The Williams Wall is back! (1 Viewer)

[FFdork]

I freely admit mine is wild speculation only. That said it is inconcievable to me that one can be trained to their level of fitness absent being very well informed on all aspects of training. for some reason we like to pretend that athletes can be innocent dupes in these matters, but this is their life. Now the Willims' are not Grady Jackson or Gilbert Brown, fat asses that have to make weight to make the roster. These are very fit men. They seem to have no real weight concerns, at least to me. When I couple this with the Vikings tragic history with Cory Stringer I cannot believe that the team was pressuring them to lose weight, nor that diuretics were in the plan if they had since these tend to be responsible for all sorts or training strains. There is but one reason I can see for having taken them. Still, as yoo suggest this is nothing more than speculation on my part and I freely admit that.

No problem, I just disagree. I will say that Pat Williams is a more talented version of Grady Jackson, and weight has been an issue for both him and Kevin Williams in the past. I think you're absolutely right that, in light of Cory Stringer, the Vikings wouldn't encourage them to make weight by taking something (and the NFL pointed out that doing so is usually prohibited in the contract), but weight clauses are a pretty common thing.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

I really had no idea what Starcaps were, or how they were marketed. I just googled them and was stunned. Stunned.

 

[FFdork]

I really had no idea what Starcaps were, or how they were marketed. I just googled them and was stunned. Stunned.

I'm curious what surprised you about it?I saw this one & chuckled a little bit in light of the current situation:

STARCAPSstarcaps official product page

Now you can have the amazing diet secret all Hollywood is talking about. Created by the Diet Queen to the Stars Nikki Haskell, STARCAPS is the natural dietary supplement containing a rare blend of papaya and garlic that help metabolize protein, eliminate bloat and detoxify your system, is the quick, effective way to melt off 10-125 pounds. STARCAPS make dieting easy!starcaps description

The secret is in STARCAPS unique ingredients...its all-natural blend of papaya and garlic from the higher Andes of Peru. Just 2 capsules a day helps metabolize protein, eliminate bloat and detoxify your system.

STARCAPS are safe and effective.

StarCaps are Nikki Haskell's formula for weight reduction that contain an all natural blend of papaya and garlic.

Directions: As a dietary supplement, take one StarCap a day in the morning, for the first two days, with a glass of orange juice. Then, take two StarCaps a day, one in the morning and one in mid-afternoon, with a glass of orange juice. Avoid sugar, butter and cheese.

Ingredients: Natural Extract Papaya & Garlic, Valerian, Corn Spices, Papain (protein digestive enzyme), Magnesium Carbonate & Magnesium Oxide less than 0.1%.

Each bottle is a two week supply and includes a diet booklet.

 

[thaas]

anybody heard anything yet??

 

[FunkyPlutos]

Seems they would want to start the suspension sooner rather than later. If they play the Detroit game they are going to end up missing a possible playoff game.

I will laugh my head off if this is the case and the Vikes get into the playoffs but lose in the first round because of this.

As a fan, yes I would be upset if this would happen. But players need to look at the big picture - if they feel they are being wronged, they need to make sure their employer (or whatever you call the NFL) isn't taking advantage of them. This is a big issue for the players association and if their team has to suffer in the short term, so be it. They feel it would help all the players long term.

 

[simey]

anybody heard anything yet??

Judge: Williamses, Others Can Play This Weekend

link

ST. PAUL (AP) ― A federal judge in St. Paul said 5 NFL players suspended under the league's anti-doping policy will be able to play this weekend.

Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Minnesota Vikings and Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints are hoping to have their four-game suspensions lifted. They tested positive for a banned diuretic in a dietary supplement called StarCaps.

U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson said Friday that he did not have enough time or information to make a decision, so he issued a temporary injunction against the suspensions.

Jeff Kessler, an attorney for the players union, argued Friday that the NFL didn't properly inform the players about the substance. The union has claimed a league doctor withheld specific information about the diuretic.

Dan Nash, an NFL attorney, argued that that claim and others have already been heard and rejected under an arbitration process in the league's collective bargaining agreement.

 

[mbuehner]

Crap. What do Kevin Faulks prospects look like this week? Yeah, it's that bad.

 

[ScottyFargo]

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but I don't think they're taking it to court so they can delay their suspension by a week. They're going to court b/c they feel like they have a legit case for a lesser suspension or no suspension at all. I'm not saying they are right or wrong, but that's the goal here. If the ruling goes against them & they do play this week it certainly will backfire for the Vikings.

