Cedric Benson News: Pro Sports Daily

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October 26

Chicago Sun-Times

"Cedric Benson finally couldn't contain his emotions. The 2005 first-round pick of the Bears sprinted from the field after scoring on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter against his former mates. Benson headed straight for the stands behind the Cincinnati bench, took off his helmet and celebrated with the fans who have embraced him in his new home. He was met by the Bengals' master of celebrations, wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, who gave Benson a hug and a message. ''Ced and I kept talking about going 'Ham,''' Ochocinco said. ''It's a new [phrase], so just let it soak in, and he'll tell you about it.'' Benson went ''Ham'' -- which he explained as a Southern phrase that means to keep going ..."

Against Ced's Bengals, Bears pull off historic underachievement

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October 26

Chicago Sun-Times

"This was something nobody had ever seen before, making it like Secretariat's 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes and Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10. Replace goose bumps with the gag reflex, and it was like witnessing Nolan Ryan's seventh no-hitter or Roger Bannister's sub-four-minute mile. It was an athletic contest that made the 64,900 in attendance want to keep their ticket stubs as souvenirs because the Bears turned in what might've been the worst performance in franchise history. Some might argue that. The Bears have, after all, fielded some perfectly putrid teams since George Halas helped found the league in Ralph Hay's Hupmobile showroom 89 years ago. But when you consider the ..."

Bears humiliated by Benson, Bengals

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October 26

Chicago Sun-Times

"Cedric Benson said last week that ''my dreams are coming true'' with the Cincinnati Bengals, but he didn't mention anything about nightmares beginning for the Bears. The Bears' former No. 4 overall pick justified his selection by general manager Jerry Angelo in one afternoon, and the Bears' 2009 season was put on notice as the Cincinnati Bengals humiliated them 45-10 Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals (5-2) scored on their first seven possessions as if they were playing against air. Benson ran for a career-high 189 yards while Chad Ochocinco, who called out the Bears all week on Twitter, caught 10 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears (3-3) have not been this woefully ..."

Bengals' Cedric Benson missed chance to thank Lovie Smith after game

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October 26

Chicago Tribune

"Cedric Benson said he wanted to shake hands with and thank Bears coach Lovie Smith after Sunday's 45-10 Bengals thrashing of the Bears. "I wanted to say hello to Lovie. But I think he shook (Bengals coach Marvin Lewis') hand and he ran off the field," said Benson, who rushed for a career-high 189 yards and a touchdown. "If I was a head coach I probably would be a little disappointed if my team played that way, too, considering the outcome of the game. But it would have been really nice to kind of look him in the eyes again and say thank you." Benson said he tried all week to downplay the media attention that referred to Sunday's game as the "Benson Bowl." But at one point late in Sunday's ..."

Bengals' Cedric Benson basks in an I-told-you-so day

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October 26

Chicago Tribune

"One look at Cedric Benson standing at the locker beside him and you might say Chad Ochocinco had doscientos on his mind. It was obvious from the first, forceful carry that Benson did too. "You get 200?" Ochocinco asked Benson after the Bengals' 45-10 win Sunday over the Bears at Paul Brown Stadium. One stool away, still dressed in game gear, Benson just cracked the grin he had been waiting all season to crack. "Close," he shot back. "I got 189." Benson answered quickly enough to suggest he was carrying the football in one hand and a calculator in the other, mentally computing every satisfying yard against the team that threw him on the NFL scrap heap. The allure of 200 yards had to be why ..."

Cincinnati Bengals rout Chicago Bears 45-10

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October 26

Chicago Tribune

"The Bears' 45-10 loss to the Bengals on Sunday challenged the axiom that it is better to give than receive. The Bengals received to the tune of five touchdown catches. The Bears gave way beyond the point where it hurt. And there was no question who got the better of this deal. If giving the Bengals the running back who leads the NFL in rushing and a starting defensive tackle weren't enough, the Bears also spotted their opponent 31 points before they scored a meager field goal at the end of the half. They gave them almost everything they could, short of George Halas' dusty fedora and a game program from the 1985 Super Bowl. The Bears gave the Bengals yards -- 448 of them. They gave them the ..."

