Cautious optimism at Winter Park

A day after answering questions about what it would be like not having Kevin and Pat Williams, Vikings players were faced with a new line of queries Thursday:

"How happy are you to have the Williamses back ... for now?"

In a bizarre week where wins and losses in the courtroom are as important as what transpires on the field, the Vikings regained the services of the Pro Bowl defensive tackles for at least a day.

Beyond that, it's impossible for anyone to predict how, or exactly when, a federal judge will rule on the four-game suspensions the Williamses received for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances. A hearing is scheduled for this morning.

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier described the organization as "hopeful" the Williamses will be able to play Sunday at Detroit before adding, "We just have no idea."

"I'm definitely glad to see those guys back," said Ellis Wyms, who is the backup to Kevin Williams. "Our team's a lot better with those guys here. I'm happy to see 'em back, and hopefully they can stick around for a few more weeks."

The Williamses both declined to speak to the media, but wide receiver Bobby Wade was happy enough for both of them. "It's great," Wade said. "I don't know exactly how it works, it's a complicated issue, but I don't much care, as long as they're around."

The players were suspended by the NFL on Tuesday for testing positive for a banned diuretic, bumetanide, that can be used as a masking agent for steroids. Both had taken a product called StarCaps that contained the diuretic but did not list it on its label. It has been disputed whether the NFL acknowledged that it knew bumetanide was in StarCaps.

Gary Larson, a Hennepin County District Court judge, granted the Williamses a temporary restraining order Wednesday, enabling them to return to work that night. Vikings coach Brad Childress made it clear the players did not seek his advice in pursuing legal action.

"No, they came to me [Wednesday] night and said, 'What do we gotta do, gameplan-wise,' and they were over here for a while last night with [defensive line coach Karl Dunbar] and Leslie, trying to work out, and then I assume, went home," said Childress, who declined to share his opinion on this situation.

Meanwhile, players attempted to downplay talk of the situation becoming a distraction -- but there is no arguing it leaves uncertainty. For instance, while Kevin and Pat Williams could end up playing Sunday against the Lions, if the suspensions are upheld in court at a later date, the two could have to sit out a playoff game, assuming the Vikings advance.

"Definitely," that is a concern, Wyms said. "We know we're a lot better defense when those guys are on the field so whatever time we may or may not have those guys, it makes it a little harder on this defense."

Childress denied being concerned about this matter. However, he has to know his team would have a tough time winning a postseason game without the two players who are the biggest reason the Vikings run defense is No. 2 in the NFL.

"No, just because we're in the now, this week, and they've done what they've done [by going to court]," Childress said. "You can't be kind of in. You're in or you're out. It's where we are today."

Asked if it would have even been the team's role to advise the Williamses on taking legal action, Childress said: "Not to my way of thinking, they're grown men. So, their decision."

That decision meant that talk of StarCaps and supplements remained a hot topic at Winter Park.

Wyms wasn't among those who wasn't thrilled about the situation or with the league for that matter.

"Those guys aren't doing anything to try to gain an unfair advantage," he said. "They are just taking something to kind of help them with their weight. It's kind of sad how the league kind of attacks us and fines us and kind of takes from their livelihood.

"Those guys work hard to earn their salaries, and for something silly like that, to even threaten taking money out of their pocket or threaten hurting us in a playoff run, right now, it's just silly and stupid to me."