Cedric Benson News: Pro Sports Daily

Benson sets a record, but Jets beat Bengals

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January 10

Chicago Tribune

"With their rookie quarterback playing mistake-free, the New York Jets turned their surprising playoff appearance into a long-running production. Mark Sanchez handled single-degree wind chills and the playoff pressure with no problems Saturday, throwing a touchdown pass on a rollout play, and the NFL's top running game took it from there, setting up a 24-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Sanchez went 12 of 15 for 182 yards, becoming the fourth rookie quarterback since 1950 to start and win a playoff game. Considered the Jets' weakest link heading into the playoffs, he became their rallying point. "He just kept getting better as the season went along," coach Rex Ryan said. "I told him ..."

Jets defense is grounded by rushing attack of Cincinnati Bengals' Cedric Benson

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January 10

New York Daily News

"Rex Ryan was beaming over the performance of his Jets Saturday, but the first thing he mentioned after Gang Green's 24-14 win had nothing to do with the many positives. "Not exactly what I had in mind, giving up (171) yards rushing," he said. A lot of that total, the highest allowed by the Jets all season, had to do with the hard running of Cedric Benson. But Ryan's team, which prides itself on stopping the run, will have to shore that up as the playoffs continue. Luckily for Gang Green, next week's potential opponents, the Colts and Chargers, ranked last and next-to-last in the league in rushing, although that was of no solace to Ryan, who saw Benson break Ickey Woods' Bengals playoff ..."

2 who got away from Chicago Bears having great success

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January 9

Chicago Tribune

"It was a breakdown over the last three seasons that brought the Bears' brain trust together at Halas Hall for a news conference Tuesday in which it pledged to get things straight. Nothing since the team's loss in Super Bowl XLI has been worse than the handling of the backfield, and it will be on display Saturday in the NFL playoffs' wild card round as the Jets ride a career-best season from Thomas Jones into Cincinnati's Paul Brown Stadium to face Cedric Benson and the Bengals. The pair that combined for 1,857 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Bears in 2006 has flourished, and now the trade of Jones to the Jets to move up in the second round of the 2007 draft looks worse than the selection ..."

Bengals' Benson, Jets' Jones banged heads, fists in Chicago

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January 9

New York Post

"Cedric Benson knew he and Thomas Jones would be in the playoffs together. He just thought it would be on the same sideline, not the opposing. The two running backs shared a backfield with the Bears for two tumultuous seasons in which they banged heads (and sometimes fists) over playing time. Three years removed from playing together, they square off today in the AFC playoffs, with Benson leading the Bengals' rushing attack and Jones leading the Jets'. "We would complement each other real well," Benson said this week. "I'm sure some people, very few people, in Chicago saw that. They would have made it work if it was enough (people)." The truth is the mix of Benson and Jones was toxic from ..."

The name is Harris, H-a-r-r-i-s

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January 8

New York Post

"David Harris wants to make sure Bengals running back Cedric Benson remembers his name. Earlier this week, Benson was asked about the Jets linebacker, who is battling a sprained ankle. "I'm not a big names guy," Benson said. "I don't even really know who that is." Harris wants to change that tomorrow at Paul Brown Stadium when the Jets and Bengals meet in a wild-card playoff game. "If I play," Harris said yesterday, "I'm sure I'll introduce myself early in the game to him. We'll see." Harris moved closer to being a certainty for the game yesterday when he practiced (albeit on a limited basis) for the first time this week. Harris said he was improving and hoping to play. Harris suffered the ..."

Jets' David Harris out to show Cincinnati Bengals' Cedric Benson he's the real deal

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January 7

New York Daily News

"In 1972, the Dolphins won a Super Bowl with the No-Name Defense. The 2009 Jets have a no-name linebacker - David Harris. In their defensive meeting Wednesday, Jets coordinator Mike Pettine highlighted a newspaper quote from Bengals running back Cedric Benson, according to several players. On Tuesday, Benson told reporters in Cincinnati that he didn't know Harris' name or anything about him. He's only their leading tackler. Pettine made sure every player knew about it. Some laughed it off; others took it a bit more seriously. Harris, rehabbing a sprained ankle, wasn't available for comment. "I think David may take it as an insult," safety Kerry Rhodes said. "As far as us, I don't know what ..."

Rested Cedric Benson means Bengals expect no repeat of Jets rout

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January 6

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Same opponent, higher stakes. If there was a common theme throughout the Bengals locker room Tuesday, it was that as the team prepares for their rematch against the New York Jets in an AFC wild-card playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday. The game will come just six days after the Jets routed the Bengals 37-0 at Giants Stadium on Sunday night. "We got together after the game, we talked about it, and we let it go," Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer said. "It was one of those games you can't let simmer. It's a fresh week, it's a new season, and that's been stressed to us in the locker room after the game. And we're ready to play again." But there were issues on offense Sunday that ..."