So many so wrong on Benson

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October 26

Cincinnati Enquirer

columnist Paul Daugherty

"You wonder how it all went nasty in Chicago. Even now, years later, after the story has been told a thousand times. How could so many people be so wrong about Cedric Benson? A better question: How could Benson allow it? He's at the podium after Sunday's game. He's wearing what looks to be an argyle sweater. He speaks softly and clearly, candidly without rancor. This isn't a guy who needs to flap his wings. He's too grounded. "Revenge was not how I wanted to respond to the day," Benson said. And so he didn't. At least not in the look-at-me, muscle-flexing fashion all too typical in the NFL. Benson just kept taking the ball and running. Thirty-seven tries, 189 yards against the team that ..."

Cedric Benson ready to move on from Bears

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October 26

Cincinnati Enquirer

"How frightening was it? It was "The Nightmare Before Halloween" -- and for a change the opposing club was on the receiving end of it. Bengals 45, Bears, 10. Meting out much of the punishment was Bengals running back Cedric Benson, the former Bear, who had 189 yards rushing, a single-game high for his career. His longest run of the day was a 26-yarder; there were many times he was carrying defensive players on his back like bags on a burro. Benson had to practically put himself through yoga sessions this week to keep from going into overdrive about this game. "I didn't want it to be revenge," he said. "I knew I was going to be faced with getting over-emotional about it at times." After the ..."

Benson has last laugh on Chicago Bears

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October 26

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Earlier this week Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons said he was waiting for that one game when all three phases - offense, defense and special teams - would be in synch at the same time. Simmons, and the rest of the Bengaldom, finally got that game on Sunday. The offense scored on its first seven possessions, the defense forced four turnovers and special teams did a solid job as the Bengals rolled to a 45-10 victory over Chicago at Paul Brown Stadium. It is the Bengals' biggest win since their 38-3 win over Houston in Week 8 of the 2002 season. "Last Sunday the guys got their nose rubbed a little bit and didn't like it," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "We had a good week. ..."

Benson shows Bears not to judge book by its cover

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October 26

Dayton Daily News

"He can sit there after the game and say this "wasn't about revenge" and talk about how he's "friends" with a lot of his old Chicago teammates and how he had wanted to find Bears coach Lovie Smith afterward and "thank him" for all he did for him. But that's nothing but a verbal juke step from Cedric Benson, similar to the on-field one he put on Lance Briggs early in the game that froze the Bears linebacker in midstep as he scooted by for a 23-yard gain. The true feelings of the Cincinnati running back could be seen in the fourth quarter of the 45-10 trouncing the Bengals put on the Bears, Sunday, Oct. 25, at Paul Brown Stadium. After scampering for another 14-yard run - part of a career day ..."

Cedric Benson still running his mouth

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October 25

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"Expressed in the trendy, 140-character-or-less form of communication preferred by the Bears and Bengals last week: @Ochocinco -- You should've told Ced to keep his mouth shut. Child, please. Everybody knows the Bears' D plays better angry. Back to the Tweet-free zone, if the Bears' defense responds as expected Sunday to Cedric Benson casting aspersions on his former employer, he will have done what he rarely did in Chicago. That is, contribute to a Bears victory. The stat sheet showing Benson as the NFL's third-leading rusher convinced many he had changed since he left Halas Hall. Then Benson opened his mouth. It revealed only the uniform is different. The man inside sounded familiarly ..."

