Will Smith Could Be Suspended For Role In StarCaps Case

Roger Goodell has done the smart thing and postponed the suspensions of Saints players Charles Grant and Will Smith. After the Minnesota court ruling that effectively barred him from suspending the Vikings Pat and Kevin Williams for the same violation, Goodell was left with the issue of what to do with the Saints who did not have an opportunity for a court ruling in Louisiana courts. Goodell’s statement showed that he understood the issue and chose common sense over brute-force enforcement of

The bizarre StarCaps case is pitting the NFL and the NFL Players Association in a battle of accusations. After the Eight Court ruled that Vikings players Pat and Kevin Williams could challenge their suspension from the NFL in Minnesota courts, thus preventing the NFL from enforcing the suspensions, the NFL took a shot at the NFLPA.

The NFL issued a statement Friday claiming the NFLPA did not stand behind “the program it negotiated with the league,” by keeping silent after a federal appeals court in Minneapolis ruled Vikings players Pat and Kevin Williams could challenge their four-game suspensions in state court.No chance the NFLPA was going to take that lying down, they shot back immediately.

If the Eight Court doesn’t rule by today (Tuesday) then all four players would be allowed to play this week because, by Wednesday, preparations are taking place for the week’s game, any suspensions would go into effect the following week. As of now, the court has not issued a ruling, almost guaranteeing all four players will be eligible.

But at any time, if the NFL gets a favorable ruling form the court, these players would have to start serving their suspensions. Pat and Kevin Williams are the foundation of a fantastic Vikings run defense and if both players were suspended Minnesota would be severely handicapped for those games. Grant and Smith are also important cogs on the Saints defense and would be missed. Sources say that the New Orleans players could end up serving the suspensions consecutively, so both won’t be out at the same time. If the NFL gives that to the Saints, they’ll surely do the same for the Vikings.