What about Bob?

Hennepin County (Minn.) District Judge Gary Larson has given Vikings defensive tackles Pat (right in the picture) and Kevin (left in the picture) Williams (no relation) new life.

The NFL suspended both players the first four games of the regular season after they tested positive for a banned diuretic, bumetanide, which was in a weight-loss supplement they took called StarCaps.

But today, the judge blocked the NFL's plan because the Williams' lawsuit has not been decided. U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson dismissed most of the original suit, plus another one filed by the NFL Players Association. But he sent two claims back to Minnesota state court — whether the NFL violated the players' rights under the state's drug and alcohol testing in the workplace laws, and if state law governs disciplining employees for consuming legal products off employee premises during non-work hours.

The NFL argued that it knew StarCaps contained a banned drug, but the players claim they were unaware of that information.

As a result of the judge's ruling, the players' attorney, Peter Ginsberg, said the players likely will be able to begin training camp with the rest of the team in three weeks. Also, the NFL cannot subject them to extra drug testing. Ginsberg called the ruling "a major victory."

NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello said the order "effectively exempts" Pat and Kevin from the league's collective bargaining agreement. He continued: "[It] illustrates the critical importance of a uniform policy for all teams in the league and why this matter should be governed exclusively by federal law."

Oral arguments are tentatively scheduled for Aug. 18 in St. Paul. The NFL hopes the case is resolved before the start of the season, however, the appeals process could take several months and thus last deep into the season.

-Chris Mascaro

(AP Photo)

I knew Wade Phillips sort of ran a loose ship down in Dallas, but this is ridiculous...

Greg Ellis, a former Cowboys linebacker — he played 11 seasons in Dallas before being released this offseason and signing with Oakland — said on the "Michael Irvin Show" in Dallas that teammate DeMarcus Ware (pictured smushing Eli Manning) would hide from the coaches on the sidelines so Ellis could play. The full interview can be heard here.

Said Ellis: "It's a disgrace when DeMarcus Ware comes off the field just so I can get in the game and when the coaches tell him to come on the field, he tries to hide so I can play. And you're telling me we're trying to win the Super Bowl?"

The Dallas Morning News could not reach Ware for comment. Ware, who led the league with 20 sacks despite apparently taking some plays off, has one year left on his rookie deal.

When Irvin asked Ellis to clarify how Ware would go about doing this, he said: "On his own. He would say, 'G, come on.' And I would tell him, 'No, DeMarcus, go ahead, man. You're coming up on your contract year. Don't mess that stuff up. Go ahead and do you, and we're just going to do what the coaches, or whoever the powers that be, what they want to do.'"

It's absolutely astonishing to me that a player could make his own substitutions at will during a game. You think Parcells or Tom Coughlin or Belichick would stand one second for this? Wow, Lombardi must be rolling over in his grave.

-Chris Mascaro

(AP Photo)

Not surprisingly, the Steve McNair case has been ruled a murder-suicide by Nashville Police.

Police Chief Ronal Serpas said earlier today that McNair's 20-year old girlfriend Sahel Kazemi shot him four times while he slept on a couch last Saturday before taking her own life. Serpas added that Kazemi was having financial problems and that she believed McNair was having an affair with a second woman.

Serpas said Kazemi told a friend on Friday that "my life is a ball of s--- and I should end it."

He added: "We do know that [Kazemi] was clearly sending a message during the last five to seven days of her life that things were going bad quickly."

Police detectives also learned that Kazemi recently found out about another woman in McNair's life, and that Kazemi once followed her home.

After shooting McNair twice in the chest and again in the head, she positioned herself next to his body in an attempt to fall into his lap upon killing herself.

-Chris Mascaro

Classy move by the Titans organization, as today it announced that fans are invited to pay their respects to the late Steve McNair tomorrow and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Fans will be able to leave personal messages in a guest book, which will be presented to McNair's family, while the video boards inside the stadium will show highlights of the quarterback's career.

Donations to the Steve McNair Foundation can be made at the ticket office, and free parking will also be available.

McNair played 11 seasons for the Oilers/Titans, and is the second-leading passer in franchise history (his 27,141 yards are 6,544 behind Warren Moon). McNair also led the franchise to its only Super Bowl appearance.

Said Titans Vice President Don MacLachlan: “[Titans owner] Mr. [Bud] Adams thought this would be a fitting place for fans to show their respects to Steve and celebrate his career. LP Field is one of the places where he made so many great memories for so many of our fans."

In related news, medical examiner Bruce Levy said the fact McNair's girlfriend Sahel Kazemi purchased the gun found at the scene leads him to believe it was a murder-suicide.

Said Levy: "If we had known on Sunday about the gun I think we would have been very comfortable in ruling murder-suicide. I'll be very surprised now if they rule it isn't."