Chicago Bears played fair with Jay Cutler and Cedric Benson

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October 25

Chicago Tribune

columnist Dan Pompei

"If you believe everything you hear, the Bears have been doing some balling -- lowballing Jay Cutler and blackballing Cedric Benson. Neither is true. The Bears did get Cutler at a very reasonable price when they signed him to a two-year contract extension, but Cutler won in the deal, too, with $29,377,000 in new money. And he stacks up very well with his peers. As for Benson, the Bears never tried to prevent him from working in the NFL. But they were honest with people like Bengals coach Marvin Lewis who called and asked what led to the Bears cutting the former fourth pick in the draft. Part of that honesty included an expression of faith in Benson's ability. Coach Lovie Smith told Lewis ..."

Bengal Benson on the prowl

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October 22

Chicago Sun-Times

"Cedric Benson is a different player on the field for the Cincinnati Bengals than he ever was for the Bears. Off the field, the mercurial fourth pick from the 2005 draft remains the same person. Benson speaks what's on his mind, says what he believes to be the truth and doesn't care who is listening or what they think of his opinion. He resurrected his career last season with the Bengals when he was signed Sept. 30, nearly four months after being bounced by the Bears following a second booze-related arrest in Texas in five weeks. This season, he has emerged as one of the better power backs in the NFL, third in rushing with 531 yards and four touchdowns. Benson blames the Bears for his time ..."

Benson says he was blackballed

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October 22

Washington Times

"Cedric Benson believes the Chicago Bears did all they could to keep him from signing with another team. Released in June 2008 after two alcohol-related arrests, Benson will face his former team when the Cincinnati Bengals host the Bears on Sunday. Although he insisted he's not out for revenge and won't try to send a message, Benson clearly has some bad feelings for the Bears. "I heard all the rumors that were said coming out of Chicago," Benson said. "Even the Bengals told me all the things, that they would call and inquire about me and get nothing but negative things. Just that I didn't work hard, that I was I guess a prima donna or I didn't work hard on the field, just wasn't focused. ..."

Cedric Benson out to prove Chicago Bears wrong

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October 22

Chicago Tribune

"Ex-Bear Cedric Benson sounded like a man looking forward instead of behind until someone pushed his button Wednesday, asking if his former team "blackballed" him. The Bears released Benson on June 9, 2008, after two alcohol-related arrests, and he did not sign with the Bengals until Sept. 30 of last year. Now he's the league's third-leading rusher. "I heard all the rumors that were said coming out of Chicago," the Bengals running back said during a conference call. "Even the Bengals said they would call and inquire about me and get nothing but negative things ... that I didn't work hard, that I was, I guess, a prima donna, didn't work hard on the field, just wasn't focused. "Anything ..."

Benson finds right fit

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October 22

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Since he re-signed with the Bengals on March 3, the Bears have not been far from Cedric Benson's mind. Seven months later, now that it is Chicago week, they are front and center. Even though he said he is not seeking any revenge Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium, Benson is out to prove a lot of people in Chicago wrong. While saying to Cincinnati reporters that he is "above and beyond anything that happened there," that wasn't the message he told Chicago reporters four hours later during a teleconference. When asked if he was blackballed last June after being released by the Bears Benson said: "No doubt. I heard all the rumors that were said coming out of Chicago. Even the Bengals told me that ..."

Can this be the same Cedric Benson?

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October 18

Baltimore Sun

"The amazing Bengals have staged last-minute comebacks in each of their last three games. So it's only fitting that one of their leaders is the potential comeback player of the year. Then again, it's not as if running back Cedric Benson is "coming back" to his old self. As an NFL player, he never has been as good as he is now. Benson, whom the Bears cut in 2008, leads the NFL in rushing with 487 yards on 111 carries. He rushed for 141 yards in Green Bay, and last Sunday he became the first running back in 40 games to run for 100 yards against the Ravens, gaining 120 on 27 carries. "You can see he's hungry," said Texans coach Gary Kubiak, whose team plays in Cincinnati on Sunday. "He has a ..."

