Court Rules NFL Can't Suspend Vikings' Williamses

"A federal appeals court ruled the NFL can't suspend Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams for violating the league's anti-doping policy. The decision came Friday, two days before the Viking open the season at Cleveland. The NFL had cleared the two to play Sunday, but the court fight was still pending. The NFL wanted to suspend the Williamses for four games after they both tested positive for a banned diuretic during training camp in 2008. They had taken the over-the-counter weight loss supplement StarCaps. It did not state on the label that it contained the diuretic -- which can mask the presence of steroids. Neither player tested positive for steroids (Sportsline)."

This is a huge win not only for the Vikings but for the players union. Steroids have been such a losing battles for players in all leagues, but this time the players stood up for themselves, and won in court. This has to be a huge relief for them, and any fan of the Vikings, because without these two the Vikings defense would be terrible...

Judge Blocks Suspension of Vikings' Williams Duo

"A judge on Thursday blocked the NFL's plan to suspend Minnesota Vikings linemen Kevin Williams and Pat Williams for violating the league's anti-doping policy, a move their attorney said should let them start the season (ESPN)."

You rarely see players be able to fight a steroid test, but it seems like these guys are going to pull it off. The Vikings can't lose both these guys for a bunch of games, so this was really important. I actually forgot about all this, but it will be real interesting to see how this will all turn out.

NFL Steroid Suspensions

The NFL suspended 6 players; "running back Deuce McAllister and defensive linemen Charles Grant and Will Smith of New Orleans; defensive linemen Kevin and Pat Williams of Minnesota; and long snapper Bryan Pittman of Houston (ESPN)."

All I can say is it is about damn time! This has been dragged out so long, and there is really no reason for it. The NFL goes after Wilfork, and Ward before the beginning of practice the following week, yet it takes this long to suspend players for using steroids? Seems crazy to me. Anyways, this is really going to kill the Vikings, who are only 1 game up on the Bears for 1st place in the NFC North. Obviously, this hurts the Saints too, but I think it is going to be really tough for the Saints to make the playoffs, yet if they are going to it will all be on Drew Brees' shoulders anyways.

-BMack