At least the Bengals will have Benson in rematch

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January 4

Cincinnati Enquirer

"In the hours before the Bengals and Jets kicked off Sunday night, the Bengals reduced their firepower voluntarily when the list of inactive players was released. Most notably, the list contained Cedric Benson's name, and with that, the Bengals indicated they were willing to trade the increased possibility of a loss and dropping to a No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs in exchange for resting their top running back going in to the postseason. But even without Benson, the Bengals surely didn't expect to put up such futile offensive numbers in the 37-0 loss to the Jets, a team the Bengals will face again Saturday at home in the first round of the playoffs. "I'm not going to say any player would ..."

Quiet day for Bengals Cedric Benson

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December 21

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Cedric Benson's 53 yards (15 carries) again came up short in his effort to set a new Bengal's team record with six individual rushing performances over 100 yards in a regular season. The previous record of five games with 100 yards rushing was set nine times by six different Bengals. Benson has two cracks left at the record – at home against Kansas City and on the road against the New York Jets. Larry Johnson's 27-yard run in the second quarter was his longest run as a Bengal in the six games he has played with Cincinnati since his signing on November 17. His previous longest run as a Bengal was 13 yards. NOT A GOOD DAY FOR HALL: Cincinnati's Leon Hall, who grew up in the San Diego suburb ..."

Bengals' Cedric Benson runs for 96 yards, almost breaks Vikings' two-year streak

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December 14

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Bengals running back Cedric Benson pushed the Vikings' vaunted run defense to the brink of yielding a 100-yard rushing performance for the first time in more than two years Sunday but finished four yards shy in Minnesota's 30-10 victory. Cincinnati's bruising ball carrier, who entered the game ranked third in the NFL in yards per game (96.9) also pushed back against Minnesota defensive tackle Pat Williams, who publicly roasted Benson last week. Williams told the Pioneer Press on Thursday, "I've played against great backs and great players, and he ain't one of them." Benson, who finished with 96 yards on 16 carries, including a 42-yard scamper late in the third quarter, praised the Vikings' ..."

Cedric Benson is bright spot in Bengals offense

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December 14

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Right now Cedric Benson is just about the whole offensive show for the Cincinnati Bengals. It would seem silly to suggest that what is great for Benson is not great for the team. But that's the case. Benson ran for 96 yards against one of the NFL's best running defenses Sunday. He ripped off a 42-yarder late in the third quarter, when the Bengals still owned a glimmer of hope. Benson averaged six yards a carry. "We got the running game going,'' Benson said. What's not to like? Well, the Bengals' offense did little else in the team's 30-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. When running the ball isn't just your best option, but your only option, eventually the running game will lose some of its ..."

A healthy Cedric Benson isn't the Bengals' only threat

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December 4

Detroit Free Press

"The Lions are pretty sure about what the Bengals are going to try to do Sunday. Run the ball, mix in some more runs, then run it again. The question is whether the Lions' defense is up to slowing Cedric Benson and Cincinnati's seventh-ranked run offense. "It'll be a test for sure," coach Jim Schwartz said Thursday, "because this is a team like Minnesota and some of those other ones that come out and say, 'We're going to run the football. This is going to be part of what we want to do.' "But we have to be ready for it. That's what's made them successful. I don't anticipate them going away from the formula that has got them to first place in the AFC North." The Lions' run defense ranks 19th ..."

Lewis: Benson will start Sunday

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December 1

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Ever since Cedric Benson was sidelined with a hip flexor injury, the Bengals and coach Marvin Lewis have said that the fifth-year running back will be the main back when he returns. After Sunday's 16-7 win over Cleveland, where Larry Johnson became the third different back this season to run for 100 yards, Lewis reiterated that again and also said that Benson will be back for this week's game against Detroit. "He should be ready to go and start the football game," said Lewis of Benson. "I think that's good to be in a good spot where we are with our running back situation, that'll be good." The more interesting dilemma remains if the Bengals will have three or four backs on the 45-man ..."

Cedric Benson's status up in the air

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November 28

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Bengals running back Cedric Benson and defensive tackle Domata Peko said before Friday's practice that they felt they'd be on the field for the workout in Paul Brown Stadium, and they were. Benson was limited, but indications continue to point toward the fifth-year running back possibly being in the lineup for Sunday's game against Cleveland. Benson suffered a hip-flexor injury near the end of the Nov. 8 game against Baltimore and then left during the second quarter the next week against Pittsburgh . "I think Ced is in a good spot right now, and we'll make that decision on Sunday," coach Marvin Lewis said. If Benson, who is listed as questionable on the injury report, does go against the ..."

Benson expected back at practice for Bengals

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November 27

NFL.com

"Cincinnati Bengals RB Cedric Benson is going to attempt to practice Friday after missing last weeks' game with the Raiders, reports NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora. Benson might be able to play Sunday against the Browns, but the Bengals should have a more firm idea by Friday afternoon."

Benson rehabs, might play Sunday

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November 27

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Running back Cedric Benson was on the field Thursday but was doing rehab work while team practiced. The fact that he was working leaves open the possibility that he might play on Sunday against the Browns. Wide receiver Laveranues Coles (chest) and defensive tackle Domata Peko (knee) did not practice for a second straight day. If either are unable to go, expect Andre Caldwell and Pat Sims to get the starts. Defensive end Robert Geathers (hip), defensive tackle Tank Johnson (knee), cornerbacks Morgan Trent (knee) and Johnathan Joseph (foot) and linebackers Rey Maualuga (foot) and Keith Rivers (calf) were limited."