Just out of reach

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October 16

Houston Chronicle

"The Texans declined to offer Cedric Benson as much money last March as Cincinnati did because they didn't believe they needed him as badly as the Bengals did. And, at the time, the Texans' parsimony seemed to make business sense. Gleeful over Steve Slaton's showing himself to be an A-list back as a rookie, the Texans were only shopping for an insurance policy. For Cincinnati, it was a matter of keeping their running attack intact. Still, Benson said he was close to signing with the Texans. "I mean, I was there in the office and they were talking about getting the deal done," Benson, 26, said. "But, whoever makes those decisions … it was like a last-minute decision not to go forward with ..."

Benson key to Bengals victory

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October 12

Cincinnati Enquirer

"If Cedric Benson hit holes as slowly as he dresses, he'd never make it out of the backfield. Most of his teammates are dressed and headed for the buses. Benson is throwing powder on his feet and sliding a pair of brown lace-ups over a pair of sky-blue socks. (The man also is wearing a pair of black and white houndstooth slacks and a white button-down with his initials monogrammed on it. Very GQ.) After seizing the day, he is savoring the moment. He is entitled. It was a gratifying day for everyone in orange and black, but they all took a back seat to Ced Benson. When it came to overcoming, he had them all beat. "So, Cedric, what were you doing a year ago today, 12 months before you ran ..."

Benson fuels Bengals' 2-1 start

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October 4

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Through three games, Cedric Benson has shown he can be the workhorse running back that the Bengals envisioned when they re-signed him during the offseason. But as the calendar turns to October, the NFL's equivalent of the work week is barely eight hours old. "It would be foolish for us to start patting ourselves on the back. The season is still early and there are a lot of games left to play," Benson said. "A lot is going to depend about how you finish. We just have to stick to our guns and get better." With the Bengals stressing the run, the fifth-year back has had his number called often. He leads the league in carries (66) and is second in the AFC with 293 yards while averaging 4.4 ..."

Bengals' backfield emotion? Anxiety

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September 5

Cincinnati Enquirer

"If Thursday ends up being DeDe Dorsey's last game as a Bengal, he went out with plenty of highlights. After being slowed by injuries the past three seasons, a healthier Dorsey got to show what he could do during this preseason. In Thursday's 38-7 win over Indianapolis, the fourth-year running back was the team's leading rusher and also blocked a punt, returning it 7 yards for a touchdown. In four games, Dorsey averaged 6.5 yards per carry and led the team with 155 yards. "I hope so - that somebody else likes what they see on film," Dorsey said. "It would be great if it was here in Cincinnati." The final roster spots, along with the competition between Dorsey and Brian Leonard, will come ..."

Benson could use support

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April 21

Cincinnati Enquirer

"The Bengals re-signed Cedric Benson to be their featured running back, but as the team prepares for this weekend's NFL Draft, one of its needs is to find someone to help carry the load. Although the team has more immediate needs in the early rounds on the offensive line and possibly adding a pass rusher, the Bengals could add a back in the middle to late rounds, when they have nine picks on the second day. "Everyone's hoping there's a Terrell Davis out there," said former Baltimore coach Brian Billick, citing Davis, a late-round pick by Denver. "There is a little more latitude in how you rate the backs so that you can find them further down." The Bengals thought they had their future back ..."

'Rejuvenated' Cedric Benson finds his home with Cincinnati Bengals

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March 5

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"Cincinnati is celebrating' the signing of running back Cedric Benson to a two-year, $7 million contract. Coincidentally, fellow former Bear Rex Grossman will spend Thursday talking with Bengals officials about backing up Carson Palmer. Grossman (2003) and Benson (2005) were first-round draft picks. No confirmation that ex-Bears draft busts Michael Haynes and Airese Currie also have lined up visits with the Bengals. "It is fair to say I am fully rejuvenated," Benson said in an interview with WMVP-AM. That remains to be seen. It's only fair to say Benson has been fully paid, and that's the dangerous part for a Bengals team that expects the troubled Texan to be the No. 1 running back. The ..."

