Williamses suspended
December 2nd, 2008 – 4:12 PM by Judd ZulgadThe four-game suspensions for Vikings defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams have been upheld.
The NFL confirmed the Williams will be suspended without pay for four games.
League spokesman Greg Aiello sent an e-mail saying, “The players violated a long-standing provision of the policy relating to the use of diuretics and water pills, which serve as masking agents for steroids and are potentially dangerous to the health of players.”
Also suspended were three New Orleans Saints players, Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith. Bryan Pittman of Houston was also suspended.
If the Vikings qualify for the playoffs, the Williamses would be reinstated on Dec. 29.
The players all tested positive for bumetanide, a banned substance.
The Williamses’ appeal was heard by NFL executive vice president of labor and legal counsel Jeff Pash, who issued today’s ruling.
Angelo Wright, the agent for Pat Williams, said his client would file a motion in federal court either tonight or tomorrow asking for an injunction that would allow him to play.
The Viking issued a statement saying they were “very disappointed” in the NFL’s decision.
According to NFL.com, the league’s substance policy states that the use of so-called “blocking” or “masking” agents, including diuretics and water pills, is prohibited and that a positive test will not be excused because it results from the use of a dietary supplement that unknowingly contained a banned substance.
When it announced the suspensions, the NFL reiterated the section of its policy that reads:
“You and you alone are responsible for what goes into your body. Claiming that you used only legally available nutritional supplements will not help you in an appeal. … Even if they are bought over-the-counter from a known establishment, there is currently no way to be sure that they contain the ingredients listed on the packaging or have not been tainted with prohibited substances …
“If you take these products, you do so AT YOUR OWN RISK! For your own health and success in the league, we strongly encourage you to avoid the use of supplements altogether, or at the very least to be extremely careful about what you choose to take.
According to The Associated Press, David Cornwell, the lawyer for the three New Orleans players, called the decisions “inconsistent with the objectives of the steroid policy.”
“Deuce, Will, and Charles did not try to enhance their performance with steroids, nor did they knowingly expose themselves to the adverse health risks of a diuretic,” Cornwell said in an e-mail. “They took a weight loss supplement that they had every reason to believe was safe.”
102 Responses to "Williamses suspended"
F@#$, F@#$, F@#$, F@#$!!!!!
I mean……. Woo hoo!!!
C’mon Injunction!!!
#@+% they’re gone. We’re still good right. We have an explosive pass game and a mad genius head coach. Here’s the punk’s free pass.
Fire Childress.
Go Vikes
And good luck wyvans wall
I guess it pays to be fat. Grady Jackson at 345 gets off w/ no suspension. Screw the NFL’s Play 60 and stay fat!!! You too can not get suspended.
It will be interesting to find out the details, facts, and the future proceedings of this now.
1st reported…
C’mon Zygi, do some of that lawyer sh$t.
This is absolute B.S.
The NFL can suck my Scoggins for all I care.
Sorry Chip…little burst of rage there.
[…] The NFL has reportedly upheld the suspensions of Pat and Kevin Williams. They will miss the final four games of the regular season barring an injunction against the league. There is no word yet, actually, on whether their lawyers are still pursuing the injunction option. What a shame that these two magnificent players had to become embroiled in this nonsense. And what a shame that our season will likely be ruined without them. More to come… Recent Posts…Adrian Peterson Back After BenchingOur Defensive Line is Full of Steroid-Taking ThugsChilly Pulls the Trigger on CookAllen Probably OutUpdate: Allen Hurt […]
Well there goes the playoffs. Good bye and good riddance Chilly.
this is such bs and not chillys fault. We would be in the playoffs if not for this and for those of you who are using this as an excuse to fire chilly its not going to happen im telling you ziggy loves him and will justify keeping him by saying when we had a full team we were in first place i guarantee you
The Kitties get their first win on Sunday! Sh!t
Greg Aiello & Jeff Pash.
Two gentlemen that I do not care for right now.
greg & jeff, I will no longer capitalize your names…live with that.
Indeed, I challenge both of you to a duel.
Now how was Grady Jackson not suspended and Pat Willaims was, when they use the same Agent or Lawyer? Goodell officially hates us, he has now suspended or fined every starter on our D Line. The only good thing is, the Williams’ will be pissed when they come back in the playoffs. DET is 0-12, and has played worse teams than the Vikes without the Williams’, NYG may clinch by week 17, and rest their starters, and we have tie breaker over CHI, so 2 wis should do it, if CHI even loses one game.
We’re toast..
I think the wyvans wall will hold up until the postseason.
The adversity will bring us all closer together. By the end of this, Bones and I will likely be sitting in his living room, his obese, gimp leg wife bringing us eggnog and shortbread cookies, as we discuss who the Vikes are playing on the wildcard weekend.
We’ll be lucky if AZ changes their game plan, and tries to beat us with Hightower, instead of with Boldin and Fitz. Turner will be a bit more of a problem.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Eat it Queen fans!
Cheer up fellow avvers. Were they really that good? Just kidding, they are monsters. But i agree with vk, it would be a blessing if teams switch their gameplans to the ground attack. Griffin gas stepped up, but we still have swiss cheese pass d. We can win. Our players are hungry.
Go Vikes!
Screw you mpls tender- eat some rotten cheese
Still fire Childress!
I can’t believe that it wasn’t even a reduced or staggered suspension. Judd, do we get two roster exemptions??
Well, I guess this where Jared can earn his money for us. And at least Robison has some experience at DT in pass rushing scenarios. The fact that we have to face Kevin Smith, Earnest Graham, Michael Turner, and Brandon Jacobs (maybe) is kind of scary.
I bet the Giants play their starters against us. I remember Coughlin playing the starters last year just to try and defeat the Pats to keep them from going undeafeated, right? And the last time we played the Giants, we embarrassed them, right? And Ray Edwards ran his mouth off saying he was going to break the record of the Giants best-ever player, right? And even if the Giants have the division in hand, they could still be playing for home-field advantage. And they could play the game in an effort to not have to see the Vikes with the WilliamsWall in the playoffs.
This is about the worst news we could receive right now. We either go down like a burning ship, or our D gets so mad that we pull off a miracle and make it to the playoffs. You never know, weirder things have happened in sports. I guess if we lose, at least Chilly will hopefully be gone by next season.
How to replace 690 lbs. of fat in 4 weeks? NBC’s The Biggest Loser?
NO!! fire MN’s biggest loser–chilly!
Well I guess I’ll include the idiot Bartender from Minneapolis too in my fond wishes for the NFL front office to have a perfectly lousy Christmas.
At least this opens up the way for The Williams to sue the ever lovin’ S**t out of them!
We’ll still win the North.
Dude, that wasn’t right.
If Childress wouldn’t kept calling our boys fat lazy slobs, we wouldn’t be in this mess. He hurt the big guys’ feelings.
Go Vikes!
Fire Mr. Clean!
I think Ak means Tim Hightower.
So…we have now lost our Pro Bowl worthy MLB and two DT’s. I would guess we will see some run-oriented game plans now that JA is violating those who play the QB position.
Plus, this automatically gives Chili at least another year even without a playoff berth. So much for celebrating the Bear victory and first place. The nice thing is, this is the NFC Nort’, where the Bares and Pukers may still be worse than what we have left. If we can beat the Lions and steal another one, we could easily be champs at 9-7.
It’s chili’s free pass. We’re stuck with him at least next year. By the sound me it Zygi’s ready to give him a 5 year extension. Maybe if he keeps drinking vodka, the pink elephant will give him some pointers.
Go Vikes!
Fire Childress!
The best part is that you all just got your hopes up! This couldn’t have gone any more perfect if I had written it myself!
Every GOOD TEAM
can deal with the + and - and has a
SOLID PLAN to keep the program strong
and GOOD DEPTH at positions.
a wakeup call here for the PURPLE
looking forward to see all STEP UP
go vikes !!!!!
Thanks B. Grant, I don’t know what I was thinkin’. Hightower, of course.
This makes the Kendrick Allen injury even a bigger hit than it already had been.
I remember PFT posting stories awhile back where Pat’s agent was quoted as saying “Grady Jackson will not be suspended…” I guess he was right… wonder what the difference was.
John Randle looked to be in pretty good shape on Sunday. I’m not sayin’… just sayin’.
