Pat Williams' Injury: A Chicago Bears Fan's Take

Last Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings' win over the Arizona Cardinals all-but ended the Chicago Bears' season. A four-game win-streak, after being embarrassed in the Metrodome, is a lot to ask for. As is hoping that the Vikings drop two-in-a-row at home in the last weeks of the season.

But the Vikings' own chances of succeeding in the playoffs were slightly mired on Sunday as well.

Pat Williams, the Vikings' All-Pro defensive tackle was injured in the waning moments of the game against the Cardinals, even though Minnesota was winning handily at the time. As a Bears fan who has watched the Chicago offensive line struggle to contain Williams, I have to admit I found the news of Williams' injury particularly satisfying.

While I don't like seeing any player injured, I couldn't help thinking that maybe his injury was cosmic justice for Williams not taking responsibility for his alleged "weight loss diuretic" use that he allegedly took to mask the effects of steroid use.

Williams appealed the sentence doled out to him by the league for taking steroids and related substances. He, and several other players, including teammate Kevin Williams, clearly did this so that they wouldn't be sidelined for some of the most pivotal games of the Vikings' season.

It seems only fitting that while playing in one of the games he was originally supposed to miss during his suspension, he was injured for the rest of the season and the postseason.

Whether it will prove to be good karma for the Bears remains to be seen.

But it seems clear that, in losing half of the "Williams Wall," Minnesota's defense has been dealt a major blow.

Against the run-heavy Falcons and Giants, the Vikings may have their work cut out for them to end the season.

The Falcons still have a playoff spot to play for, and they have been playing well at home in the Georgia Dome. I wouldn't expect them to struggle in the Metrodome like some teams traditionally do.

Likewise, if the Giants lose to the Panthers this week, they may decide against resting their starters in Week 17 in the hopes of building some momentum heading into the playoffs. In both contests, it's safe to say that without Pat Williams in the middle, it just won't be the same run-stuffing Minnesota defense.

The Bears haven't had a lot of things go their way this season. The three fourth-quarter-meltdown losses early in the season hurt to watch. So did the shellacking the Bears took at the hands of Ryan Grant and Aaron Rogers in Green Bay.

But I think that listening to John Madden blubber on about how great a father Pat Williams was as he manhandled Josh Beekman and Olin Kreutz on Sunday Night Football was like rubbing salt in a gaping wound.

While Madden and Michaels testified to Williams fatherly merits, somewhere, his team of lawyers were looking for ways to keep him and his team in the playoffs.

What message does that send to Williams' children and all children watching football that night?

"Don't follow the rules, don't tell the truth, and most importantly, don't take responsibility for your actions, because if someone tries to hold you in check for your behavior, you can always hire someone to get you off the hook?"

Forget the Pro-Bowl, how about getting this guy the Father of the Year Award?

Early in the season, the Bears' backup guard Terrence Metcalf was suspended for four games for similar reasons. There were no hearings or court appeals.

It was a swift four-game hit, and hardly anyone noticed.

But when it's a big-time player with big-time playoff aspirations, suddenly everything changes.

What a truly shameful commentary.

It seems like poetic justice that Pat Williams' refusal to shoulder responsibility for his actions ultimately led to a shoulder injury. Had he taken his punishment, he might have been healthy for the playoffs, but then again, had he missed those four games, maybe Minnesota wouldn't be in the playoff race at all.

I guess we'll never know.