Federal judge blocks suspension of McAllister, four others
U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson said he needed more time to consider the case after hearing several hours of arguments from the league and the NFL Players Association.
Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Minnesota Vikings and Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints were suspended this week for four games each. They tested positive for a banned diuretic in the dietary supplement StarCaps.
The union argued the NFL didn’t properly inform players about the substance. The NFL’s attorneys argued that that claim, and others, had been considered and rejected in a process set out by the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
NFL attorney Dan Nash left the courtroom without comment.
Jeff Kessler, an attorney for the union, said he was delighted. He said the ruling showed that the NFL isn’t above the law.
“In this particular case, they did not follow the rule of law,” Kessler said.
The news came after the Vikings held their media availability Friday. The Associated Press placed a request for comment with team spokesman Bob Hagan.
Clarion Ledger
12/5/8
Magnolia Tribune