This would not be a big deal if a certain Twilight coach had a clue. The wins to date would be higher than a paltry 7. The best we can hope for now is that the rest of the defense will pick up the slack and play with the same intensity. It would also be excellent that the offense scores over 30 points per game the rest of the season. If that occurs by Twilight, he finally prove his worth. Other than that, the Kittens will be a challenge. Oh yeah, Fumblepepper is likely breathing a bit easier now too.
BP yep a big hit no doubt.
lets hope the schemers are coming up
with a plan second to none that can
be adjusted in a heartbeat.
ahhhh if only , , ,
RANDLE … suit him up !!!!
I’m sad.
We should be hearing more about the bigger problem of probable steroid use of these players and not so much about the diet pills themselves. Does anyone really think that these monstrous players really were trying to lose a couple extra pounds with diet pills?
With the weight clauses, I do believe that they were using them for weight loss and not steroids… but who knows.
Here ya go, ak 
and for the puker fans: how’s third place?
Actually, I’m pretty sure they were trying to lose a couple extra pounds with diet pills. How many linemen are put on the PUP or some other list and held out because they weigh too much? Linemen take stuff all the time to make weight…many of them have contractual provisions requiring them to keep weight down.
Now the players may sue for an emergency temporary injunction. The problem is they’ll have to show irreparable harm, and right now the only thing the players are going to lose is money, which can always be replaced. I guess they’ll have to argue reduced chance of making the playoffs (which is speculative at best) or damage to reputation (doubt this will fly either).
So we should probably get used to the idea the Williams Wall is done for the remainder of the regular season.
PAT WILLIAMS’ AGENT PROMISES A LAWSUIT
Posted by Mike Florio on December 2, 2008, 7:16 p.m.
Agent Angelo Wright, who represents Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams, said on Tuesday that a federal lawsuit will be filed on Wednesday, aimed at preventing the NFL from imposing a four-game suspension.
“I believe that we’ll be able to offset this,” Wright said, according to Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. ” I continue to maintain that he will play football.
“Though the tenets of the program are of strict liability, the league is supposed to act in conjunction with the players association, to communicate what products are acceptable and which are not,” Wright said. “In this case, they’ve acknowledged that they withheld information from the players.
“I would feel more comfortable with the process, if there was an independent body governing over these cases,” Wright added. “But this current set up is reminiscent of the British court, when they wore white wigs and proved to be your judge and your jury.”
Thanks VQ… but I’m still sad.
[…] Access Vikings: – […]
[…] www.startribune.com – […]
Yeah, I’m not thrilled about this, either…
Well hooligan, i believe they were using then to control weight too. They have weight clauses in their contract, so money is good incentive to keep the weight down. I don’t think they’d be stupid enough to take steroids in the current climate. But I’d rather lose these guys in the regular season than the playoffs, personally. I think they’ll have trouble beating the system on this one. If gus stays mad, we’ll go all the way. Go pat’s lawyer!
Go Vikes!
Get Childress outta here!
Heres an explanation (kind of):
JACKSON’S SUSPENSION “DEFERRED”
Posted by Mike Florio on December 2, 2008, 7:27 p.m.
The Atlanta Falcons have announced that they have been notified by that NFL that a decision on the appeal of Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jackson regarding a four-game suspension for a positive Bumetanide test has been “deferred pending additional information.”
The team made no further comment, citing the confidentiality of the steroids policy.
Frankly, even mentioning that the decision has been deferred would seem to constitute a technical violation of the confidentiality.
We’re not sure what the additional information might be; if Jackson tested positive for Bumetanide, he should be suspended, just like the other players.
And given the potential perception that the league is throwing the Falcons a bone, we think that the precise basis for the deferral should be disclosed.
Hey Minneapolis Bartender
Go back to Wisconsin or whatever state the team you root for is from. You are no longer welcome in this state. We don’t want your kind here.
It sounds like if they try to fight this they may not have a leg to stand on.
It’s being reported now that StarCaps has been on the banned substance list since December of 2006
Keeps getting better:
VIKES LOSE ALEXANDER
Posted by Mike Florio on December 2, 2008, 7:45 p.m.
To the extent that the Minnesota Vikings were thinking about promoting linebacker Rufus Alexander from the practice squad to the active roster to replace defensive tackle Kevin and/or Pat Williams, it’s too late.
The Colts, per a league source, have signed Alexander from Minnesota’s practice squad.
Alexander was a sixth-round pick of the Vikings in 2007. Per league rule, the Colts will be required to keep him on the active roster for at least three weeks.
