No one wants Cedric Benson

raiders72001

raiders72001

1
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June 13, 2008
<!-- Article By Line --> BY MIKE MULLIGAN mmulligan@suntimes.com
<!-- Article's First Paragraph --> The rest of the NFL confirmed Thursday what the Bears finally acknowledged Monday: Cedric Benson, their highest draft pick in 28 years, also ranks as the biggest bust in team history.
Benson cleared waivers, three days after the Bears released him because of two alcohol-related arrests in five weeks. The No. 4 overall selection in 2005 is now a free agent and can sign with any team.
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Cedric Benson runs off the field at the end of the second quarter of an NFL football game against Minnesota Viking at Soldier Field in Chicago in 2007.
(AP)
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The Bears paid Benson nearly $14 million over three seasons. He was scheduled to make $890,000 this year, with up to $1.6 million more in easily attainable bonuses. But it would have cost a team nothing to claim him on waivers and bring him in for a tryout.
How surprising is it that teams would steer clear of a player once held in such high regard? Consider that the Bears were one of four teams that recently put in a waiver claim on unheralded Buccaneers quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who went to the Rams.
In Benson's case, it's a triple whammy: lack of production, history of injuries (he's coming back from a serious ankle injury) and character issues. He also faces a possible suspension from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Still, as recently as the Bears' minicamp at the end of May, the Bears were encouraged by Benson's progress in rehab. It was apparent he had lost weight and seemed to be running with more speed.
Interest in Benson could increase after his June 30 court date in Austin, Texas, if there is a resolution on a charge of boating while intoxicated.
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OSUCOWBOYS

OSUCOWBOYS

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Re: No one wants Cedric Benson

Like the Vick brothers.......not even his MAMA would want him right now.

Oh, BTW, Marcus Vick got picked up for DUI and eluding.

What is the saying? "You can take the "man" out of the hood, but you can't.......
 
5teamparlay

5teamparlay

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Re: No one wants Cedric Benson

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/275587-bears-bust-is-now-bengals-big-boy-see-you-sunday-cedric


Cedric Benson: Bears' Bust Is Now Bengals' Big Boy

by Ed Leiser http://bleacherreport.com/users/110663-Ed-LeiserEd Leiser






<SMALL>Scribe</SMALL> Written on October 20, 2009

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
For Cedric Benson, what a difference a year makes. From No. 4 overall draft pick to out of the NFL, Benson has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.
He even saw action in the Super Bowl, although he would eventually leave with an injury en route to a Bears defeat.
This Sunday, the Bears will travel to Cincinnati to take on Benson's Bengals in a key game for both teams. While the playoffs are still a ways off, both teams could use a victory Sunday.
A Bears victory will likely coincide with their ability to shut down Benson and the Cincinnati rushing attack. Failure to do so, and the Bears will be looking at a 3-3 record through their first six games.
Benson has enjoyed a second wind with the Bengals this season, currently ranking third in the league in rushing yards. His 531 rushing yards are almost a career high (747 in 2008) and he has not shown any signs of stopping.
His game against the Ravens two weeks ago (27 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD) was nothing short of spectacular. If you rush for 100 yards against Baltimore, you get the game ball.
Benson has given Bengals fans reason to believe that something special is happening in Cincinnati.
With that said, I wanted to break down his tenure as a Chicago Bear.
For the record, as a Bears fan, I don't hate Cedric Benson.
I actually like him, if anything. He made the Bears look foolish time and time again, but I have forgiven him and moved on.
His status as No. 4 overall draft pick was soon in the category of "bust," and he set the Bears back several years in terms of their rushing attack.
In Benson, the Bears felt they had a legitimate No. 1 running back in the NFL.
Therefore, they viewed Thomas Jones, currently a Pro Bowl back with the Jets, as expendable. He would eventually be traded for a draft pick.
The Bears went from having?in their minds?two quality backs to having none. Matt Forte has turned out to be a good NFL running back, but this was supposed to be Cedric's team and Cedric's time.
The Bears essentially lost a Pro Bowl running back and a No. 4 overall draft pick because of Benson's inability to produce.
Benson made more noise off the field?mainly on a boat?than he did on a football field; never a good thing in the NFL.
He was often hurt, or lazy, and never was fully comfortable with his teammates or this city. He will go down as one of the biggest busts in Bears history.
Now in Cincinnati, Benson is making a new name for himself and trying to erase the demons from life as a Chicago Bear.
Maybe it was the media scrutiny.
Maybe it was the rocky relationship with then-starter Thomas Jones.
Maybe it was his inability to live up to lofty expectations (there will never be another Walter Payton).
Whatever the case, Benson's stint as a Bear was awful.
Though they'll never admit it, you have to wonder if players like Tommie Harris, Lance Briggs, and Charles Tillman will be gunning for Benson this week.
Sure, they try and tackle every opposing ball carrier and make stops. But will this game against their former teammate bear any special significance?
They'll say, "It's just another game," but will they truly believe it?
The Bears defense has a lot of pride. For many years, it was their only source of talent and their defense would more often than not be the deciding factor in a Bears victory.
They have to be licking their chops just a little at the thought of playing their once highly-touted running back prospect.
If this unit has any pride at all, they'll show it on Sunday by shutting down Benson.
Chad Ochocinco and Carson Palmer could very well put on an airshow for the weak Bears secondary, but Benson can not bulldoze his way through the Bears front seven.
If Benson does, then the Bears would have lost more than just a game.
They would have lost their pride and integrity too.
See you on Sunday, Ced.
 
