THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MINNEAPOLIS -- A judge says he'll rule by Aug. 7 whether to put on hold a lawsuit by Minnesota Vikings Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, who are fighting their pending suspensions for violating the NFL's anti-doping policy.

NFL lawyer Dan Nash asked Judge Gary Larson to put the state court proceedings on hold while the federal 8th Circuit Court of Appeals considers other issues in the complicated case. The 8th Circuit has scheduled arguments in St. Paul for Aug. 18 and says it may rule before the regular season begins a few weeks later.

Peter Ginsberg, a lawyer for the two defensive linemen, told Larson they want the lawsuit to go to trial before the season begins. If it doesn't, Ginsberg says, Larson should keep his restraining order against the suspensions in place and hold the trial after the season.