Suspensions are blocked by judge

A federal judge on Friday blocked the NFL from suspending five players for violating the league’s anti-doping policy by using a banned diuretic, clearing the way for them to play Sunday.

U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson in St. Paul, Minn., said he needed more time to consider the case after hearing several hours of arguments from the league and the NFL Players Assn.

Magnuson gave no indication when he would issue his written ruling but did note there was no evidence of steroid use by the players. “We’re not talking about steroids in this case. Period,” he said.

Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Minnesota Vikings and Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints were suspended this week for four games each. They tested positive for a banned diuretic in the dietary supplement StarCaps.

The union argued the NFL didn’t properly inform players about what it knew about the product. The NFL’s attorneys argued that that claim, and others, had been considered and rejected in a process set out by the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

Giants’ Pierce talks to police

After making them wait almost a week, Antonio Pierce talked to investigators about the accidental shooting of New York Giants teammate Plaxico Burress.

What he said, much like many of the details of that night, remains a mystery.

Authorities provided no details of Pierce’s meeting with police detectives and prosecutors at the Manhattan district attorney’s office. His attorney Michael Bachner declined to comment when reached by the Associated Press.

Police initially said the doctor who treated Burress after he accidentally shot himself in the right thigh at a Manhattan nightclub was to meet with authorities Friday, but instead she will do so next week.

The authorities are especially interested in why neither Pierce, who drove Burress to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, nor Dr. Josyann Abisaab called police to report the shooting. Abisaab has since been suspended for not reporting the gunshot injury, as required by law.

Seau returns

Junior Seau signed with the New England Patriots, coming out of retirement for the second time to help bolster his former team’s injury-depleted defense.

The 39-year-old linebacker takes the roster spot of Adalius Thomas, who was put on injured reserve and will miss the rest of the season after breaking his left forearm Nov. 9 against Buffalo.

The Patriots, 7-5 but with a shot at the AFC East title or a wild-card playoff berth, also are without injured linebackers Eric Alexander and Pierre Woods.

Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowl player, will suit up Sunday when the Patriots visit Seattle.

Etc.

The New York Jets decided not to suspend defensive end Shaun Ellis or remove his defensive captain status because of his arrest last Saturday on charges of possession of marijuana, speeding and driving without insurance. However, Ellis, 31, the Jets’ longest-tenured player and sacks leader, could still be suspended by the NFL. League spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed the case will be reviewed under the NFL’s substance-abuse policy but would not comment or speculate on potential discipline. . . . Star defensive ends Julius Peppers and Jared Allen were fined $10,000 each by the NFL, Peppers for a late hit and Allen for unsportsmanlike conduct. Carolina’s Peppers was fined for his hit on Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers after the quarterback had gone out of bounds in the fourth quarter Sunday. Minnesota’s Allen was fined for using the football as a prop. That brings Allen’s total this year to $90,000. . . . The NFL suspended Tennessee reserve defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson for four games without pay starting Friday for violating the league’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.