-Chris Mascaro

(Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

The commissioner, new Seahawks head coach Jim Mora (pictured right), and Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke are among a group of climbers currently being led by mountaineering legend Ed Viesturs up Mount Rainier in Washington. The climb up the 14,411-foot volcano is benefiting the United Way of King County, Washington.

Yesterday, guide Peter Whittaker led the group through a five-hour training period through wind and fog.

"Gotta say the commish performed," Whittaker wrote in an e-mail to the Associated Press. "He is a good listener and grasped mountaineering basics reasonably well. A lot of mountain to go though ... we were at 6,000 feet."

Today, the group will attempt to reach Camp Muir, which is at 10,080 feet, before continuing to the summit tomorrow. According to this AP report, only half the climbers who attempt to reach the summit each year are successful.

Mora, 47, and Goodell, 50, won't be the ones holding up the group. Mora is known to run up a mountain trail close to his Seattle home multiple times a week, while Goodell is said to work out on a daily basis — and after seeing him up close at the NFL draft, I can certainly attest to that ... the guy is huge.

Said Goodell to the Seattle Times before the trek: "I never would've thought about doing this before. It was not even on my Bucket List, as they say."

Leiweke, 49, invited Goodell to join the group during a league meeting in December, and the commish agreed. Afterward, he had hesitations.

"I was thinking, 'Oh my. What did I just do?' " Goodell said. "I really didn't know what it entailed, frankly."

Now he does.

L.A. Times reporter Sam Farmer is also on the voyage, and he's tweeting and blogging as they go.

Most importantly, the Kings County United Way announced it has received enough pledges to provide 1.5 million pounds of food through its emergency food bank.

-Chris Mascaro

(Photo by Elaine Thompson / AP)

Ok, we have it for you here. The much-anticipated announcement from Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, who said on his Twitter page this afternoon that he had a big announcement to make.

Here goes:

"I am happy to announce that after meeting with the team recently, I have full faith and confidence in the Cardinals organization ...

"and I appreciate the support I've received from all my fans this offseason. - WE WILL WIN THE NFC WEST."

Dude ... you cannot be serious.

We actually waited around ... on a vacation day ... for that?

Listen, if you've got news to break, then break some news. Otherwise, do us all a favor and don't say anything.

Adios.

UPDATE: We were so intent on getting you this big news quickly that we missed Dockett's final tweet. Evidently, we weren't the only ones to be less than amused that his big announcement was a big fat zero. So he tweeted once more to explain that this was his idea, not that of his agent.

FYI to all, No this was not a DREW ROSENHAUSE call or idea, THIS is how I feel and I'm sticking to it. Thanks agan to all the DDOCKETT FANS

... memo to Dockett: the last name of your agent is Rosenhaus. No "e" at the end.

Oh, good Lord. I need to stop. Read NFC West blogger Mike Sando's take on the big announcement on ESPN.com. He takes all this a little more seriously. I suppose there's something to be said for an athlete making peaceful overtures during a contract negotiation, especially after Anquan Boldin's antics got him nowhere. Then again, why is it news when a player is announcing that he's abiding by his contract? Especially when he's announcing it so soon after the tragic death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair?

Ok, I'm out. Read Mascaro for all things NFL.

In the meantime, thanks to Darnell for providing one of the silliest moments in three decades of journalism.

(Graphic from ednotesonline.blogspot.com)

Watching Andy Roddick force the greatest tennis player ever into the 30th game of the fifth set in yesterday's Wimbledon final, I couldn't help but think of another star athlete whose most memorable moment came in defeat.

In Super Bowl XXXIV on January 31, 2000, Steve McNair and the Tennessee Titans came up one yard short of pulling off one of the most miraculous comebacks in NFL history. The Titans, seven-point underdogs to the St. Louis Rams, fell behind 16-0 midway through the third quarter, but scored the next 16 points to tie it up (they were the first team to ever come back from a deficit that large in a Super Bowl).

On the ensuing play from scrimmage after Eddie George's two-yard TD made it 16-all, Isaac Bruce took a Kurt Warner pass 73 yards for a touchdown to make it 23-16 with 1:54 to play.

Check out the 1:32 mark of this video to see how McNair nearly brought his team back after that...

That day, McNair, just the second black quarterback to ever start a Super Bowl, was 22-of-36 passing for 214 yards, and he rushed for another 64 on eight carries.

-Chris Mascaro

Wow.

The soon-to-be 40-year-old quarterback, who retired the last two seasons and only weeks ago underwent surgery on his throwing arm, has put a downpayment on a condominium near the Vikings' training facility.

Really??!?!?!?!?!

Holy Craphonso. Favre is coming back!!

