VIKINGS Vikings News

[eoeleven]

Originally Posted by Stealersrule

the comparison to a sting operation is apples vs oranges. this is a civil matter, not a matter handles by law enforcement. Look at OJ, not convicted in court for murder, but when it went to civil court, a differant matter. If this were to go to court, it would be civil, with less burden of proof.

while I agree on where the matters would be heard

my comparision is based on the fact the NFL are trying to catch these guys in the act much like the cops do

if the NFL tipped their hat, it would make it much harder to do so

the NFL WANTS to bust these guys, not help them avoid detection

[loangod]

The Bears are Who we Thought They Were!

[eoeleven]

another week with out the NFL ruling on the drug violations

another week on borrowed time

another week the NFL is enabling the vikes and saints to break the rules and win

[loangod]

Originally Posted by eoeleven

another week with out the NFL ruling on the drug violations

another week on borrowed time

another week the NFL is enabling the vikes and saints to break the rules and win

Boo-Hoo.

[eoeleven]

Originally Posted by loangod

Boo-Hoo.

really just bitching

if they give them a pass I sort of understand

if they do not give them a pass I know they are just trying to keep the teeth in the policy and completely understand

however the fact we are going on what week 5 since the failed test, I do not understand why they have not acted at all

hell they could be back with their teams by now

so what if the Vikes make the playoffs and then lose the Williams boys?

that is HORRIBLE

maybe that is the plan to make a soft road for Dallas by waiting to hand out suspensions

[eoeleven]

Kevin Williams and Pat Williams SUSPENDED

800 pounds of DT GONE

Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images

DE Bryan Robison had knee surgery yesterday GONE

LB Rufus Alexander was expected to be promoted fromt he practice squad to help off set the loss of Robison BUT the Indy Colts signed him first GONE

~ in rebutal to the "league did not tell us cry baby crap the Vikes tried to throw down the NFL offers...

that specific warnings were provided to teams in December 2006 regarding StarCaps, and that weight-clause bonus provisions contained in player contracts typically prohibit the players from using diuretics — even non-prohibited ones — to “make weight.”

so there you have it suspensions are final and the Williams boys are out four weeks

COME ON DETROIT this is your chance to win a football game baby! Just run up the gut behind Mulitalo and Raiola

Grisby weighs 260 Mulitalo is listed at 345 (really he is 400ish)

POUND the ROCK

give Rudi Johnson 15 up the gut to soften them up

and then just turn Kevin Smith loose

YOU CAN DO IT DETROIT

[GBGuy20]

it seems the williams wall would rather play vs detroit than in the first round of playoffs.

Judge blocks suspensions of Vikings' Williamses


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge temporarily blocked the NFL's suspension of Vikings stars Kevin and Pat Williams for violating the league's anti-doping policy, but the players' status for Sunday's game at Detroit remained uncertain.
Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson issued the temporary restraining order Wednesday at the players' request, saying he wanted more time to hear arguments in the case.
The Williamses were among six players suspended for four games for testing positive for a diuretic that can be used as a masking agent for steroids. They have argued that the substance containing the diuretic didn't list all its ingredients, and that league scientists and lawyers had information about the substance but withheld it from players.
The NFL Players Association will file a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis on Thursday, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The person asked not to be identified because the suit had not yet been filed.
The suit is to be filed before U.S. District judge David Doty, who has had jurisdiction over NFL labor matters since the 1992 lawsuit that finally settled the 1987 strike by the union.
The hearing is scheduled for Friday in an effort to clear the players for this weekend's games.
The suit seeks to overturn all suspensions issued Tuesday by the league for any player who took the substance. The basis for the union's action is founded on many of the same arguments that resulted in the temporary restraining order issued in the state district court.
The NFL argues that the league's policy on banned substances is collectively bargained with the players' association and players are responsible for what is in their bodies.
``This is one of the more difficult cases I've had in 23 years,'' Larson said before signing the order. ``If I make a mistake, I've got to decide on a temporary basis which side I'm able to make the mistake on.''
Larson said he would make himself available to reconsider the issue ``as quickly as you'd like me to hear it.'' He also said he expected lawyers for the NFL, who participated in the hearing by phone, would take the issue to federal court in Minneapolis to get the suspensions reinstated.
``There is no merit to this lawsuit and we will promptly seek to have the order reversed,'' the NFL said in a statement.
Both Kevin and Pat Williams, who are not related, sat in the courtroom with their lawyers for Wednesday's hearing, which lasted more than two hours. Both declined comment afterward.
Their attorney, Peter Ginsberg, didn't claim victory, instead saying, ``It's a long hard road. It's going to take a long time for them to reclaim their reputations.''
A message left by The Associated Press seeking reaction from the Vikings was not immediately returned Wednesday.
Dan Nash, an attorney for the NFL, told Larson before he issued the order that granting it would be unprecedented and create a sideshow, disrupting the Vikings team and sending a message to other suspended players that they could file similar lawsuits.
``This program (governing banned substances) would be thrown into disarray,'' Nash said.
But Ginsberg said his clients' case is unique and they should be given the benefit of the doubt and continue playing until the issues are fully addressed in court.
The Vikings are 7-5 and in first place in the NFC North, with the Williamses a big part of their success.
The two Pro Bowl tackles are the foundation of one of the league's top run defenses and leaders of a unit that has played a big role in the Vikings ascending to sole possession of first place in the division for the first time in four years.
``They're the first two guys here every morning at 7 o'clock working out,'' said Ellis Wyms, the backup to Kevin Williams. ``You see the dedication that those two guys have to this team and this game.
``It's not that way around the league with a lot of guys. A lot of guys in their position would be able to take days off and chill out. Those guys have unbelievable dedication in what they do.''
The ruling gives the Vikings a newfound hope that they may have the Williams Wall intact, at least for the immediate future, while they try to sew up the division title.
``They'll get back and get their playbooks and start focusing on Detroit,'' Ginsberg said.


