A Hennepin County (MN) judge is expected to make a ruling on Thursday morning on whether or not the National Football League violated Minnesota's drug-testing laws when it suspended Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, the St. Paul Pioneer-Press reports.

A ruling in favor of the NFL would allow the league to suspend the Williamses, and New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith, for four games at the beginning of the 2010 regular season. The NFL is free to enforce Smith's four-game suspension, but opted to wait until the Minnesota case as resolved.

The Williamses and Smith, along with retired running back Deuce McAlister and free agent defensive end Charles Grant, tested positive in 2008 for StarCaps, a banned diuretic. Regardless of tomorrow's ruling, an appeal by the losing side is expected to occur, which will further prolong this issue.