Kevin Williams decides to take his StarCaps medicine
In lieu of taking his case for blocking a four-game suspension to the Minnesota Supreme Court, Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams has decided to end the case arising from a 2008 positive test for bumetanide, a banned diuretic that secretly had been added to the over-the-counter weight-loss supplement known as StarCaps.
According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, lawyer Peter Ginsberg has confirmed that Kevin Williams did not file an appeal within 30 days after an intermediate appellate court ruling that upheld the suspension.
It means that Kevin Williams likely will be suspended for the first four games of the 2011 regular season, whenever the 2011 regular season starts. (If there are fewer games than 16, we believe the suspension should be reduced proportionately. For example, if there are only twelve games, the suspension should be cut to three.)
Teammate (for now) Pat Williams has decided to appeal, even though he seemed to be ready to give up when the most recent ruling was issued. Pat Williams also has said he plans to leave the Vikings via free agency.
I just want it to be over, Pat Williams said last month. If I lose, I lose. Im not mad at anybody. Right now, I want it to be over because its cost me so much money, close to $1 million [in legal fees]. It aint cheap. . . . The only person getting anything out of keeping on fighting is the lawyers.
The fact that Pat Williams opted to continue the fight likely means that Saints defensive end Will Smith likewise will continue to escape a suspension. Though the league obtained legal clearance to suspend Smith in 2009, the league opted not to create the perception of unequal treatment.
Two other Saints Deuce McAllister and Charles Grant also were in line for a suspension in 2008, but both have left the league.
"Zero2Cool May 21, 2010 12:48 PM " wrote: