Pat Williams still waiting on league action

Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams is waiting to hear from the NFL on potential discipline following a report more than a week ago that he and Kevin Williams had violated the league’s policy on steroids and related substances.

The Vikings again have the specter of suspensions to Pat Williams and Kevin Williams hanging over their heads as the team begins its preparation for the Green Bay Packers in what could prove to be a pivotal game to the 2008 Vikings season.

With Jared Allen’s availability in question because of a sprained AC joint (right shoulder), the Vikings can ill-afford to lose the Williams Wall for even a game – much less against a hated rival like the Packers. The NFL is providing no information about the progress of its investigation or when/if any suspensions will be handed down. Likewise, trying to get any information from Brad Childress hasn’t provided much insight.

“I’m not approaching it any differently than we did last week at all,” Childress said Monday, then said “nice try” to a follow-up question.

Pat Williams didn’t seem too concerned about the any potential suspension and said it doesn’t affect his play on the field.

“It doesn’t bother me. On Sunday, my mind’s free. I just basically go out there and whup my man in front of me. I have all sorts of other problems during the week, too. I’ve got kids, I’ve got a wife, just like everybody else. I’m dialed in. I don’t got to worry about it,” he said.

Williams said he hasn’t heard anything from the league and is just taking things day to day.

“I’m dialed in. I don’t got to worry about it,” he said. “Everything will be good. Everything will be good. I ain’t worried about it. I’m basically just taking it game by game.”

Williams declined to say what he tested positive for.

“I don’t know nothing. (Myagent) ain’t told me nothing. He just told me to play. Same thing as Coach Childress. He just told me to play. Whatever goes down, I’ll tell you all,” Williams said.

If there is any good news in all of this for Vikings fans, it is that the league usually doesn’t wait until late in the week to hand down suspensions. Typically, if punishment is to be meted out, the league will do it early in the week rather than later in the week when teams are installing their game plan for their next opponent. Although there is no “set in stone” policy about handing out suspensions, since we didn’t hear anything by Monday, don’t expect to see anything come down this week.

TUESDAY NOTES

In the first four games of the season, the Vikings averaged a little less than 18 points a game and went 1-3 in that span. In their last four games, the Vikings have averaged almost 28 points game and had a 3-1 record.

After reviewing film, DE Ray Edwards, who was initially credited with nine tackles, finished with 12 tackles – a career best.

The Dallas Cowboys have made it a habit to take former Vikings to help with their quarterback dilemma. They currently have Brad Johnson and Brooks Bollinger as backups to Tony Romo. With both of them playing brutal football, rumors out of Dallas is that the Cowboys might bring former Viking Jeff George in for a look during their bye week this week.

Week 11 in the NFL will bring with it the beginning of flex scheduling. Teams are informed in advance of any potential schedule changes. The only change coming in Week 11 will be moving the Tennessee-Jacksonville from a 1 p.m. Eastern start time to 4:15 p.m.

Brady Quinn, who was rumored to being on the Vikings’ radar in the 2007 draft until Adrian Peterson remained available, will get his first NFL start Thursday when the Browns face Denver.

Daunte Culpepper may get pushed into duty faster than thought. Culpepper, who signed a two-year deal with the Lions Monday, will be battling Drew Stanton for playing time almost immediately. Jon Kitna has already been shut down for the season and backup Dan Orlovsky will miss several weeks with a sprained ligament in the thumb of his throwing hand.