Now that the names of Pat Williams and Kevin Williams of the Vikings and Grady Jackson of the Falcons have become public for testing positive for taking water pills, it will be interesting to see how commissioner Roger Goodell will handle their cases. Their tests are in the appeals process, but clearly the fact that banned substances were found in their systems puts the players in position to face mandatory four-game suspensions. The unfortunate thing for the players is that this news became public during the appeals process. According to a source, they were trying to convince the league that the medical conditions of big players -- those who weigh 320 pounds or more -- are different than those of smaller players. Big players have to constantly make weight, either for clauses in their contracts or for fines. Plus, some have diabetic and other health issues because of their size, so they say taking weight reduction pills is sometimes necessary. It could take a little time to handle this appeal.

Free agents costly: The Patriots do about the best job of pro scouting in football, but the release of offensive tackle Oliver Ross on Tuesday only proves how hard it is to find players in free agency. Ross only made it as far as the physically unable to perform list after signing a one-year, $750,000 contract. The Patriots signed Ross, Anthony Clement, Barry Stokes, John Welbourn and Gene Mrukowski during the offseason, and none of them have made the active roster. It's getting harder and harder to find good players in free agency, as the Patriots found out.

Good defensive strategy: Ron Rivera -- an emotional motivator -- should bring a much-needed spark to the Chargers' defense, which surprisingly got stale under Ted Cottrell, who is pretty basic in the way he runs the 3-4. Rivera can use more blitz packages and maybe let some of the defensive linemen shoot through gaps as Wade Phillips used to. With the Chargers' record sitting at 3-5, Norv Turner needed to make a desperate move to save this season. This could work.

Into the Lions' den? Daunte Culpepper has opened negotiations with the Lions, but he may not rush to sign a deal. Culpepper made it clear he thought Detroit's situation is a better fit for him than the Chiefs, and he informed Kansas City he was not going to visit the team. This isn't about the money; it's about finding an NFL home that is appealing to Culpepper, who changed his mind about his retirement last week. Culpepper could try to get the Lions to commit to him as their quarterback of the future, and if they won't Culpepper could wait to see what other jobs open up because of injuries in the next couple of weeks.

A real kicker: The Saints will use the bye week to re-evaluate their kicking positions. They released punter Ben Graham and kicker Taylor Mehlhaff on Tuesday, leaving them without a punter or a kicker. You have to wonder if New Orleans regrets letting Olindo Mare go in the offseason. Mare is doing well with the Seahawks, after he struggled with the Saints last season.

Facing suspension: With four off-the-field incidents, it's pretty clear the Chiefs' Larry Johnson will receive some kind suspension from Goodell for violations of the player conduct policy. The best example of a precedent could be the Broncos' Brandon Marshall, who had a three-game suspension for three off-the-field incidents reduced to a one-game suspension after Goodell reconsidered his case. Johnson made a public apology last week and vowed to clean up his personal life, which could help him get less than three games. Marshall, by the way, has been a model citizen since his one-game suspension.