The NFL Players Association on Tuesday asked a federal court to expedite its appeal to overturn the league's four-game suspensions of Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams and three other players before the season starts in September. Civil cases can take up to a year to wind through the system, but the union wants the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to hear oral arguments by Aug. 13, one month before the 2009 season opener. Short of that, the NFLPA wants an injunction to block the NFL from imposing discipline while the case is appealed. Source: Pioneer Press