Much could be on the line in Vikings player lawsuit

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Kevin, Pat Williams
Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams, left, talks on a phone as he and teammate Kevin Williams leave a Hennepin County courtroom for a lunch break during their trial against the NFL concerning their dispute over drug policies, in Minneapolis, Minn., on Monday, March 8, 2010. Both Williamses tested positive for a banned diuretic during the 2008 Vikings training camp.
AP Photo/Craig Lassig

Vikings players Pat and Kevin Williams are expected to testify today in a trial about anti-doping policies in the National Football League.

The two star defensive linemen are suing the NFL over a 2008 decision to suspend them after they tested positive for a banned substance. And the case is being watched far beyond the Hennepin County Courthouse, where a judge heard opening statements yesterday.

The NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball and other professional sports leagues all want player contracts -- not state drug-testing laws -- to govern how professional athletes are tested and treated. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with St. Paul attorney Jennifer Ampulski who analyzes legal matters for Morning Edition.

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