Also, I appreciate the cynicism from Ditkaless, but I disagree on the sniff test. On the surface it looks like a bunch of bigger guys trying to make weight. Plus, I've yet to see any smoke about steroids in the Starcaps cases other than the fact that the unlisted diuretic can be used to mask them. Do we even know if there was enough of that ingredient in the pills to successfully mask anything?

I freely admit mine is wild speculation only. That said it is inconcievable to me that one can be trained to their level of fitness absent being very well informed on all aspects of training. for some reason we like to pretend that athletes can be innocent dupes in these matters, but this is their life. Now the Willims' are not Grady Jackson or Gilbert Brown, fat asses that have to make weight to make the roster. These are very fit men. They seem to have no real weight concerns, at least to me. When I couple this with the Vikings tragic history with Cory Stringer I cannot believe that the team was pressuring them to lose weight, nor that diuretics were in the plan if they had since these tend to be responsible for all sorts or training strains. There is but one reason I can see for having taken them. Still, as yoo suggest this is nothing more than speculation on my part and I freely admit that.

Pat Williams is a fit man? His nickname is Fat Pat. Have you ever seen the man?

The team did not place pressure on these players to lose weight, invoking Korey Stringer's death to villify the Vikings in this manner is reprehensible, but I know that was what you were trolling for there, so good show sinking as low as you could to make an outrageous mark. The contract they willingly signed is placing the pressure on the players to make weight in order to achieve incentives. Keep playing your steroids tune, though. Yes, it's more likely that Fat Pat is on STEROIDS than is taking a weight loss pill that happened to contain diuretics that he was unaware of.

Only in cheeseland.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but I don't think they're taking it to court so they can delay their suspension by a week. They're going to court b/c they feel like they have a legit case for a lesser suspension or no suspension at all. I'm not saying they are right or wrong, but that's the goal here. If the ruling goes against them & they do play this week it certainly will backfire for the Vikings.

Also, I appreciate the cynicism from Ditkaless, but I disagree on the sniff test. On the surface it looks like a bunch of bigger guys trying to make weight. Plus, I've yet to see any smoke about steroids in the Starcaps cases other than the fact that the unlisted diuretic can be used to mask them. Do we even know if there was enough of that ingredient in the pills to successfully mask anything?

I freely admit mine is wild speculation only. That said it is inconcievable to me that one can be trained to their level of fitness absent being very well informed on all aspects of training. for some reason we like to pretend that athletes can be innocent dupes in these matters, but this is their life. Now the Willims' are not Grady Jackson or Gilbert Brown, fat asses that have to make weight to make the roster. These are very fit men. They seem to have no real weight concerns, at least to me. When I couple this with the Vikings tragic history with Cory Stringer I cannot believe that the team was pressuring them to lose weight, nor that diuretics were in the plan if they had since these tend to be responsible for all sorts or training strains. There is but one reason I can see for having taken them. Still, as yoo suggest this is nothing more than speculation on my part and I freely admit that.

Pat Williams is a fit man? His nickname is Fat Pat. Have you ever seen the man?

The team did not place pressure on these players to lose weight, invoking Korey Stringer's death to villify the Vikings in this manner is reprehensible, but I know that was what you were trolling for there, so good show sinking as low as you could to make an outrageous mark. The contract they willingly signed is placing the pressure on the players to make weight in order to achieve incentives. Keep playing your steroids tune, though. Yes, it's more likely that Fat Pat is on STEROIDS than is taking a weight loss pill that happened to contain diuretics that he was unaware of.

Only in cheeseland.

I'm trying to decide whether I commmunicated so poorly that my meaning was unclear, or whether you went out of your way to misinterpret and to take offense. I am tending towards the latter.

 

[Kuz]

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but I don't think they're taking it to court so they can delay their suspension by a week. They're going to court b/c they feel like they have a legit case for a lesser suspension or no suspension at all. I'm not saying they are right or wrong, but that's the goal here. If the ruling goes against them & they do play this week it certainly will backfire for the Vikings.

Also, I appreciate the cynicism from Ditkaless, but I disagree on the sniff test. On the surface it looks like a bunch of bigger guys trying to make weight. Plus, I've yet to see any smoke about steroids in the Starcaps cases other than the fact that the unlisted diuretic can be used to mask them. Do we even know if there was enough of that ingredient in the pills to successfully mask anything?