'They gave me a chance'

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March 4

Cincinnati Enquirer

"For Cedric Benson, loyalty and a second chance ended up being the deciding factors in returning to the Bengals. "They gave me a chance when no one else did. I was home watching football," said Benson during a news conference at Paul Brown Stadium after re-signing with the team. "There was a lot of negative talk out there surrounding me not only as a player but my character off the field. I'm sure they second-guessed the thought at times, but they followed through." Benson's return gives the Bengals a consistent and proven back to build the rushing attack around. In 12 games last year, 10 of which were starts, he ran for a career-high 747 yards and also led the team in yards from scrimmage ..."

Benson, Texans Look at Options

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March 3

Houston Chronicle

"Free-agent running back Cedric Benson spent Monday visiting with the Texans at Reliant Stadium and having lunch and dinner with coaches, but no deal was reached that would return him to his home state. Benson grew up in Midland and played at the University of Texas before Chicago drafted him with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft. After being waived by the Bears last year, Benson signed with Cincinnati, and he responded with a career-high 747 yards in 10 starts. The Bengals, who have offered Benson a contract, are trying to re-sign him as their starter. The Texans, who are continuing negotiations, want him to complement Steve Slaton. Close to home "I feel good about this," Benson ..."

Orlovsky signs with Texans; Benson targeted

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March 2

Houston Chronicle

"In the first three days of free agency, the Texans filled needs by signing left defensive end Antonio Smith and backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky, and now they have targeted running back Cedric Benson for a third priority. The Texans seek a back to play behind Steve Slaton, and they are bringing in Benson, 26, for a visit. Benson, the Midland native who played at the University of Texas before Chicago drafted him with the fourth overall pick in 2005, rushed for 747 yards in 10 starts with Cincinnati last season. Last year, the Texans weren’t interested in Benson (5-11, 220 pounds) when he was waived by the Bears. They became interested after watching him play for the Bengals and avoid ..."

A break in the clouds

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December 22

Cincinnati Enquirer

columnist Paul Daugherty

"The long, strange trip to redemption ended here, on a frozen field, vs. a team as insignificant as his own. That didn't temper the moment for Cedric Benson, who earned a day like this. "It makes me proud, to overcome what I've gone through," he said after the game. "I guess I've got to give myself a big hand." Well, yeah. The cynics among us (anyone who has watched 18 seasons of Mike Brown's Bengals merits that title) will suggest Sunday's 14-0 whitewash of the Browns means next to nothing in the grand scheme. In fact, a season-ending three-game winning streak - assuming a win next Sunday over 2-13 Kansas City - might convince Brown that things are close to adequate in Bengaldom. That ..."

Benson has become Bengals' top runner

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November 6

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Running back Cedric Benson's fairly modest game - 104 yards on 24 carries - was a major breakthrough by Cincinnati Bengals standards. It's another sign one of their newcomers is quickly turning into a mainstay. They're ready to move on again at one of their most unsettled positions. Benson became the first Bengal to run for 100 yards this season during a 21-19 win over Jacksonville on Sunday. It broke the franchise's streak of nine straight games since the end of last season without having a running back even come close to triple digits. It looks like Benson, whose career was at a crossroads only a few weeks ago, is going to get a lot more chances to run. The 2005 Bears first-round draft ..."

Should Benson start again?

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October 21

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Bengals running back Cedric Benson, in three games, has rushed for 88 yards on 28 attempts, a 3.1-yard average. He started Sunday against the Steelers ahead of previous starter Chris Perry, who did not get a carry. "As a runner, he runs well behind his pads," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said of Benson on Monday. "I think he is decisive and quick into cuts and so forth. We want to keep working hard with him in all the other areas, but he's done a good job as a ball carrier." Asked about Benson's future with the team, Lewis said: "He is on a one-year deal and he's doing a good job. We'll get to those things as we get later in the season.""

