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Cedric Benson, Bears never a good fit
Bears cut ties with running back who never fit in from the get-go
David Haugh On the Bears
June 10, 2008
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Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Fark Google Newsvine Reddit Yahoo Print Reprints Post comment Text size: 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.
Benson was bugged that Jerry Angelo decided to draft him despite Benson's representatives making clear in a last-minute phone call that they and the Bears weren't on the same page regarding fundamental contract demands.
Benson was so filled with fury and frustration over the contentious contract battle he knew awaited him, one that eventually led to a 36-day holdout, that he couldn't fight back the tears rolling down his cheek.
A source familiar with that story used it to demonstrate the unfailingly uneasy relationship between Benson and the Bears, one that ended Monday when the team placed the running back on waivers two days after an alcohol-related arrest in Austin, Texas.
It's a telling account that reveals something about Benson that the Bears never had a chance of overcoming: From Day 1 as an NFL player, Cedric Benson was always about Cedric Benson. And always would be.
From holding out to leaving the sidelines early during a game to pouting over playing behind Thomas Jones to partying at 2 a.m. in a city where his bull's-eye is even bigger than it is in Chicago, Benson put himself ahead of the team.
That attitude might not make Benson unique in the NFL or even on the Bears. But it contributed as much as anything to Benson becoming an ex-Bear.
"When individual priorities overshadow team goals, we suffer the consequences as a team," Angelo said in a statement. "Those who fail to understand the importance of 'team' will not play for the Chicago Bears."
Criticize Angelo for whiffing on the 2005 draft class that featured Benson and second-round pick Mark Bradley, but not for the way he handled this. Angelo didn't do this to Benson. Benson did it to himself.
He just never committed himself to being the type of player fourth overall draft picks are supposed to be. Commitment requires passion, and Benson never displayed enough as a pro after finally agreeing to a five-year, $35 million contract that included a $16 million signing bonus. He took the money but couldn't run.
Forget any explanations offered by Benson's growing team of lawyersâ€â€if he piled up yards as he has billable hours this would be a different discussionâ€â€regarding his latest arrest. It doesn't matter if videotape shows Benson to be sober or if audiotape recorded Benson offering to take a blood test, as lawyer Sam Bassett suggested.
The decision to waive Benson had more to do with how little judgment he showed rather than how much alcohol he consumed. He was out at 2 a.m. driving recklessly enough to nearly hit a pedestrian, according to police, when any conscientious pro athlete with one arrest already pending would be home or in the back of a cab.
Benson apologized in a statement Monday that was too late and carried the feel of something written by a handler with experience in similar situations, probably because it was. Sunday night Benson renewed acquaintances with noted sports attorney David Cornwellâ€â€the two worked together when Benson was a minor-league baseball prospect with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"I realize that the public and the Bears organization hold me to a higher standard," part of Benson's statement read.
Funny that he didn't come to that realization until hiring Cornwell, whose past client list includes Reggie Bush and Ricky Williams.
Cornwell and Benson's agent, Eugene Parker, now have the task of finding employment for a running back coming off ankle surgery, two alcohol-related arrests and enough baggage to need a valet. Somebody will sign Benson, whether it's the familiar Houston Texans or the halfway home for troubled millionaires known as the Dallas Cowboys. First-round draft picks always get second, and sometimes third chances in the NFL.
He simply ran out of chances in Chicago, and the Bears ran out of patience.
They will miss him like a migraine headache. Even before the arrests, Benson was no lock to make the roster. His failure forced the team to draft another running back, Matt Forte, in the second round to replace him. Adrian Peterson can provide a serviceable effort as Forte's backup. Garrett Wolfe needs to progress.
If the Bears find a suitable veteran off an NFL scrap heap and want to take a look, great. If not, it's not like a backup running back is going to make a difference between 7-9 and 5-11.
In the end, that's all Benson was: a backup running back. He wasn't built like one or paid like one, but he ran like one.
That makes him arguably the biggest draft bust in Bears history, a Texas-sized miscalculation bigger than any other the franchise has made.
Cade McNown and Curtis Enis make that an interesting argument. Rashaan Salaam will get dishonorable mention in that discussion too.
But none of them promised more and delivered less than Benson, the guy who as a rookie bragged he would be good enough to beat out Thomas Jones by Week 2.
That was just big talk, like so much else about Benson since his first day as a Bear.
Turns out the myths from Texas come bigger too.
He had it coming. What's worse is that they will have to manufacture another RB from the scrapheap and not give a deserving RB a chance much less a white one.
...Where is Brock Forsey? He would be perfect in helping out the Bears backfield.