I freely admit mine is wild speculation only. That said it is inconcievable to me that one can be trained to their level of fitness absent being very well informed on all aspects of training. for some reason we like to pretend that athletes can be innocent dupes in these matters, but this is their life. Now the Willims' are not Grady Jackson or Gilbert Brown, fat asses that have to make weight to make the roster. These are very fit men. They seem to have no real weight concerns, at least to me. When I couple this with the Vikings tragic history with Cory Stringer I cannot believe that the team was pressuring them to lose weight, nor that diuretics were in the plan if they had since these tend to be responsible for all sorts or training strains. There is but one reason I can see for having taken them. Still, as yoo suggest this is nothing more than speculation on my part and I freely admit that.

Pat Williams is a fit man? His nickname is Fat Pat. Have you ever seen the man?

The team did not place pressure on these players to lose weight, invoking Korey Stringer's death to villify the Vikings in this manner is reprehensible, but I know that was what you were trolling for there, so good show sinking as low as you could to make an outrageous mark. The contract they willingly signed is placing the pressure on the players to make weight in order to achieve incentives. Keep playing your steroids tune, though. Yes, it's more likely that Fat Pat is on STEROIDS than is taking a weight loss pill that happened to contain diuretics that he was unaware of.

Only in cheeseland.

I'm trying to decide whether I commmunicated so poorly that my meaning was unclear, or whether you went out of your way to misinterpret and to take offense. I am tending towards the latter.

I think he just wanted to make sure you know that Pat Williams is not a fit man..

 

[Sundog]

Scotty, the Vikes *did* place pressure on both guys, and if I call correctly, even sidelined Pat during a training camp because he came in too big. Tice used to tweak Kevin about being overweight as well.

 

[ScottyFargo]

Scotty, the Vikes *did* place pressure on both guys, and if I call correctly, even sidelined Pat during a training camp because he came in too big. Tice used to tweak Kevin about being overweight as well.

Everything I read recently led me to believe the reasons they were trying to make weight was to meet their contractual incentives on a weekly basis. I am sure though, that during the TC players are encouraged to get to a weight level that promotes consistent play so they don't get winded on every third down.As it stands Pat comes out on most passing downs, so you may be on to something. He commented quite a bit about his desire to be the first to sack a QB on any given play since the Vikings acquired Allen. It served to make sacking the QB a competitive challenge between the D-linemen. I recall a specific quote about Pat having to be dragged out on passing downs.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but I don't think they're taking it to court so they can delay their suspension by a week. They're going to court b/c they feel like they have a legit case for a lesser suspension or no suspension at all. I'm not saying they are right or wrong, but that's the goal here. If the ruling goes against them & they do play this week it certainly will backfire for the Vikings.

Also, I appreciate the cynicism from Ditkaless, but I disagree on the sniff test. On the surface it looks like a bunch of bigger guys trying to make weight. Plus, I've yet to see any smoke about steroids in the Starcaps cases other than the fact that the unlisted diuretic can be used to mask them. Do we even know if there was enough of that ingredient in the pills to successfully mask anything?

I freely admit mine is wild speculation only. That said it is inconcievable to me that one can be trained to their level of fitness absent being very well informed on all aspects of training. for some reason we like to pretend that athletes can be innocent dupes in these matters, but this is their life. Now the Willims' are not Grady Jackson or Gilbert Brown, fat asses that have to make weight to make the roster. These are very fit men. They seem to have no real weight concerns, at least to me. When I couple this with the Vikings tragic history with Cory Stringer I cannot believe that the team was pressuring them to lose weight, nor that diuretics were in the plan if they had since these tend to be responsible for all sorts or training strains. There is but one reason I can see for having taken them. Still, as yoo suggest this is nothing more than speculation on my part and I freely admit that.

Pat Williams is a fit man? His nickname is Fat Pat. Have you ever seen the man?

The team did not place pressure on these players to lose weight, invoking Korey Stringer's death to villify the Vikings in this manner is reprehensible, but I know that was what you were trolling for there, so good show sinking as low as you could to make an outrageous mark. The contract they willingly signed is placing the pressure on the players to make weight in order to achieve incentives. Keep playing your steroids tune, though. Yes, it's more likely that Fat Pat is on STEROIDS than is taking a weight loss pill that happened to contain diuretics that he was unaware of.

