Williams' top role: raising sibling

The Cincinnati safety has become the guardian for his teen-age brother.
CINCINNATI (AP) -- When Cincinnati Bengals safety Madieu Williams was forced to sit out much of last season with a shoulder injury, he wondered, "Why me?"
He soon figured out the answer: He'd have more time to spend raising his younger brother.
The 24-year-old Williams became guardian of Mike Williams, now 13, after their mother died last April.
"Granted, I was devastated being hurt and not being out there helping the team," Williams said. "But then I took a look at the big picture, and I realized there was a 12-year-old kid here who just lost his mom, and he's going through so much, that for me to be able to be with him was more important."
Mike moved from Maryland to Cincinnati in June after finishing sixth grade. Since then, he's lived with his older brother.
"There was never a thought, 'Should I do it?' Or, 'Was it the right thing?' " the player said. "It was something that had to be done, and it came natural. And it's been a blessing, a true blessing."
Family tragedy
The brothers' mother, Abigail Butscher, had a stroke in 2003 and was 45 when she died of complications from fluid in her lungs.
Their father, Mohamed Forna, 54, traveled often between Maryland and the family's native Sierra Leone for business, so Mike went to live with his older brother, who was drafted by the Bengals in 2004.
It wasn't the first time that Madieu Williams felt obligated to take care of his little brother.
Their parents divorced when Madieu Williams was sophomore at Towson University near Baltimore. He transferred to the University of Maryland in College Park to be closer to his mother and help her raise Mike.
He sat out a year and had to start over as a walk-on junior but says he has no regrets.
Williams injured his shoulder early last season and missed all but four games of the Bengals season. He had surgery Oct. 24 for a torn labrum.
More time for Mike
His rehabilitation schedule meant he had more time for Mike. His days ended early -- he'd be home by 1 p.m. -- and he'd use the time to start cooking dinner and pick up Mike from school in suburban Indian Hill.
A self-described homebody, Williams rarely, if ever, goes out with teammates. He plans his schedule around Mike's -- making sure to check his homework each night, getting him a tutor and attending as many school functions and track meets as possible.
"He pushes me a lot. That's what keeps me going," Mike said. "I like when he pushes me. It shows me I can do anything I put my mind to."
Bengals teammate T.J. Houshmandzadeh recently asked Williams to go to a Cincinnati Reds baseball game.
"He said, 'Can't -- it's a school night,' " Houshmandzadeh said. "Even though he's not the going-out type, there are times he wants to go get out of the house. He's given up a lot to show [Mike] what family is all about."
The brothers are working through the loss of their mother.
"We were holding each other and telling each other, 'Hey, it's going to be OK,' " Madieu Williams said.