In round seven of the 2009 draft, the Chicago Bears took a flier on guard Lance Louis with a compensatory pick.
Now, Louis is facing possible felony battery charges as authorities investigate a November 5, 2008 fight during a San Diego State team meeting. Starting safety Nick Sandford emerged from the exchange with a concussion, a broken eardrum, and a fractured cheekbone.
Sandford missed the rest of the season due to the injuries.
Per the San Diego Union-Tribune, the incident wasn’t reported to police until November 20, fifteen days after it happened and two days before coach Chuck Long was fired.
Sandford’s father claimed that Long didn’t discipline Louis because Long didn’t want to jeopardize the health of the team’s starting quarterback, if Louis weren’t in the game. Paul Sandford also claims that Long didn’t want to screw up Louis’ chances of being drafted.
It’s unknown whether the Bears or any other NFL teams knew about the situation before the April 2009 draft.
But they know about it now. Given that late-round picks usually are long shots to make the 53-man roster, this incident likely doesn’t help the player’s chances.