General - Judge blocks suspensions of Vikings' Williamses

[eoeleven]

Originally Posted by GBGuy20

it seems the williams wall would rather play vs detroit than in the first round of playoffs.

Judge blocks suspensions of Vikings' Williamses


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge temporarily blocked the NFL's suspension of Vikings stars Kevin and Pat Williams for violating the league's anti-doping policy, but the players' status for Sunday's game at Detroit remained uncertain.
Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson issued the temporary restraining order Wednesday at the players' request, saying he wanted more time to hear arguments in the case.
The Williamses were among six players suspended for four games for testing positive for a diuretic that can be used as a masking agent for steroids. They have argued that the substance containing the diuretic didn't list all its ingredients, and that league scientists and lawyers had information about the substance but withheld it from players.
The NFL Players Association will file a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis on Thursday, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The person asked not to be identified because the suit had not yet been filed.
The suit is to be filed before U.S. District judge David Doty, who has had jurisdiction over NFL labor matters since the 1992 lawsuit that finally settled the 1987 strike by the union.
The hearing is scheduled for Friday in an effort to clear the players for this weekend's games.
The suit seeks to overturn all suspensions issued Tuesday by the league for any player who took the substance. The basis for the union's action is founded on many of the same arguments that resulted in the temporary restraining order issued in the state district court.
The NFL argues that the league's policy on banned substances is collectively bargained with the players' association and players are responsible for what is in their bodies.
``This is one of the more difficult cases I've had in 23 years,'' Larson said before signing the order. ``If I make a mistake, I've got to decide on a temporary basis which side I'm able to make the mistake on.''
Larson said he would make himself available to reconsider the issue ``as quickly as you'd like me to hear it.'' He also said he expected lawyers for the NFL, who participated in the hearing by phone, would take the issue to federal court in Minneapolis to get the suspensions reinstated.
``There is no merit to this lawsuit and we will promptly seek to have the order reversed,'' the NFL said in a statement.
Both Kevin and Pat Williams, who are not related, sat in the courtroom with their lawyers for Wednesday's hearing, which lasted more than two hours. Both declined comment afterward.
Their attorney, Peter Ginsberg, didn't claim victory, instead saying, ``It's a long hard road. It's going to take a long time for them to reclaim their reputations.''
A message left by The Associated Press seeking reaction from the Vikings was not immediately returned Wednesday.
Dan Nash, an attorney for the NFL, told Larson before he issued the order that granting it would be unprecedented and create a sideshow, disrupting the Vikings team and sending a message to other suspended players that they could file similar lawsuits.
``This program (governing banned substances) would be thrown into disarray,'' Nash said.
But Ginsberg said his clients' case is unique and they should be given the benefit of the doubt and continue playing until the issues are fully addressed in court.
The Vikings are 7-5 and in first place in the NFC North, with the Williamses a big part of their success.
The two Pro Bowl tackles are the foundation of one of the league's top run defenses and leaders of a unit that has played a big role in the Vikings ascending to sole possession of first place in the division for the first time in four years.
``They're the first two guys here every morning at 7 o'clock working out,'' said Ellis Wyms, the backup to Kevin Williams. ``You see the dedication that those two guys have to this team and this game.
``It's not that way around the league with a lot of guys. A lot of guys in their position would be able to take days off and chill out. Those guys have unbelievable dedication in what they do.''
The ruling gives the Vikings a newfound hope that they may have the Williams Wall intact, at least for the immediate future, while they try to sew up the division title.
``They'll get back and get their playbooks and start focusing on Detroit,'' Ginsberg said.


General - Judge blocks suspensions of Vikings' Williamses

as I was saying in the chat box

a state level judge does not have the authority to overrule a collective bargaining agreement

so while this is all nice and sensational, in the end it is not legal and should be easily overturned on appeal.

I cannot for a minute think these players have access to better labor law lawyers than the NFL

[Stealersrule]

it seems the williams wall would rather play vs detroit than in the first round of playoffs.


First off, the Vikings have not made the playoffs.

Second, per game pay is less for the Williams players, then regular season pay. More than likely bonus possibilities are better against a Detroit team, than a playoff team.

If they can delay by one game, then the NFLPA grievance may take over for the other three.

[eoeleven]

Originally Posted by Stealersrule

it seems the williams wall would rather play vs detroit than in the first round of playoffs.


First off, the Vikings have not made the playoffs.

Second, per game pay is less for the Williams players, then regular season pay. More than likely bonus possibilities are better against a Detroit team, than a playoff team.

If they can delay by one game, then the NFLPA grievance may take over for the other three.

I think what they should have been doing all along is alternating when the Williams boys will be out

one should have taken the suspension, while the other appealed

then at no point were the Vikings with out BOTH of them at the same time

pursuing this with the idea that niether man will serve any suspension is foolish

especially after the NFL produced the letters they sent to every team and the NFLPA about STARCAPS and bromide

now the BEST any of them can hope for is that the NAME of the policy is changed and that these players change from SUSPENDED FOR VIOLATION of the STERIOD POLICY to SUSPENDED FOR VIOLATION of the BANNED SUBSTANCES POLICY

to me it all became unarguable when those letters from 2006 directly telling teams and the player association that STARCAPs contained a banned substance.