Now Big Willie is going around the Bengal's official word and telling reporters what actually is going on with his heel. And I think it may be time to start worrying about how available and effective he'll be this year. I'm not saying he won't be ready. I'm just saying that his injury is more serious than the team let on.

I asked if anyone else was worried about this two weeks ago. Well, how about now?

And I'm annoyed that Willie had to tell us because the team refuses to be forthright with their fans. There's no player that tells the truth, good or bad, more than Willie. I have so much respect for him because of that. I am not glad that the team I love isn't going to tell me when something major is going on with one of my favorite players.

There's hope that Willie will be available when the games start counting, but I think we need to be realistic. He's played at the top of his sport for a long time now, and has taken some serious punishment. Maybe we should appreciate it when he can play now, because it may not be that much longer.