Goodell Decides Not To Suspend Saints Players At This Time

Goodell (l) Says NFL Will Not Enforce Saints Players' Four-Game Suspension At This Time

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell yesterday said that the league "will not enforce its four-game suspension" of Saints DEs Will Smith and Charles Grant "for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances 'at the present time,'" according to Nakia Hogan of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Goodell said that he "wants to be fair to the Saints after the U.S. 8th Circuit of Appeals ruled against the Saints players, but in favor of" Vikings DTs Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, who along with Grant and Smith all tested positive for the banned substance in the StarCaps supplement. Hogan notes the move "seemingly opens the door for Smith and Grant to play out the entire season, ending what had become a weekly waiting game to see if the suspensions would be carried out" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 9/16). ESPN's John Clayton noted the suspensions of Smith and Grant were lifted in part because of the "competitive imbalance it would create.” Clayton: "This could be a difference of where is going to be home-field advantage in the playoffs, and it could cost New Orleans the chance to make the playoffs. As hard as it was for Roger Goodell, he had to at least put aside any of the labor issues … just for the competitive reasons" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 9/15).

LEAGUE FILES APPEAL: In Minneapolis, Zulgad & Scoggins report while it is "unclear if the move will have any impact on the case," the NFL has appealed Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson's temporary restraining order allowing the Williamses to continue playing. Peter Ginsberg, who reps both Vikings players, said that the appeal was "filed shortly before" the appeals court ruled in favor of the Williamses last week (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/16). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio wrote a Minnesota court eventually "will have to decide whether the suspensions of the Vikings players will be upheld," and the outcome will "directly affect whether the Saints players are suspended" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 9/15).