StarCaps Suspension May Finally Occur

A ruling in a Minnesota Court of Appeals today may effect Saints defensive end Will Smith. Smith, along with two former teammates and two Minnesota Vikings, was suspended for 4 games in 2008. The suspensions have been put on hold as an appeal worked its way through the court system. 

 The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled against Viking defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams today, affirming the lower-court ruling that the NFL did not violate state law by trying to discipline them.

It is only a matter of time before Will Smith must sit out four games. The NFL never loses when a case is brought to the courts. The StarCaps saga is no exception.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello released a statement today on the matter, saying, "We are pleased that the Minnesota Court of Appeals, like all other federal and state courts to hear the matter, has unanimously upheld the structure and operation of the NFL's collectively bargained Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances. Today's opinion confirms that the testing program did not violate Minnesota state law and vindicates the policy and procedures of the program. We are in the process of reviewing the decision and determining our next steps."

Do not expect the NFL to make a decisions anytime soon. With no games tentatively scheduled until September, this story will probably be on the back burner until after the CBA is settled.

Read between the lines of Aiello's statement. Smith, along with Pat and Kevin Williams, at some point will serve their suspensions. Charles Grant and Deuce McAllister benefited financially from the delay, as they are no longer in the league. Neither player lost four game checks due to the long process of appeals.