NFL Suspends 6 Players for Doping Violations

Unless the courts intervene, the Minnesota Vikings will have to make their stretch run at the NFC North title without their two stalwart defensive tackles.

These 2008 season images provided by the NFL show Minnesota Vikings football players from left,...

These 2008 season images provided by the NFL show Minnesota Vikings football players from left, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. Both players were suspended for four games without pay by the NFL on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 for violating the league's anti-doping policy. Also suspended were New Orleans Saints football players Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister, Will Smith and Houston Texans football player Bryan Pittman. All six were punished for using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids. (AP Photo/NFL) NO SALES

(AP)

Kevin and Pat Williams, who have anchored a Minnesota defense ranked second in the NFL against the run, were among six players suspended by the league on Tuesday for violating the league's anti-doping policy. New Orleans Saints Deuce McAllister, Charles Grant and Will Smith also were suspended along with Bryan Pittman, the Houston Texans' long snapper.

All six were punished for using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids.

The punishment means all six will miss the end of the regular season, an especially harsh blow to Minnesota, which relies heavily on the Williamses in its run defense.

Angelo Wright, the agent for Pat Williams, said he planned to file a motion in federal court in the next 24 hours, presumably to put off his client's suspension. Tom Condon, the agent for Kevin Williams, said he hadn't yet determined what course of action to take.

A seventh player identified in reports that began surfacing in late October, Atlanta's Grady Jackson, was not suspended. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Jeff Pash, the league's chief counsel, had asked for additional information.

If a player's team makes the playoffs, the player will be eligible to return to the active roster on Dec. 29.

The suspensions of Pat and Kevin Williams, who are not related, may prove to be the most critical.

The Vikings lead Chicago by a game in the NFC North with four games left, in large part because the Williamses are considered the NFL's best defensive tackle combination.

Last Sunday, they led a goal-line stand that kept Chicago from taking a 14-3 second-quarter lead in Minneapolis. On the first play after the Bears were stopped, the Vikings' Gus Frerotte threw a 99-yard touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian, giving Minnesota a 10-7 lead it never lost — a 14-point swing.