Nothing's official, mind you. But just in case Favre does agree to a contract with the arch rivals of his former Packers team, the Vikings are suggesting that fans who want to see Favre face the Packers on Oct. 5 at the Metrodome would have to plunk down a pile of cash for a Vikings-Chiefs exhibition game Aug. 21.

Dang. Favre's really coming back??

A touching tribute to the former Titans quarterback from his coach, Jeff Fisher, the longtime Tennessee sideline boss.

"As I sat in my office moments ago pondering what to say, it occurred to me – Say what the Steve McNair you knew, if he were here right now, would want me to say," Fisher said. "Mechelle, I love you. Tyler, Trenton, Steven, Junior, I love you – that’s what he would want me to say, the Steve that I knew,’’ the Titans Coach said at a press conference at Baptist Sports Park, naming McNair’s wife and four sons before naming his mother and oldest brother.

“Lucille, Fred and everybody, I love you. The Steve McNair that I knew would want me to say I am sorry. I am not perfect. We all make decisions sometimes that are not in the best interest. Please forgive me. The Steve McNair that I knew would want me to say, “Celebrate my life.’’ For what I did on the field and what I did in the community, the kind of teammate that I was – that’s what Steve that I knew would want me to say.’’

... and he might get a bunch of new followers on Twitter, because he has announced that he will announce something big tonight at 8:15 p.m. A new contract, perhaps?

Here's his tweet:

"Dockett fans, CARDINAL FANs, AND ALL SPORTS WRITERS AND ALL BLOGGER and any one else who wanna know I WILL MAKE AN ANNOUCMENT 2day @ 8:15."

Ok, we're not going to clean up the grammar here, because no one's perfect on tweets. But one thing he ought to do is indicate which time zone the 8:15 p.m. will be in. Dockett plays in Arizona, where he's been looking for a new deal. So if 8:15 p.m. in Arizona, then it's 10:15 p.m. in the East. Or is it 11:15 p.m. in the East? Phoenix is one of those weird places that doesn't change the clocks.

Whatever.

Big news on Darnell Dockett forthcoming.

UPDATE: Just heard back from Dockett's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who says the announcement will be at 8:15 p.m. eastern.

Nashville police have yet to conclude their investigation into the killings of former Titans and Ravens quarterback Steve McNair and his 20-year-old girlfriend, but a major piece of the story might have been revealed by a relative of the woman, Sahel Kazemi.

According to a relative of Kazemi, she purchased a gun a couple of days before she was found dead alongside McNair.

Per the Associated Press, Farzin Abdi said police told him about the gun purchase by his aunt, who was raised with him like a sister.

Abdi said police told him they are almost sure Kazemi was the shooter, but the 27-year-old nephew said he doesn't believe she would do it. Abdi didn't know what day of the week the gun was purchased or what type of gun it was.

"There was no way she was depressed and wanting to do this," he said. "She was so happy. ... She just had it made, you know, (with) this guy taking care of everything."

Nashville police didn't immediately have a response to Abdi's comments.

Abdi said Kazemi believed McNair was divorcing his wife and she was preparing to sell her furniture to move in with him.

Jeff Fisher was on his way back from the Persian Gulf for the NFL-USO Tour when he heard that his former quarterback Steve McNair had been shot and killed on Saturday. Fisher has been the Oilers'/Titans' head coach the last 15 seasons, including 11 with McNair.

“I am deeply saddened and at this point do not have the words to describe this loss,’’ Fisher told Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean while sitting in an airport in Kuwait. “It is an extremely emotional moment and I don’t have the words to explain how I am feeling. I ask people to please pray for Mechelle and the entire McNair family. This is a tragic moment for his family, and it is a tragic moment for anyone who knew and loved Steve.’’

Fisher, who cited McNair as one of his favorite players, was notified of the quarterback's death by former Titans running back Eddie George.

Current Titans QB Vince Young, who idolized McNair as a kid, was also out of the country when he received the news. He released a statement through the team earlier today.

“I'm still in shock since hearing the news,’’ Young said. “I spent all afternoon and night thinking about my life on and off the field with 'Pops.’ Since I was a teenager, he was like a father to me. I hear his advice in my head with everything I do. Life will be very different without him.

“My thoughts and prayers are with (his wife) Mechelle, the kids and the entire McNair family during this horrible time.”

Young was introduced to McNair when he was a teenager because his uncle played basketball at Alcorn State the same time McNair played football at the school. The two spoke on a regular basis.

Click below for the reactions of former Oilers QB Warren Moon and Titans safety Blaine Bishop to The Tennessean.

-Chris Mascaro

(Getty Images photo)

Continue reading "Jeff Fisher and Vince Young react to McNair's death" »

The Tennessean has characterized McNair's death as a murder-suicide in an update on their website late last night.

