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Minnesota receiver Bernard Berrian spoke out Tuesday on an aspect of the NFL's policy for supplement use, telling a national radio audience he has experienced difficulty getting information from the league's toll-free hotline.

The league provides the hotline as a resource for players unsure about the contents of supplements they are considering using. It's designed as a failsafe against taking a supplement that might be tainted or otherwise could cause a player to test positive for an illegal substance. Berrian told Sirius NFL radio that he hasn't always gotten through on the line:

"You've got to take some responsibility and call into that hotline. But I know one thing about that hotline. I've called twice before and actually never gotten a hold of anybody sometimes. So even when you try to do the right thing sometimes it is still hard to get a hold of somebody and really find out what you're really taking."

The topic came up during a discussion about the possible suspension of Minnesota defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, who reportedly took a supplement that contained a substance banned by the NFL. League spokesman Greg Aiello told the Star Tribune the league will follow up on Berrian's comments.

Elsewhere around the NFC North:

• Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press takes a look at the Vikings' backup defensive tackles, Fred Evans and Ellis Wyms, in the event they are forced into more prominent duty this season.
• Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette takes a look at the Packers' tough task Sunday of stopping the Tennessee running game. The Green Bay defense is allowing 141.9 rushing yards per game this season.
• Packers defensive tackle Johnny Jolly appeared in a Harris (Tex.) County court Tuesday and was given a Dec. 2 pretrial hearing as part of his indictment for felony drug possession. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has details.
• Dan Pompeii of the Chicago Tribune notes that Bears quarterback Kyle Orton has a 144.7 passer rating in the no-huddle offense this season. His rating is 84.8 after a huddle.
• Bears center Olin Kreutz on the team's unexpectedly potent offense: "We have a good group of guys, and sometimes that overrides talent." Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times has the story.
• Detroit needs to decide whether Kevin Smith or Rudi Johnson is the starting tailback, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com
• Lions coach Rod Marinelli on rookie defensive end Cliff Avril: "I think we've got a special player." Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press has details.