Benson just as surprised as the fans

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October 20

Cincinnati Enquirer

"The Bengals surprised fans by starting halfback Cedric Benson for incumbent Chris Perry in Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh at Paul Brown Stadium. Frankly, Benson was surprised too. "You know, it was weird because nobody told me during the week that I was going to start. But everybody was kind of asking me," Benson said. "I'm looking at them and saying, 'I haven't heard nothing about this.'" After completing pregame warmups Sunday, he sought out Bengals director of player relations Eric Ball. "I said, 'Am I starting today?' And he said, 'Yeah, yeah, you're going to start. You didn't know that?' I was like, 'No,' " Benson said, laughing. It was the fourth-year pro's first start as a Bengal and ..."

Bengals welcome Benson with open arms, minds

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October 5

Chicago Tribune

columnist Dan Pompei

"Some might trace Cedric Benson's failures with the Bears to his beginnings—the 36-day holdout and leaving a bad first impression on teammates and coaches. He is getting off to a considerably better start with the Bengals. When the Bengals invited Benson to work out for them with a group of other free agents Tuesday, the fourth pick of the 2005 NFL draft impressed coach Marvin Lewis with his attitude. "He really worked his butt off," Lewis said by phone. "I was impressed with him that way. He didn't carry himself like, 'Hey, I'm a former No. 1 pick, I don't have to do this or that.' " The Bengals treated him like any player off the street, even asking him to run a 40-yard dash. Benson ..."

Just glad to be back running

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October 2

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Bengals coaches expect tailback Cedric Benson to play Sunday at Dallas. Signed Tuesday to a one-year contract, Benson, a 2005 first-round pick of the Chicago Bears, performed well in practice Wednesday, offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "I think you will see him go in and spell Chris at some point," Bratkowski said in reference to starter Chris Perry. The Bengals are ranked 30th in the NFL in rushing at 82.3 yards per game. Perry is averaging 2.9 yards per carry. Most of the problem, though, has been the the offensive line. Perry was limited in practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury. Of Benson, Bratkowski said, "He had some nice quickness and good feet. It's good to have ..."

RB Benson off and running

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October 1

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Bengals coaches expect tailback Cedric Benson to play Sunday at Dallas. Signed Tuesday to a one-year contract, Benson, a 2005 first-round pick of the Chicago Bears, performed well in practice Wednesday. "I think you will see him go in and spell Chris at some point," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said in reference to starter Chris Perry. Backup Kenny Watson (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday, and the Bengals placed third-string tailback DeDe Dorsey (hamstring) on the season-ending injured reserve list Tuesday to make room for Benson. The Bengals are ranked 30th in the NFL in rushing at 82.3 yards a game. Perry is averaging 2.9 yards a carry. Most of the problem, though, has been ..."

No indictment for former Bears RB Benson

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September 26

Chicago Tribune

"Former Bears running back Cedric Benson proclaimed his innocence from the beginning. The Texas court system ruled in his favor Thursday. According to defense attorney Sam Bassett, two Travis County grand juries found no probable cause to indict Benson for the two alcohol-related arrests in Texas that led to his release from the Bears. "Since my initial review of the evidence in both cases, I have said that Cedric was not guilty," Bassett said. "I hope that this situation reminds us all that not every person who is arrested for a crime is guilty." Benson was arrested May 3 on Lake Travis near Austin and charged with boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest. Benson said he never was ..."

Saints, Texans showing interest in Cedric Benson

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September 8

Chicago Tribune

"Former Bears running back Cedric Benson, released by the team June 9 after two alcohol-related off-season arrests, said Saturday he has a tryout with the Houston Texans this week. Benson also said by phone he'd had a workout with the New Orleans Saints two weeks ago and that it "went well." Benson believes teams are waiting for his legal matters to be cleared up before signing him. Benson maintains he was treated unfairly in both arrests in Austin, Texas. One was for boating while intoxicated, the other for driving under the influence. As for his stint with the Bears, the fourth pick in the 2005 draft said he'd taken steps to make sure he would have a breakout year. "I got myself in good ..."

