Williams Wall Suspended

[PierBridge]

Also it appears if the Williams play this week and the Players lose in court next week the Williams Wall will be suspended for the playoff game.

The players would lose less money if they are suspended for the playoff game.

[CrappiesNCats]

Judge Doty being on the case is very good news for the players.

Doty is not on the case, he deferred it to Judge Magnuson.

[FasterThanYou23]

From espn.com

Updated: December 5, 2008, 3:16 PM ET

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A federal judge has blocked the NFL from suspending five players for violating the league's anti-doping policy.

U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson said Friday he needed more time to consider the case after hearing several hours of arguments from the league and the NFL Players Association.

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

The union has argued the NFL didn't properly inform players about the substance. 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.

[Scott K]

Cool, maybe we can beat the Lions!

[zamboni]

Needs more time, eh?? If I were the judge, I would rule about mid february

[FasterThanYou23]

hahaha thatd be nice

[FISHINGURU]

starcaps wasn't on the approved or the unapproved list...when some of these players went to the trainers they said it should be ok and to make sure to call the 800 hotline setup for players to call to check on products...the 800 hotline said it was ok to take starcaps...so it was ok'd by trainers and the hotline.

the league doctor/chemist knew there was an illegal substance in the starcaps product but never informed the league staff.

the players did everything they were supposed to do and got the ok from the people they are supposed to check with first and called the hotline...they shouldn't be held responsible in this case.

[Big Tom]

Given the collective bargaining agreement language that exists between the NFL and the players, I believe they should face a 1 game suspension for testing postive.

Beyond that there are too many issues like intent, incorrect labelling and known positives by the league for it to go beyond that.

This issue should not be a league vs. the players deal for the good of the fans.

In addition to providing a list of approved substances, there should also be an information exchange on companies that have maketed substances resulting in positives for banned substances. If they can test the urine, they can test the supplements.

[PierBridge]

In addition to providing a list of approved substances, there should also be an information exchange on companies that have marketed substances resulting in positives for banned substances. If they can test the urine, they can test the supplements.

Sounds good on paper........But It's impossible.....and it's not the NF L's job to baby sit the players and the fly by night company's like StarCaps who are constantly trying to circumvent the banned substance rules in sports today.

The supplement industry is not regulated. There are literally thousands of supplements, performance enhancers on the market and they are CONSTANTLY changing ingredients.

How about maybe the players instead of risking their lively hood have the so called supplements tested themselves?

Or better yet how about losing weight the old fashioned way with out drugs?

[FISHINGURU]

i agree on the 4 game suspension being to harsh in this circumstance considering the miscommunications.

if it was on the list and they were told not to take it and still did or got caught using real roids i'd say they should get suspended for 4 games forsure...even though i'm a fan and it would suck.

i also agree they should just lose the weight the old fashioned way without drugs....u get paid millions and millions of dollars not like you can't afford to eat right and do some additional exercises.

[james_walleye]

Its come out that these guys called the 800 line and the list of ingredients given to them didnt include the banned substance. What good is this 800 line if this is going to happen?

[FISHINGURU]

i hear ya james....thats the same thing i posted about 5-6 posts back.

[koonie]

This isn't about the fact it's a diet pill and they were trying to lose weight. The problem is the chemical in starcaps is a masking agent for steroids.

[james_walleye]

Yeah and the fact that these guys called the 800 line and the NFL 800 line didnt give the masking agent as an ingredient. I'm sorry but if the NFL is going to have a line for these guys to call for the purpose of getting knowledge as to if a supplement is OK to take than you should be able to trust the answer given....

[LMITOUT]

Take the products that are on the approved list and don't worry about it!!!!

Geez, it's not that difficult to figure out. If you go outside the lines and get pinched, take your medicine (no pun intended) and do your time. Word is there may be more to what they were trying to cover up, and not just "trying to make weight".

[james_walleye]

The league only approves products from one company and this 800 line is there for players to call and check on other products. If there is a number there to use, than the info given should be able to be trusted. Its not as cut and dried as you would like to think. If it was a there wouldnt be an injunction issued.

[LMITOUT]

It's either on the list or it isn't. If you're still not sure then the answer would be don't take the questionable product.

End of story.

[james_walleye]

Why have an 800 line and NFL doctors to answer questions? Its not the end of the story lol. Once again....court injunction....its for a reason...its not a simple story.

[LMITOUT]

Why a court injunction? I dunno. Why did OJ get off the first time?

lol

The way they're playing today they might as well have started the suspension this week.

lol

[LMITOUT]

Regardless of the 800 line or list of approved products, unless they get the green light to take the product, don't! It really is that simple.

[james_walleye]

Do you not get it?? They called the 800 line and got the list of ingredients and the banned substance was not on the list given to them! That is a big part of the reason the judge has issued this injunction. The NFL number gave them a list of ingredients that didnt list it!

[james_walleye]

The bottom line is your a viking hater, that is why you think its simple. End of story.

[OLY]

EXACTLY!!, If we were talking about a couple of packer players I think his point of view would be much, much different. Its as simple as that!

[BID2]

Hes just mad. I heard his cousin just broke up with him. oh, and the pack lost AGAIN.

[LMITOUT]

EXACTLY!!, If we were talking about a couple of packer players I think his point of view would be much, much different. Its as simple as that!

Likewise.