Only in cheeseland.

I'm trying to decide whether I commmunicated so poorly that my meaning was unclear, or whether you went out of your way to misinterpret and to take offense. I am tending towards the latter.

I think he just wanted to make sure you know that Pat Williams is not a fit man..

I recognize that both are large fellows. That goes with being a defensive tackle. They are not, however, sloppy fat was my point. Further, these men are professional athletes and most pros spend a bit of time in weight rooms. It is naive in the extreme to believe that these guys are not completely on top of information pertaining to steroids and masking. It is also counterintutive to believe that these men are interested in diuretics which are so counterproductive. Hell most athletes go out of their way to hydrate, and for good reason. When super large, super aggressive men who are professional athletes in a field where steroid use is rampant, and they are taking diuretics including a masking agent I just don't buy that they are trying to pass a little water weight. And yes, given the Vikings history, players in that locker room have a sad object lesson against risking such. As I said, it doesn't pass the sniff test with me. If someone thinks I am being deliberately provocative or trolling they are mistaken. I'm just analyzing information at my disposal to form an opinion. Regardless, since my opinion has apparently caused some hard feelings I will leave the subject alone. I'm not one to provoke others, at least not often, and when I so intend you usually don't have to try to devine that fact, I'm pretty out front.

 

[bb7278]

BUMP up Chester Taylor, considering the Williams are playing it only increases the likelihood of a blowout and less time for AP and more for Chester.

 

[thaas]

BUMP up Chester Taylor, considering the Williams are playing it only increases the likelihood of a blowout and less time for AP and more for Chester.

So you feeling AP plays less now?? I would have thought against the bears he would have played less after they had a BIG lead and he limped off twice, but Childres kept sticking him back in, which made no sense to me?? I hope your right as i am playing against him this week

 

[FFdork]

The speculation is that it could take weeks if not months for the judge to reach a decision here. Given the Vikings history I predict they will make it to the Superbowl only to have the judge rule in the NFL's favor that week.

 

[encaitar]

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but I don't think they're taking it to court so they can delay their suspension by a week. They're going to court b/c they feel like they have a legit case for a lesser suspension or no suspension at all. I'm not saying they are right or wrong, but that's the goal here. If the ruling goes against them & they do play this week it certainly will backfire for the Vikings.

Also, I appreciate the cynicism from Ditkaless, but I disagree on the sniff test. On the surface it looks like a bunch of bigger guys trying to make weight. Plus, I've yet to see any smoke about steroids in the Starcaps cases other than the fact that the unlisted diuretic can be used to mask them. Do we even know if there was enough of that ingredient in the pills to successfully mask anything?

I freely admit mine is wild speculation only. That said it is inconcievable to me that one can be trained to their level of fitness absent being very well informed on all aspects of training. for some reason we like to pretend that athletes can be innocent dupes in these matters, but this is their life. Now the Willims' are not Grady Jackson or Gilbert Brown, fat asses that have to make weight to make the roster. These are very fit men. They seem to have no real weight concerns, at least to me. When I couple this with the Vikings tragic history with Cory Stringer I cannot believe that the team was pressuring them to lose weight, nor that diuretics were in the plan if they had since these tend to be responsible for all sorts or training strains. There is but one reason I can see for having taken them. Still, as yoo suggest this is nothing more than speculation on my part and I freely admit that.

Pat Williams is a fit man? His nickname is Fat Pat. Have you ever seen the man?

The team did not place pressure on these players to lose weight, invoking Korey Stringer's death to villify the Vikings in this manner is reprehensible, but I know that was what you were trolling for there, so good show sinking as low as you could to make an outrageous mark. The contract they willingly signed is placing the pressure on the players to make weight in order to achieve incentives. Keep playing your steroids tune, though. Yes, it's more likely that Fat Pat is on STEROIDS than is taking a weight loss pill that happened to contain diuretics that he was unaware of.

Only in cheeseland.

I'm trying to decide whether I commmunicated so poorly that my meaning was unclear, or whether you went out of your way to misinterpret and to take offense. I am tending towards the latter.

I think he just wanted to make sure you know that Pat Williams is not a fit man..