Benson has a slight possibility of playing Sunday

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November 26

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Running back Cedric Benson did not practice with the team on Thursday but he did do some work on the side rehab field as there remains a slight possibility that he might play on Sunday against the Browns. Also not practicing on Thursday were WR Laveranues Coles (chest) and DT Domata Peko (knee). If either are unable to go, expect Andre Caldwell and Pat Sims to get the starts."

Benson might play Sunday

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November 26

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Even if starting running back Cedric Benson returns for Sunday's game against the Browns, Bengals rookie Bernard Scott is expected to see more action for the rest of the season. Coach Marvin Lewis said Wednesday that Benson appears to be "very close" to recovering from his hip flexor injury and could be available Sunday. "Well, he's got a good opportunity to play this week. We'll see," Lewis said. Benson, who left during the second quarter of the Nov. 15 game against Pittsburgh, was not on the field for Wednesday's practice. Even if Benson is back this week, expect Bernard Scott to get a good amount of carries for the rest of the season. As for Scott, he ran for 119 yards on 21 carries ..."

Benson to be gametime decision for Bengals

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November 21

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Cedric Benson said before today's practice that he will be a gametime decision for Sunday's Bengals' game at Oakland. The fifth-year running back, who is officially listed as doubtful on the injury report, has not practiced all week and was in sweatpants and a hoody during practice. If Benson was not to play, and all indications are that will happen, it would be announced 90 minutes before the 4:15 p.m. kickoff when the inactive lists are released. If Benson is out, Larry Johnson would make his Bengals debut. Johnson said that the transition to the playbook has been easy to pick up so far. Right now that includes just the base packages and some of the pass protection schemes. "The first ..."

Bengals running back Benson unlikely to play against Raiders

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November 20

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Running back Cedric Benson did not practice for a second straight day and is unlikely to play Sunday at Oakland. That means Larry Johnson's timetable to be somewhat comfortable with the playbook is accelerated. "It's a new offense and they have to get comfortable with trusting me to step in there," said Johnson, who celebrated his 30th birthday Thursday. "The plays are the same handing off and right now the exchange has been pretty good between Carson (Palmer) and myself.""

Larry Johnson's role with Bengals depends on Cedric Benson

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November 19

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Although everyone continues to stress that everything is operating smoothly, it is looking more like Larry Johnson could be in the lineup for the Bengals Sunday in Oakland. Johnson practiced with the team for the first time Wednesday and did get a couple of snaps, but mostly tried to immerse himself in the playbook. Also on the field was Cedric Benson, but he did not practice as he continues to recover from a hip flexor injury. Thursday's practice will be key: If Benson is unable to go, it's almost certain he will miss the game since players who don't practice on Wednesday and Thursday usually do not play. That will give Johnson three practices and five days to prepare. "It's not easy for ..."

Bengals-Johnson union imminent?

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November 16

ESPN.com

"Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was en route to Cincinnati on Monday and, barring a last-minute breakdown, he expects to sign with the AFC North-leading Bengals, a source familiar with the negotiations told ESPN's Michael Smith. A deal, if consummated, is expected to be for the prorated league minimum. The Bengals, along with several other teams, first expressed interest in Johnson last week as depth behind Cedric Benson, who suffered a hip injury in Sunday's 18-12 victory at Pittsburgh."

Bengals running back Cedric Benson hopes to be ready for Oakland Raiders

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November 16

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Bengals running back Cedric Benson said after the game that he hopes to be ready for next Sunday's game at Oakland. Despite leaving in the second quarter, he was happy to see Bernard Scott have success. "I'm happy for him that he was able to get out there and play," Benson said. "You kind of hate to see it happen due to injury but he was able to go out there and do well." Bengals running back Cedric Benson said after the game that he hopes to be ready for next Sunday's game at Oakland. Despite leaving in the second quarter, he was happy to see Bernard Scott have success. "I'm happy for him that he was able to get out there and play," Benson said. "You kind of hate to see it happen due to ..."

Bengals' RB Benson out

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November 15

ESPN.com

"The major injuries continue to pile up between the Cincinnati Bengals and Steelers. The latest just announced in the third quarter is that Bengals tailback Cedric Benson will not return to the game. Benson injured his hip in the second quarter, and at the time his return was listed as "probable.""

Benson's play silences Ray Lewis

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November 9

Cincinnati Enquirer

"The man who is the face of the Baltimore Ravens defense was not impressed with Cedric Benson's Week 5 performance in which the running back gained 120 yards on 27 carries, chalking most of those yards up to a couple long runs. "You give up two big runs to somebody just because you didn't keep your leverage," veteran linebacker Ray Lewis said earlier this week. "Do you give credit to him? Hey, we'll see this week. ... You have to come do it again." Lewis was nowhere to be found in the Ravens locker room following a 17-7 Bengals win Sunday in which Benson did it again, rumbling for a second-straight 100-plus yard performance against a defense that has now given up just three such games in ..."

Benson basks in the moment

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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 ..."