Bills notebook
Williamses to subpoena Bills about StarCaps
Minnesota Vikings defensive linemen Pat and Kevin Williams plan to subpoena the Buffalo Bills to produce documents about a dietary supplement that they took, which caused them to receive a four-game suspension from the NFL.
The two players are trying to get their suspension overturned via a federal lawsuit against the NFL in St. Paul, Minn. They took the weight-loss supplement, called StarCaps, in order to avoid being fined by the Vikings for being overweight. However, the product was contaminated with a prescription drug that can be used to mask steroids. As a result, they tested positive for a banned substance as part of the NFL’s steroid policy.
According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Peter Ginsberg, the attorney representing the Williamses in their lawsuit, said during a hearing last week that StarCaps were “freely distributed” in the Bills locker room and that “a number” of Buffalo players used StarCaps. Pat Williams played for the Bills from 1997 to 2003. Ginsberg did not say who allegedly dispensed the supplement and to which players.
The Bills issued a statement denying the allegation through Scott Berchtold, team vice president of communications. It read: “We have never heard these allegations, and we are not aware of anyone representing the Bills distributing StarCaps, an over-the-counter weight-loss supplement, to players. These allegations were made by an attorney and not by any players.”
StarCaps was advertised as “the diet supplement of the stars,” in reference to Hollywood stars. It purported to be “the quick, effective way to melt off 10 to 125 pounds.” Unlike steroids, it is not used to gain a competitive advantage on the field, other than to lose weight.
It remains to be explained what motivation a team official would have to distribute a supplement designed to allow a player to skirt team rules without a competitive edge.
Pat and Kevin Williams were scheduled to give depositions in the case Tuesday in Minneapolis. They are suing the NFL for $10 million in damages. The NFL Players Association joined the federal suit in Minnesota on behalf of New Orleans Saints linemen Will Smith and Charles Grant and former Saints running back Deuce McAllister, who also were suspended.
Trial is set for June 15. The union is prepared to argue for a summary judgment during a May 14 hearing before Judge Paul A. Magnuson, who is expected to order both sides into settlement talks.
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The Bills have agreed to terms with a couple of large rookie free agent offensive tackles. One is Furman’s Joel Bell, a 6-foot-7, 318-pounder. He was rated 21st among tackles eligible for the draft by ESPN’s Mel Kiper and 16th by NFLDraftScout.com. Bell is a long-armed player who was a Division I-AA All-American. Also signed was Colgate’s Nick Hennessey, a 6-6, 295-pound right tackle.
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Defensive back Donte Whitner has pleaded not guilty to charges he forced his way past police during an altercation at a Cleveland nightclub. He was charged April 13 with aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Whitner made a brief appearance Tuesday in Cleveland Municipal Court.
A preliminary hearing will be set on the charges. Whitner left the courtroom without commenting.
Police say they used a stun gun on the 23-yearold and handcuffed him when he tried to force his way past officers trying to control a crowd outside a nightclub April 11. They say it was unclear why he was trying to leave the club and head for the melee outside. Whitner has apologized.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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