Saints and Vikings players remain on the field as injunction is extended

December 11, 4:37 PMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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The NFL players suspended by the league for testing positive for a banned substance after taking the over-the-counter diet tabs named StarCaps will remain in uniform for the forseeable future.

U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson extended the preliminary injuction against the suspensions and asked both sides to propose a schedule for further proceedings in the case no later than December 22, 2008. The extension effectively gives the players the opportunity to remain with their teams for the rest of the season and post-season.

The judge has asked the NFL and the attorneys for the five players to get together and work it out and if they can't (which seems apparent already) to get ready for a long winter fighting about it all.

This is great news for the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings. It just makes the NFL go back to the drawing board to mount its fight. Its position has always been that the civil courts have no jurisdiction over the matter. The collective bargaining agreement between the NFL Players Association and the NFL dictates that all disputes be decided by an arbitrator.

The arbitrator heard the appeal of the five players and ruled in favor of the league. The players retained counsel and sought this injunction