Cedric Benson, Bears never a good fit
Bears cut ties with running back who never fit in from the get-go
David Haugh On the Bears
June 10, 2008
Article tools
E-mail Share
Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Fark Google Newsvine Reddit Yahoo Print Reprints Post comment Text size: 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.
Benson was bugged that Jerry Angelo decided to draft him despite Benson's representatives making clear in a last-minute phone call that they and the Bears weren't on the same page regarding fundamental contract demands.
Benson was so filled with fury and frustration over the contentious contract battle he knew awaited him, one that eventually led to a 36-day holdout, that he couldn't fight back the tears rolling down his cheek.
A source familiar with that story used it to demonstrate the unfailingly uneasy relationship between Benson and the Bears, one that ended Monday when the team placed the running back on waivers two days after an alcohol-related arrest in Austin, Texas.
It's a telling account that reveals something about Benson that the Bears never had a chance of overcoming: From Day 1 as an NFL player, Cedric Benson was always about Cedric Benson. And always would be.
From holding out to leaving the sidelines early during a game to pouting over playing behind Thomas Jones to partying at 2 a.m. in a city where his bull's-eye is even bigger than it is in Chicago, Benson put himself ahead of the team.
That attitude might not make Benson unique in the NFL or even on the Bears. But it contributed as much as anything to Benson becoming an ex-Bear.
"When individual priorities overshadow team goals, we suffer the consequences as a team," Angelo said in a statement. "Those who fail to understand the importance of 'team' will not play for the Chicago Bears."
Criticize Angelo for whiffing on the 2005 draft class that featured Benson and second-round pick Mark Bradley, but not for the way he handled this. Angelo didn't do this to Benson. Benson did it to himself.
He just never committed himself to being the type of player fourth overall draft picks are supposed to be. Commitment requires passion, and Benson never displayed enough as a pro after finally agreeing to a five-year, $35 million contract that included a $16 million signing bonus. He took the money but couldn't run.
Forget any explanations offered by Benson's growing team of lawyersâ€â€if he piled up yards as he has billable hours this would be a different discussionâ€â€regarding his latest arrest. It doesn't matter if videotape shows Benson to be sober or if audiotape recorded Benson offering to take a blood test, as lawyer Sam Bassett suggested.
The decision to waive Benson had more to do with how little judgment he showed rather than how much alcohol he consumed. He was out at 2 a.m. driving recklessly enough to nearly hit a pedestrian, according to police, when any conscientious pro athlete with one arrest already pending would be home or in the back of a cab.
Benson apologized in a statement Monday that was too late and carried the feel of something written by a handler with experience in similar situations, probably because it was. Sunday night Benson renewed acquaintances with noted sports attorney David Cornwellâ€â€the two worked together when Benson was a minor-league baseball prospect with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"I realize that the public and the Bears organization hold me to a higher standard," part of Benson's statement read.
Funny that he didn't come to that realization until hiring Cornwell, whose past client list includes Reggie Bush and Ricky Williams.
Cornwell and Benson's agent, Eugene Parker, now have the task of finding employment for a running back coming off ankle surgery, two alcohol-related arrests and enough baggage to need a valet. Somebody will sign Benson, whether it's the familiar Houston Texans or the halfway home for troubled millionaires known as the Dallas Cowboys. First-round draft picks always get second, and sometimes third chances in the NFL.
He simply ran out of chances in Chicago, and the Bears ran out of patience.
They will miss him like a migraine headache. Even before the arrests, Benson was no lock to make the roster. His failure forced the team to draft another running back, Matt Forte, in the second round to replace him. Adrian Peterson can provide a serviceable effort as Forte's backup. Garrett Wolfe needs to progress.
If the Bears find a suitable veteran off an NFL scrap heap and want to take a look, great. If not, it's not like a backup running back is going to make a difference between 7-9 and 5-11.
In the end, that's all Benson was: a backup running back. He wasn't built like one or paid like one, but he ran like one.
That makes him arguably the biggest draft bust in Bears history, a Texas-sized miscalculation bigger than any other the franchise has made.
Cade McNown and Curtis Enis make that an interesting argument. Rashaan Salaam will get dishonorable mention in that discussion too.
But none of them promised more and delivered less than Benson, the guy who as a rookie bragged he would be good enough to beat out Thomas Jones by Week 2.
That was just big talk, like so much else about Benson since his first day as a Bear.
Turns out the myths from Texas come bigger too.
He had it coming. What's worse is that they will have to manufacture another RB from the scrapheap and not give a deserving RB a chance much less a white one.
