Mum's the Word

Two recent injuries to Chicago-team athletes highlight the difference between baseball and football. One sport allow the flow of information while the other would control it with a nod to the Kremlin. Back on September 20, Alex Bregman was hit in the face by a foul ball while standing in the on-deck circle during a game against the Reds. Within hours, Bregman had posted a picture of his face, his right eye swollen shut; news that Bregman had suffered several facial fractures came the next day. At no time did it appear that the Cubs tried to control the release of news or keep Bregman from talking to the media. Now, compare that to the injury the Bears’ Caleb Williams suffered a week ago Sunday against the Vikings. The way Williams went down without contact and then grabbed his thigh, it looked to be a fairly serious hamstring injury. Only the next day Coach Ben Johnson refused to rule out his quarterback for last night’s game against the Eagles. Johnson said Williams was “week-to-week.” Then, on Sunday, ESPN reported Williams had a Grade-2 hamstring strain and was expected to miss three-four weeks. Either Johnson and the Bears’ medical staff don’t know how to communicate with one another, or Johnson was blowing smoke at an always-gullible Chicago media and the Eagles. I’m going with door number two. Go on the Bears’ website and search for an injury update, and you won’t find anything official. Look for Williams addressing the injury the way Bregman did his, and you won’t find anything. At least, I didn’t. Not to worry, though. Third-string quarterback Case Keenum guided his team to a 27-7 win over Philadelphia, and all is right in Bears Nation. Except for the part about being upfront about player injuries. That’s so baseball.