Bears Rookie Faces Assault Charge

If there's one thing we know about professional sports and the athletes that play them, is that it's as likely for someone to face criminal charges as it is for someone to donate to charity. Unfortunately, Chicago Bears rookie Lance Louis is associated with the former. Louis, offensive linemen and 7th round draft pick out of San Diego state, faces a misdemeanor assault charge for an altercation that happened while in college. The incident, occurring last fall, involved Louis and fellow teammate Nick Sandford. Authorities report that Louis assaulted Sandford in a team meeting room, causing Sandford to suffer a fractured cheekbone, broken eardrum and a concussion on top of it all.

Louis has declined to address the charge, saying, "I've got nothing to say about it. I can't talk about it right now. It's a legal matter. It's being handled. That's about it." The Bears have said to have known about the incident before drafting Louis earlier this year. We're aware that Louis is innocent until proven guilty, but such accusations are definite red flags and the fact that the alleged assault was against a teammate is somewhat alarming. Let us hope the next time we discuss Lance Louis, it's in the wake of great play, not off-the-field violence.