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)