5teamparlay

5teamparlay

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Re: No one wants Cedric Benson

http://chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=6239\



October 25, 2009 Benson runs for career-high 189 yards versus former team


By: Larry Mayer | Last Updated: 10/25/2009 1:23 AM
CINCINNATI ? On Sunday, the Bears finally saw the running back they envisioned Cedric Benson would become when they selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.
The only problem was that he was wearing a Cincinnati Bengals uniform.
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=4 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
Cedric Benson ran for a career-high 189 yards Sunday against his former team.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Benson run roughshod over his former team, rushing for a career-high 189 yards and 1 touchdown on 37 carries in a 45-10 thrashing of the Bears at Paul Brown Stadium.
?He did some good things,? said Hunter Hillenmeyer, who started at strongside linebacker after missing the previous two games with a rib injury. ?My hat?s off to Cedric. I?m sure he?s feeling great right now, to have a game like that against guys who supposedly discarded you.?
Benson received a standing ovation when he was removed from the game with about 10 minutes remaining. But he was forced to return after rookie running back Bernard Scott and fullback Jeremi Johnson exited with knee injuries, leaving Benson as the Bengals? only healthy running back.
Benson now leads the NFL in rushing with 720 yards, an average of 102.9 yards per game.
?Cedric played well,? said Bears tight end Desmond Clark. ?You?ve got to give them credit. His offensive line was able to open some holes for him, he hit it and ran well.?
Blowout defeats: Sunday?s loss was the most lopsided for the Bears since they dropped the 2003 opener 49-7 in San Francisco. Chicago finished 7-9 in 2003 in what was Dick Jauron?s final year as coach.
?This is a far better team than that team back in ?03,? Clark said. ?This is probably more embarrassing because with as much talent as we?ve got on this team, we shouldn?t lose like this.?
Ground to a halt: Facing a big early deficit, the Bears only ran the ball 12 times for 35 yards in the game. Matt Forte rushed for 24 yards on six carries, Garrett Wolfe had seven yards on three attempts, and quarterback Jay Cutler gained four yards on three carries.
Century club: In establishing career highs with eight catches for 101 yards, Devin Hester became the first Bears receiver to compile at least 100 yards since Brandon Lloyd had 124 yards on Sept. 21, 2008 in an overtime loss to the Buccaneers.
Hanie sighting: With Sunday?s game hopelessly out of hand, backup quarterback Caleb Hanie made his NFL debut, completing 1 of 2 passes for three yards on the Bears? final possession.
Not suited up: Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee) and running back Adrian Peterson (knee) sat out with injuries. Other Bears inactives were receiver Juaquin Iglesias, cornerback D.J. Moore, guard Louis Lance, and defensive tackles Matt Toeaina and Jarron Gilbert. Linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, who sustained a season-ending knee injury a week earlier in Atlanta, was also on the inactive list.
 
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