Ex-Bear Cedric Benson ordered to get alcohol car lock

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June 24

Chicago Tribune

"Former Bears running back Cedric Benson was ordered Monday to install an ignition-lock breath tester in his car after he was charged with drunken driving. Benson was charged in separate incidents of boating and driving while intoxicated. Travis County Court-at-Law Judge Elisabeth Earle ordered him to install the device within 72 hours as a condition of his bail at a pretrial hearing. The device prevents the car from starting if it detects alcohol."

Brown: No one on Bears tried to hurt Benson

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June 16

Chicago Tribune

"Ruben Brown showed again Sunday why if he doesn't find an NFL team that wants his services this fall, he should have no problem finding a media outlet. In an interview on WMVP-AM, the outspoken Brown chastised a report by Fox Sports' Jay Glazer that as many as 10 Bears players once tried to hurt Cedric Benson in practice. "That sounds like a lot of mumbo-jumbo," the former Bears guard said. "Nobody does that anymore. We all respect each other's right to earn money. I mean, we're all trying to make it, and that makes no sense. "You're saying Mike Brown, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, outstanding stand-up people in the community and on the team, leaders of our team, wanted to go and ..."

Rock bottom: Rest of NFL takes a pass on Benson

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June 13

Chicago Sun-Times

"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."

Sayers: Halas would have bounced Benson long ago

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June 12

Chicago Tribune

columnist Fred Mitchell

"Cedric Benson's story certainly is not unique in today's NFL as a disturbing pattern of entitlement appears to exist among many players coming out of college. The Bears took Gale Sayers with the fourth overall pick of the 1965 NFL draft. Forty years later, Benson was the fourth overall pick. Sayers was paid $25,000 his rookie year. He stayed out of trouble during the off-season and took a second job to help provide for his family. Benson, after holding out through his first training camp, signed a $35 million deal with $16 million in bonuses. At 34, Sayers became the youngest man to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. At 25, Benson could be headed for a Hall of ..."

Bears' Benson didn't understand the team concept

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June 10

Dallas Morning News

columnist Chip Brown

"Cedric Benson chose the days leading up to the 2003 season at Texas to say he didn?t feel respected by his teammates and coaches at UT during a 1,293-yard rushing season in 2002. The timing couldn?t have been worse. Here was a new team starting a new season. But that was Benson. He never seemed to get the team concept. When Texas quarterback Vince Young became a full-time starter halfway through the 2003 season, rushing lanes for Benson began to open up like garage doors. But Benson never wanted to share credit for his rushing numbers in 2003 (1,360 yards) and 2004 (1,834 yards) with Young, whose running ability created lots of room for Benson."

Bears release Cedric Benson

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June 10

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Bears have released former first-round draft pick Cedric Benson, who has been arrested on two alcohol-related charges in the last five weeks. "Cedric displayed a pattern of behavior we will not tolerate,” general manager Jerry Angelo said. "As I said this past weekend, you have to protect your job. Everyone in this organization is held accountable for their actions. When individual priorities overshadow team goals, we suffer the consequences as a team. Those who fail to understand the importance of ‘team’ will not play for the Chicago Bears.”"

Celebrate good times, come on

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June 10

Chicago Sun-Times

columnist Mike Mulligan

"Bears general manager Jerry Angelo bore a look somewhere between anguish and rage as he walked off the practice field near the end of Monday's voluntary workout. Here was a man heading toward an unpleasant task. But now that the task is complete, now that the forgettable Bears career of Cedric Benson has been mercifully euthanized, you can't help but wonder if Angelo feels unburdened this morning. He ought to. Freedom can be as intoxicating as the strongest spirit fermented by man, and Angelo ought to be drunk with liberation now that he's out from under Benson."