I recognize that both are large fellows. That goes with being a defensive tackle. They are not, however, sloppy fat was my point. Further, these men are professional athletes and most pros spend a bit of time in weight rooms. It is naive in the extreme to believe that these guys are not completely on top of information pertaining to steroids and masking. It is also counterintutive to believe that these men are interested in diuretics which are so counterproductive. Hell most athletes go out of their way to hydrate, and for good reason. When super large, super aggressive men who are professional athletes in a field where steroid use is rampant, and they are taking diuretics including a masking agent I just don't buy that they are trying to pass a little water weight. And yes, given the Vikings history, players in that locker room have a sad object lesson against risking such. As I said, it doesn't pass the sniff test with me. If someone thinks I am being deliberately provocative or trolling they are mistaken. I'm just analyzing information at my disposal to form an opinion. Regardless, since my opinion has apparently caused some hard feelings I will leave the subject alone. I'm not one to provoke others, at least not often, and when I so intend you usually don't have to try to devine that fact, I'm pretty out front.

I think Scotty's speculation is based upon him thinking you have a bias against the Williams' because of your fan loyalty. Although, you are completely wrong about Fat Pat. There is nothing about him that would make a person think "fit." He is a fat, fat man. He's likely wider than he is tall. Anyway, I agree with you to a point. I can see why they would take a diet pill to lose weight as they have hundreds of thousands of reasons to do so(based on contract clauses), but if that were their only goal you'd think they'd take a diet pill that actually worked. All I've read about Star Caps says that it isn't very effective.

 

[BigJim®]

Wow, this decision shocked me. Thank god for Minnesota judges!

 

[David Yudkin]

The speculation is that it could take weeks if not months for the judge to reach a decision here. Given the Vikings history I predict they will make it to the Superbowl only to have the judge rule in the NFL's favor that week.

I'm not sure we can conclude much of anything at this point. From what I've seen, all the judge really said today was that he could not review the information and hear the merits of each side's case and render a decision all in one day. I'm not sure anyone knows when this will be heard again, whether it be next week or next year and whether they will have multiple hearings or a single one with the judge deciding whether to proceed in hearing the case or not.I do not interpret what happened to day as any sort of resolution at all and only a stop gap decision to get through the weekend. Certianly the NFLPA will try to drag this out as long as possible, and we'll have to see if they can do that.

 

[thaas]

The bad thing about this is if the Vikes go onto the playoffs, then they get suspended.. So would it be better to serve it now or later? Also wonder if they could ever cut a deal with NFL, say serve two game suspension?? I know Brandon Marshall's case was different but he cut his suspension way down

 

[BigJim®]

The speculation is that it could take weeks if not months for the judge to reach a decision here. Given the Vikings history I predict they will make it to the Superbowl only to have the judge rule in the NFL's favor that week.

I'm not sure we can conclude much of anything at this point. From what I've seen, all the judge really said today was that he could not review the information and hear the merits of each side's case and render a decision all in one day. I'm not sure anyone knows when this will be heard again, whether it be next week or next year and whether they will have multiple hearings or a single one with the judge deciding whether to proceed in hearing the case or not.I do not interpret what happened to day as any sort of resolution at all and only a stop gap decision to get through the weekend. Certianly the NFLPA will try to drag this out as long as possible, and we'll have to see if they can do that.

I heard a Star/Trib legal reporter on KFAN and it sounded like nothing will occur within days. She suggested it could take weeks as she expects both sides will be allowed time for briefing, discovery, etc. Also, she mentioned Williams attorney is also objecting to the Williams case being consolidated as they feel they have state claims that are separate and unique from the NFLPA issues, and those claims should remain in State court. Just arguing on that point too could take time to resolve, and could involve briefs and additional hearings. Who knows, but I would not expect this to be a 1-game thing at this point.

 

[FFdork]

The speculation is that it could take weeks if not months for the judge to reach a decision here. Given the Vikings history I predict they will make it to the Superbowl only to have the judge rule in the NFL's favor that week.

I'm not sure we can conclude much of anything at this point. From what I've seen, all the judge really said today was that he could not review the information and hear the merits of each side's case and render a decision all in one day. I'm not sure anyone knows when this will be heard again, whether it be next week or next year and whether they will have multiple hearings or a single one with the judge deciding whether to proceed in hearing the case or not.I do not interpret what happened to day as any sort of resolution at all and only a stop gap decision to get through the weekend. Certianly the NFLPA will try to drag this out as long as possible, and we'll have to see if they can do that.