Point 1: Goodell=arrogant, power hungry, “my way or the highway” type of person (kind of reminds me of the Vikings coach)
Point 2: This reeks of conspiracy. Why suspend 6 players (only 2 in the playoff hunt) and let Jackson wait to possibly be suspended until given “more information.” More information = more time for the playoff push. Atlanta is the NFL’s “feel good” story of the year, therefore the commish needs them in. However, the Vikings playoff push? Pretty much history. Same violation, different impositions, am I wrong for feeling a little cheated here? (yes, I am a Vikings fan).
Point 1: Goodell=arrogant, power hungry, “my way or the highway” type of person (kind of reminds me of the Vikings coach)
Point 2: This reeks of conspiracy. Why suspend 6 players (only 2 in the playoff hunt) and let Jackson wait to possibly be suspended until given “more information.” More information = more time for the playoff push. Atlanta is the NFL’s “feel good” story of the year, therefore the commish needs them in. However, the Vikings playoff push? Pretty much history. Same violation, different impositions, am I wrong for feeling a little cheated here? (yes, I am a Vikings fan).
So now that the Williams Wall is out , we resort to Plan B, put in John Randle and Brock Lesnar!
OMG this is so funny.
I would like to see the Vikes rotate in Robison a lot at DT, especially on 1st and second down. The kid can play.
Who cares about Rufus Alexander…the guy was on the street for most of the season and no one signed him before. This way we have a chance to pick up Martin Nance to the taxi squad.
eddie, good point. Wouldn’t mind seeing Nance back… or possibly even active.
Hey Judd and Chip, pull the plug on this idiot Bartender, will ya?
I am just curious what the NFL means by supplements?
Vitamin C is good for you and available over the counter of course what it says on the bottle might not be whats inside. The ruling sounds like some fifth grade kinda bent logic to me. No offense to fifth graders. After years of just letting things go now all of a sudden the NFL is gonna come down with a hammer.
Our Remaining schedule:
@ Detroit
@ Arizona
Atlanta
NYG
Green Bay’s schedule:
Houston
@ Jacksonville
@ Chicago
Detroit
Chicago’s Schedule:
Jacksonville
New Orleans
Green Bay
@ Houston
I’d say we have the toughest remaining schedule, but Chicago would have to gain 2 games on us now since (I think) we have the tiebreaker as long as we beat Detroit.
So where do you tend bar? And do your patrons know you’re an anti viking chump? “omg” are you a twelve year old girl? Chump. I hate to think i may have tipped your sorry a$$ before. You probably work at the eagle though.
Hey bartender…is it as funny as 5-7?
Because, I gotta tell you, that is horribly amusing.
At least Favre is losing with his new team…
…oh wait.
Can you call up anyone during the suspension? Could they sign someone?
Plaxico shot himself in a club, with a concealed, un-registered gun and gets 4 games?!?
Pacman, freaking-Pacman, gets 4 games?!?
Pat and Kevin try to drop a few pounds and get 4 games?!?
Win 2 of the last 4 and we are in…gotta be 2!
He wasn’t looking at the blog when he wrote that…
Lets get real here.
(1) The Williamses are not going to win a temporary injunction against the NFL, they are done for the season.
(2) Childress’ job is now guaranteed safe for next year.
(3) The odds of the Vikings making the playoffs are very slim now. Childress will have to inspire his team to win…do any of us honestly believe Childress could inspire anything? The Vikings will finish 8-8.
(4) There is obviously a reason the NFL keeps this stuff secret. Who knows how many times this has happened in the past.
I AGREE WITH THE BARTENDER. VIKINGS BLEW IT AGAIN!!! THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING.
I AGREE WITH THE BARTENDER. VIKINGS BLEW IT AGAIN!!! THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING.
Moments after the suspensions were announced, one person close to the players fired back a text message that read: “I suspect that ALL will be appealed and ALL will be eligible to play since (Dr. John) Lombardo knew the supplement was tainted and didn’t alert the league or the Players Association.”
BartEnder has nothing to say about the Puckers. Just more smack about the Vikings. Oh well, that is what occurs when too much sales stock is being personally swallowed instead of selling it. Regardless of the next four weeks record, the Puckers have a lot to accomplish to even have a chance. What would be sweetest of all is for Fumblepepper to beat the Puckers on the last game of the season at LamBlow.