His misstep: A Texas 2 step

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June 10

Chicago Sun-Times

"Cedric Benson did not walk out on the Bears this time. They handed him his walking papers. The embattled fourth pick of the 2005 draft -- the Bears' highest pick in 28 years -- was placed on waivers Monday afternoon, ending an embarrassing stretch for him and the team. Benson was let go two days after being arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Austin, Texas, his second booze-related arrest in five weeks."

Benson, Bears just a bad fit from start

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June 10

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"He wasn't crying because he was overcome with joy or pride. He wasn't crying over the honor of running in the city where Walter Payton ran or playing for a proud franchise that reveres its football stars or any other reason he has offered the past three years. No, Cedric Benson cried on the day of the NFL draft in 2005 because he was upset the Bears took him with the fourth overall selection."

Bears cut running back Cedric Benson

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June 10

Chicago Tribune

"Not long after Cedric Benson showed contrition Monday for his latest arrest, the Bears showed him the door. The team released the troubled former first-round draft pick as a result of Benson's arrest early Saturday morning in Austin, Texas, on a charge of driving while intoxicated. It was Benson's second alcohol-related arrest in five weeks and enough to convince the Bears he just wasn't worth the possible distractions."

Benson, Bears officials likely to meet soon

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June 9

Chicago Sun-Times

"Embattled Bears running back Cedric Benson is expected to meet with coach Lovie Smith and other team officials today or Tuesday, his attorney said, ready to discuss his second alcohol-related arrest in just over a month. Benson was arrested early Saturday morning in Austin, Texas, and charged with drunk driving after police said he ran a red light in a downtown entertainment district."

Cedric saga rushes on

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June 9

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Bears reconvene at Halas Hall today for the continuation of voluntary offseason workouts, but the real story is the team's expected sit-down with running back Cedric Benson, fresh off his second arrest in five weeks. It could be Benson's last meeting with the team. Benson is far from the wickedest villain in Bears history. He's just a not-particularly competitive guy lost in an ultra-competitive world. Benson's prospects for NFL success were dim before his DWI arrest early Saturday, and the clarity his recent problems bring seems headed to an unambiguous conclusion. It's difficult to make any argument for him at this point."

Benson will report for Bears' OTAs on Monday

Comment

June 9

Chicago Tribune

"Bears running back Cedric Benson had nothing to say about his latest arrest on alcohol-related charges after being reached by phone Sunday evening. He did say the latest episode in his turbulent off-season will not prevent him from participating in organized team activities Monday. There is considerable speculation that the Halas Hall appearance might be his last as a Bear."

How low can Benson go? How stupid can he be?

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June 8

Chicago Sun-Times

columnist Jay Mariotti

"As police mugshots go, it’s not as maniacal as Nick Nolte’s or as damning as Rip Torn’s. But Cedric Benson definitely was having a good time in the wee hours Saturday, posing for his latest portrait at Texas Slammer Studios. He wore a huge grin, wider than the 3.4 yards he averaged last year. His eyes were narrow, underlined by heavily creased bags. His shirt was open at the neck, his hair sticking up on top. This will be our last image of him, I believe. Because if the Bears have any accountability as a Chicago institution, any interest in operating a law-abiding and responsible organization amid their comfortable Lake Forest existence, they’ll immediately end their hopeless, ..."

This time, it's no joke for Benson

Comment

June 8

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"Why is this man smiling? Why was Cedric Benson, the face of NFL draft busts in Chicago, grinning widely in a booking photo taken early Saturday morning after Austin police arrested him and charged him with drunken driving in a busy night life district? Benson hasn't looked that happy since the Bears traded Thomas Jones. But allegedly almost hitting a pedestrian and certainly endangering an NFL career is nothing to smile about for Benson, and his second alcohol-related arrest in five weeks is no laughing matter."