Agree and I'm not concluding anything, but, as BigJim said, the people present at the hearing are speculating from what they hear that this could drag on for a while.I was basically using it to set up my Vikings always let down their fans, especially in the Superbowl joke. Ah well.

 

[Sweetness_34]

One of the mysteries to me will always be why the Bills let Ted Washington and Pat Williams go, when both had at least 4 good years left in them. Yes they left as FAs, but still. Those two stopped run games by themselves for the Bills. Tough to find players like that in this league. Washington did pretty well with the Bears and even Pats for a few years and Williams has turned the Vikes D around since the day he joined the Vikings. You can find gold in FA, just have to get the right guys.

 

[ScottyFargo]

Injunction Upheld

MINNEAPOLIS -- A federal judge extended his preliminary injunction against the NFL's suspension of five players for violating the league's anti-doping policy, a move their lawyer said will let them play the rest of the season.

In his ruling Thursday, U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson asked both parties to propose a schedule by Dec. 22 for further proceedings that would lead to an eventual hearing on the merits of the case, a process that could take months. The regular season ends Dec. 28.

Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Minnesota Vikings and Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints were suspended last week for four games each. They tested positive during training camp for a banned diuretic, bumetanide, in the dietary supplement StarCaps.

NFLPA lead attorney Jeff Kessler told ESPN's Chris Mortensen, "As long as their teams are still playing, these players will be on the field the rest of the season, including the postseason. You can count on that."

"The players and the union are thrilled," Kessler told The Associated Press. Kessler said the judge's timeframe is long enough that the players can finish the season and go to the playoffs if their teams make it that far.

Kevin and Pat Williams, who aren't related, are star defensive tackles for a Vikings team that is 8-5 and in first place in the NFC North. They play Sunday at Arizona.

New Orleans, 7-6 and in last place in the NFC South, played Thursday night at Chicago.

"Since there has to be discovery and other proceedings, it's unlikely we would agree on a schedule for a trial until sometime after the Super Bowl," Kessler said.

Magnuson issued his initial injunction Dec. 5 after hearing arguments from the league and the NFLPA. That move came two days after a Minnesota state court judge had issued a restraining order in a lawsuit brought by the Vikings players.

The union argued the NFL didn't properly inform players about what it knew about StarCaps. The NFL's attorneys argued that claim, and others, had been considered and rejected in a process set out by the league's collective bargaining agreement.

Magnuson urged both sides to negotiate a solution. If they can't, he will preserve the status quo until there is a full evidentiary hearing on the case. The two sides have until Dec. 22 to negotiate a proposed schedule for filing papers ahead of that hearing, otherwise the judge will schedule it himself. Magnuson did not set a hearing date.

The judge said the players union had shown it will likely succeed on its claims that the NFL breached its duty to the players by failing to share what it knew about StarCaps. Another issue is whether Jeffrey Pash, the NFL's chief legal officer who upheld the five players' suspensions, was too partial to be an arbitrator.

"We are extraordinarily pleased for Kevin and Pat as well as for the Vikings fans," Peter Ginsberg, an attorney for the Williamses, said in a statement. "We appreciate the court's decision to allow us to conduct a full and fair hearing to explore the full extent of the NFL's failure to live up to its obligations to the players."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement the league accepted the decision.

"This is consistent with the approach the judge has taken in giving careful consideration to these issues, which we fully respect," Aiello said.

Richard Berthelsen, acting executive director of the players union, said the decision shows that the league can't ignore the rights of players in issuing arbitration rulings, and that courts will intervene if it does.

 

[ScottyFargo]

"Suspended" players to be active through the regular season and any playoff games

STARCAPS CASE WON’T BE RESOLVED UNTIL AFTER PLAYOFFS

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 11, 2008, 5:17 p.m. EST

Adam Schefter of NFL Network is reporting that the case of the five NFL players who were suspended for using StarCaps will not be resolved until after the playoffs.

Per Schefter, U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson, the federal judge overseeing the case, will not lift the temporary restraining order until a full hearing can be conducted.

That means Vikings defensive tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams and Saints running back Deuce McAllister and defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant will remain active through the postseason.

The Associated Press reports that Magnuson asked both parties to propose a schedule by December 22 to file pleadings in the case. If a schedule won’t even be proposed until December 22, this process will, presumably, go well past the Super Bowl.

Uh-Ohhhh!