MANKATO, Minn. (AP) -If the waiting is the hardest part, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams haven’t shown it.
The Minnesota Vikings and their stalwart defensive tackles are still seeking resolution to their fight against the NFL’s attempt to issue them a four-game suspension for use of the now-infamous weight-loss supplement StarCaps.
More than eight months after news of their positive tests first broke, the Williamses find themselves in continued limbo.
“I just keep on praying on it. That’s all I’m going to do. Whatever happens happens,” Pat Williams said after Tuesday’s training camp practice, teasing Adrian Peterson on his way off the field about all the kids screaming for the running back’s autograph.
“Hopefully it will be over soon, and we can move on,” Kevin Williams said. “I’m not going to even worry about it.”
luding input from other major sports.
The NFL wants the suspensions, originally handed out last season, to start with Minnesota’s opener on Sept. 13, but the league would rather the federal appeals be resolved first before further proceedings at the state level to avoid conflicting rulings.
The players’ attorney is pushing for a trial before the regular season begins on Sept. 13; if that’s not possible, they want it delayed again until the season is over.
The Williamses have acknowledged taking StarCaps, which contained an unlisted but illegal ingredient called bumetanide that can mask the presence of steroids; they’re not accused of taking steroids, however.
Their original lawsuit was dismissed in federal court, but their claims that the suspensions would violate Minnesota employment laws were sent back to state court. The NFL didn’t tell players that StarCaps contained the banned substance, but it claims that players are responsible for what they take and that the collective bargaining agreement that is in place should dictate the punishment.
Whew.
No wonder their focus is on football: This is almost too complicated to think about anyway.
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Fellow defensive end Jared Allen refuses to dwell on the what-if possibility, either.
“We’re professionals. You’re not supposed to get distracted. Things are going to happen. This is the NFL. People are going to get replaced year in and year out. It’s just part of the job,” Allen said.
For as much attention Brett Favre’s will-he-or-won’t-he saga received over the last three months as the still-retired quarterback mulled the opportunity to come to Minnesota, the uncertainty of the Williamses’ status has dragged on much longer. It’s an equally important issue, too, central to the success of this year’s team.
“We would like for it to come to an end and put it behind us,” defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. “I know for their sake they would like to put it behind them and not miss any time. Hopefully it will come to a resolution pretty soon here. Hopefully we aren’t going into September not knowing if these guys will be suspended.”
If so, Letroy Guion, Fred Evans and Jimmy Kennedy would be next in line to fill the spots. Frazier said he’s confident in their abilities.
“It will be a bit of a drop off,” Frazier said. “It will be hard to replace Pat and Kevin, because those are Hall of Fame defensive tackles. We feel confident we will still be able to play good defense with those other guys in the game.”
Vikings coach Brad Childress was asked if he’s ever seen the Williamses’ performance suffer from the uncertainty.
“I have never seen them in the fetal position by their lockers or anything of that nature, or them being unable to come in from their car, Childress said, having some fun with the question. “They are taking care of all the business they need to take care of. They don’t let it be a distraction, and they have handled it with a minimal amount of missed time.”
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