholic but he is perceived to be one, which was the league's basis for the suspension. The EEOC is a federal agency that enforces job discrimination laws. The ADA prohibits employer discrimination based on disabilities. It defines a disability as "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities." Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman, also suspended because of alcohol violations, has filed a similar suit, according to the team's Web site. -- St. Petersburg Times

Bucs: Cox files federal complaint over ban