Sign Warren Sapp’s dancing ass. Probably the best shape he’s been in and coming from the Raiders, the Vikes would seem like the model organization.
Minneapolis Packtender - clues are free. Your team is toast so who cares about your mindless posts. How does Aaron Favreless look compared to the QB last year? We will still win the division and you will still have your head up your arse. Enjoy. Please keep feeding us entertainment while you suffer from foot in mouth disease! LMAO dumba$$!
Why do the Vikings always cheat and play dirty? They are the most disgusting NFL team.
OK, the decision has been rendered. Accept it.
Its nonsense that the D Line will fall apart with Freddy the Felon and Ellis Wyms’ filling in at tackle. Freddy, in particular, has been playing extremely well.
There’s going to be a loss of pass rush penetration with Kevin out but Robison will get some additional time on 3rd downs. Against Bear were playing five d-backs so it will be interesting to see how they use Napoleon Harris in the middle.
NFL resting the Williams’ for the playoffs. If we can grab a win on Sunday agaist the Lion I’ll be OK with it. Its not like the Lion or Cardinal are going to run over anybody.
Again, I never said I was a Packer fan. I simply take delight in watching you all suffer. The icing on the cake will be when I Like To Injure Other Players Allen gets the boot for another dirty hit. Outstanding!
Lundar 7:32 p.m. = Exactly.
And aside from Kampman our D-line subs are better than anything I’ve seen from Bear or Packer line this year.
The hypocritical rants here are just outstanding. I remember all the laughter at Deuce McAllister the Friday that this story first broke, and the tone changed 180 degrees when Vikes fans found out their players were involved as well. When have any of these suspensions been reversed? Answer: Never. Take your medicine. Maybe some StarCaps. Doesn’t matter anyway. Any NFC North champion will be home by MLK day watching the playoffs anyway. BTW - If Charlie Wies can get extended for his p!ss poor performance at Notre Dame, you have to figure Chili is good untill at least 2010!!
The hypocritical rants here are just outstanding. I remember all the laughter at Deuce McAllister the Friday that this story first broke, and the tone changed 180 degrees when Vikes fans found out their players were involved as well. When have any of these suspensions been reversed? Answer: Never. Take your medicine. Maybe some StarCaps. Doesn’t matter anyway. Any NFC North champion will be home by MLK day watching the playoffs anyway. BTW - If Charlie Wies can get extended for his p!ss poor performance at Notre Dame, you have to figure Chili is good untill at least 2010!!
F the NFL. They have taken what has been an entertaining sport and have turned it into marshal law. Common sense needs to prevail. When Pac Man Jones gets reinstated after committing felonies and has had several chances, yet the William’s get nailed for a first offense that is questionable at best, just makes no sense.
First of all this ruling is so dumb its like saying you can eat a snickers but not snickers with almonds because almonds can mask something bad… SO STUPID. And a MEMO to all Vikings fans
We will be just fine!!!
2 teams we will face could already clinch. (we still owe those damn redbirds for a couple years ago)
1 team we should destroy
and A rookie qb coming to the Dome where the noise will eat him alive!!!
[…] Access Vikings: » Blog Archive » Williamses suspended […]
[…] · Pat and Kevin Williams have both had their four game suspensions upheld by the league. As much as that does hurt the Vikings, I am not really upset, at least not at the league. The players know the rules and they know how to go about asking about certain things that aren’t on lists. Unless some new information comes to light, the only ones to blame for this are The Williams Wall. The Vikings defense will definitely have to adjust. You can’t make up for that kind of size and skill in the middle of the defensive line. The Vikings are in trouble. […]
Again, the Vikings attract negative attention as always. Go Lions!!!
[…] Another fellow blogger added an interesting post today on Access Vikings: » Blog Archive » Williamses suspendedHere’s a small reading“They took a weight loss supplement that they had every reason to believe was safe.” This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 at 4:12 pm and is filed under Main. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 … […]
[…] Another fellow blogger placed an observative post today on Comment on Williamses suspended by Weightloss » Blog Archive …Here’s a quick excerptAnother fellow blogger added an interesting post today on Access Vikings: » Blog Archive » Williamses suspendedHere’sa small reading“They took a weight loss supplement that they had every reason to believe was safe. … […]
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