The paper reported that McNair died of several gunshot wounds and was found on a sofa in the Second Avenue condominium rented under his name. Kazemi was found alongside him with a single gunshot wound to her head, and a pistol was found nearby.

Officials removed the bodies from the condominium a little after 8:30pm, and Metro police spokeman Don Aaron said they hadn't ruled any specific scenario out based on the evidence.

More details emerging in McNair's death late last night, as police identified the woman found dead alongside McNair as 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi. Spokesman Don Aaron called her "a friend" of McNair's. She had a single gunshot wound to the head.

According to the Associated Press, police said the 36-year-old McNair was found on the sofa in the living room, and Kazemi was very close to him on the floor. Aaron said the gun was not "readily apparent" when police first arrived. Autopsies were planned for today.

Aaron said McNair's wife, Mechelle, is "very distraught."

"At this juncture, we do not believe she is involved," he said. "Nothing has been ruled out, but as far as actively looking for a suspect tonight, the answer would be no."

The bodies were discovered Saturday afternoon by McNair's longtime friend, Wayne Neeley, who said he rents the condo with McNair.

Police said a witness saw McNair arrive at the condo in the upscale Rutledge Hill neighborhood between 1:30 and 2 a.m. Saturday and that Kazemi's vehicle was already there. The condominium is located within walking distance of an area filled with restaurants and nightspots, a few blocks from the Cumberland River and within view of the Titans' stadium.

Two days ago, Nashville police arrested Kazemi on a DUI charge while driving a 2007 Escalade registered to her and McNair. McNair was in the front seat, but didn't break the law and was allowed to leave by taxi.

Absolutely terrible, terrible news.

McNair, who played 13 seasons and led the Tennessee Titans to the Super Bowl in 2000, was found shot to death this afternoon inside a condominium in Nashville. A woman whose identity was not revealed was also found dead inside the condominium. McNair was 36.

Details of the shootings remained sketchy, and police were still investigating. Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said no suspects were in custody.

"I don't have any answers for you now as to what’s happened, who's responsible," Aaron told reporters. Aaron said the 36-year-old McNair died of a gunshot wound to the head. He said police tentatively identified the woman, but did not release her name.

CNN reported a law enforcement source close to the investigation said the woman is McNair's girlfriend and that the residence is her condominium. Witnesses said McNair was a frequent visitor there, according to the report.

“There are persons who were around the complex today, visitors, who have been taken to headquarters for questioning, just to see what they know, what they may have seen,” Aaron said. Police spokeswoman Kritsin Mumford said she didn’t know if McNair was the owner of the condominium.

McNair is survived by his wife, Mechelle, and their four sons.

McNair’s death brought shock and sadness to the NFL community, especially to those who knew and played with the former quarterback, a first-round pick of the then Houston Oilers in 1995.

“We are saddened and shocked to hear the news of Steve McNair's passing today,” Titans owner Bud Adams said in a statement. “He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans. He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl.”

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement, “We don’t know the details, but it is a terrible tragedy and our hearts go out to the families involved.”

McNair played 11 seasons for the Oilers/Titans, and spent his final two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He threw for 31,304 yards, 174 touchdowns and 119 interceptions, and also rushed for 3,590 yards.

He led the Titans to the 2000 Super Bowl against the Rams. On the game’s final drive, with the Titans trailing the Rams 23-16, McNair drove Tennessee 87 yards in the final 1:48. He threw a last-ditch pass to Kevin Dyson at the end of regulation, but the receiver fell one yard short of the endzone.

McNair was traded to the Ravens after the 2005 season and led Baltimore to a 13-3 regular season record in 2006. The Ravens were beaten by the eventual Super Bowl champion Colts in the second round of the playoffs.

“If you were going to draw a football player, the physical part, the mental part, everything about being a professional, he is your guy,” said Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle, who also played with McNair in Tennessee. “It is a sad, sad day. The world lost a great man.”

Former Titans and Oilers general manager, who drafted McNair out of tiny Alcorn (Mississippi) State in 1995, was devastated by the news.

“He was a tremendous leader and an absolute warrior,” said Reese, now a member of the Patriots’ front office. “He felt like it was his responsibility to lead by working hard every day, no matter what. I don't think there was a player who played with him or against him that didn't look up to him and respect him.”

Ravens receiver Derrick Mason, who also played in Tennessee before joining the Ravens, was one of McNair’s closest friends. Mason once nicknamed the quarterback “Smile.” “He was always smiling and was always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed it,” Mason said. “I’ve known him for 13 years, and he was the most selfless, happiest and friendliest person I have known. His family and my family are close, and it is a blow to us all. It is a devastating day.”

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)