A Minnesota judge yesterday temporarily blocked the NFL's suspension of Vikings stars Kevin and Pat Williams for violating the league's anti-doping policy, but the players' status for Sunday's game at Detroit remained uncertain.

Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson issued the temporary restraining order at the players' request, saying he wanted more time to hear arguments in the case. No further hearing date immediately was set.

The Williamses were among six players suspended for four games for testing positive for a diuretic that can be used as a masking agent for steroids.

They have argued that the substance containing the diuretic didn't list all its ingredients, and that league scientists and lawyers had information about the substance but withheld it from players.

The NFL argued that the league's policy on banned substances is collectively bargained with the players' association and that players are responsible for what is in their bodies.

"This is one of the more difficult cases I've had in 23 years," Larson said before signing the order. "If I make a mistake, I've got to decide on a temporary basis which side I'm able to make the mistake on."

Larson said he expected lawyers for the NFL would take the issue to federal court in Minneapolis to get the suspensions reinstated.

"There is no merit to this lawsuit and we will promptly seek to have the order reversed," the NFL said in a statement.

Both Kevin and Pat Williams, who are not related, sat in the courtroom for yesterday's hearing, which lasted more than two hours. Both declined comment afterward.

"They'll get back and get their playbooks and start focusing on Detroit," their attorney, Peter Ginsberg, said following the hearing.

Ginsberg didn't claim victory, instead saying, "It's a long hard road. It's going to take a long time for them to reclaim their reputations."

Saints

Although linebacker Scott Fujita worried aloud that his opinion about the suspensions of teammates Deuce McAllister and Will Smith could get him fined by the NFL, he still gave his opinion.

"I don't know how much of an opinion we're even allowed to have anymore when it comes to NFL issues, but obviously I completely disagree with it. I think it's stupid. I think it's wrong. I'm not surprised, though, in the least bit," Fujita said.

Giants

The Players Association said it will file a grievance against New York for the team's suspension of Plaxico Burress over his gun issues, which the union says violated the NFL's collective bargaining agreement. "The NFLPA is still reviewing the actions taken by the New York Giants," the association said, "but we intend to file a grievance challenging those actions as we believe that Burress' rights have been violated under the CBA."

Browns

Quarterback Brady Quinn had two pins surgically inserted into his broken right index finger and said he hopes to begin throwing once they are removed next month.