Little news on possible suspensions for Williamses

Kevin Williams and Pat Williams haven't had their appeal hearing with the NFL, it is believed, regarding the possible four-game suspensions they face for allegedly violating the league's steroid policy.

News that the co-anchors of one of the NFL's best run defenses tested positive for a banned diuretic in water pills was first reported by Fox Sports in late October. Since then, there has been little information from the Vikings or the NFL because such matters are supposed to be confidential.

Vikings coach Brad Childress, on a conference call last week with the Green Bay media, said he doesn't have a "concern level" about his two Pro Bowl defensive tackles being suspended. "I'm on the outside looking into that," Childress said. "I have some details, but that's really a league matter, and I'm leaving it to those people to deal with."

Atlanta defensive tackle Grady Jackson has filed a class-action lawsuit in California against Balanced Health Products, which produced the StarCaps pills that have come into question as the source of a problem for a group of six to eight players who took them without being informed a diuretic known as Bumetanide was an ingredient.

Bumetanide can aid in weight loss, but the NFL considers it a masking agent for steroids.

According to one report, Jackson acknowledged in court filings that he received a four-game suspension from the league but is appealing. No hearing date has been set for Jackson. The key to these cases will be when those hearings occur because the NFL almost certainly will not take action before that time.

Veteran receiver Robert Ferguson chose his words carefully Thursday when asked about being a healthy scratch for the past two games. Ferguson admitted "it's tough for anybody who doesn't play," but later added, "of course, I want to be here."

Ferguson has declined to confirm whether he requested his release, but he did clean out most personal belongings from his locker at Winter Park last week. "That's nobody's business, what I do to my locker," he said.

Ferguson, 28, who has only three catches for 25 yards this season, said he has no explanation for why he's not in the mix. "I think it's just a numbers things," he said. "I'm not sure."

Ferguson signed a one-year, $1 million deal to stay with the Vikings last offseason. When a reporter began to ask if he regretted that decision, he said: "Don't go there. This is the best decision I've ever made in my life."

• Safety Madieu Williams' status for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay is uncertain after he was limited for a second consecutive day because of a shoulder injury suffered Wednesday during the special-teams portion of practice. Defensive end Jared Allen (shoulder) also was limited but he's expected to play.

• The Vikings have not made a move to replace injured cornerback Charles Gordon on the 53-man roster.