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MINNEAPOLIS A judge on Thursday blocked the NFL's plan to suspend Minnesota Vikings linemen Kevin Williams and Pat Williams for violating the league's anti-doping policy, a move their attorney said should let them start the season, with camp beginning in three weeks.
Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson granted the players' request for a temporary restraining order that keeps the NFL from suspending them until their case is decided. The order also prohibits the league from subjecting them to extra drug testing.
Peter Ginsberg, an attorney for the two players, called the order a “major victory” and said that at a minimum it should allow them to play early in the season.
The NFL still wants to enforce the players' four-game suspensions at the start of the season. The first preseason game is Aug.14 and the season opener is Sept.13 at Cleveland.
The judge also scheduled a July22 hearing on whether he should put the state court proceedings on hold while a federal appeals court considers other issues in the case. The federal appeals process could take several months and could further delay any suspensions if Larson decides to wait.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the court order “effectively exempts” the Williamses from the league's collective bargaining agreement. He also said it has “no immediate practical impact” because they remain free to practice and to play in preseason games.
Elsewhere
ARIZONA: Third-round pick Rashad Johnson, a defensive back out of Alabama, has signed. A 5-foot-11, 203-pound safety, he was the 95th selection overall. He's expected to play some quarterback in the NFL.
WASHINGTON: In Franklin, Tenn., defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge and will be on probation for three months. He's required to perform 25 hours of community service, make a $5,000 charitable contribution and attend driving school.
The charge against the former Tennessee Titans player stems from a Dec. 13 incident in which prosecutors say Haynesworth tried to pass another driver, who crashed into a concrete median and was badly injured.
BRUCE SMITH UPDATE: In Virginia Beach, Va., former Buffalo Bills star Bruce Smith was convicted of drunken driving by a judge who rejected his claim that old football injuries, not alcohol, were responsible for his poor performance on field sobriety tests. Smith appealed.
He also was convicted of speeding and refusing to take a breath test. He was given a 90-day suspended jail term and fined $350 for DUI. He also had his license suspended for a year for refusing the breath test and was fined $90 for speeding.
On Aug.7, he'll be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
GOODELL FINISHES CLIMB: Commissioner Roger Goodell has reached the summit of Mount Rainier. Mountaineering legend Ed Viesturs said Goodell had to dig deep physically and mentally to reach the 14,411-foot peak Wednesday morning. Viesturs said Goodell, 50, was choked up after reaching the summit, a climb he made with Seattle coach Jim Mora.
They reached the top about 71/2 hours after they departed the Camp Muir base camp in the pre-dawn dark. Observer News Services
