Full Court Press

"While I don't think this is nearly as bad as a DUI"....

"This" being the fact that he was operating a boat apparently under the influence??? Are you kidding me? Either I'm reading your statement completely wrong or that is the most incredibly ignorant thing I've read in quite some time.

Ricky responds: Ok, maybe it is. But if you're driving drunk on a highway, that can affect a lot of people. I think Ced was just drinking on a boat, which I think I'd deem more acceptable than getting wasted at a bar and driving home. But maybe I'm wrong, so you guys decide. Is drinking on a boat worse than drinking and driving? I just thought that there probably weren't a lot of other boats around on the lake, where as if he were driving, there would be a lot of cars on the road.

I don't think he's a bust, yet. We'll see what kind of man he is or isn't.

Ricky responds: "Ok, maybe it is. But if you're driving drunk on a highway, that can affect a lot of people. I think Ced was just drinking on a boat, which I think I'd deem more acceptable than getting wasted at a bar and driving home. But maybe I'm wrong, so you guys decide. Is drinking on a boat worse than drinking and driving? I just thought that there probably wasn't a whole lot of other boats around on the lake, where as if he were driving, there would be a lot of cars on the road."

Lots of variables involved.

Just to toss a few of them out there: DUI car accidents can, and often do, involve multiple vehicles, along with innocent pedestrians, (who might also be drunk; but that's a subject for another argument).

Car crashes; depending on speed, and the objects that are impacted, usually leave your vehicle on solid ground, unless you drive into a river, a swimming pool, or wind up in a tree.

On the other hand ... multiple, chain reaction boating accidents are almost unheard of. This type of accident usually involves only two boats, or a boat and a swimmer, or a boat and a stationary object such as a break-water, or the shore; which almost never moves unless we're talking about oceans, and tides.

The downside of most DUI boating accidents if they are of a serious enough magnitude, is that they leave the captain, and sometimes the victims, drunk, AND under the water!

A bad place to be.

Being pulled out of a burning vehicle, or fished out from the bottom of a lake or river is a tough choice, and a call that I'd rather not make.

All in all, I agree with you that driving while boating results in far less casualties than vehicular DUI accidents.

But in the words of the immortal Captain Hazelwood, "I said, 'Rum and coke on the rocks.' ... not 'RUN THE BOAT ON THE ROCKS!!!!"

In conclusion, I do agree that cruising the open seas after having had "a few" is far less dangerous than running that blind curve, on a two lane interstate, while doing 115 MPH at 3:00 AM in the dark.

But nevertheless; beware of Davy Jones.

I admit...I'm a bit jaded after witnessing my share of drunk boaters over the years, especially on the chain where some think it's their God-given right to drink and operate a boat.

Adding the element of water/drowning is huge. I think there were over 10 people on his boat? One wrong turn and they are all in the water - probably none of them wearing life vests. Even if there were only a few boats out there, that's all it takes. If they did a safety inspection, it's a fair bet someone saw him getting too close or driving erratically. Thank God they got him before he hurt someone.

I don't know why they needed to pepper spray him.
It's not like he could break their tackle or hold anyway.

Sorry but this not being a car does not mean that it was not something stupid and illegal. Someone could have been killed including his other passengers. What makes this cross over into true idiot territory is that he had to make a scene and resist arrest. That was a huge mistake.
The Bears needed to trade or cut this loser anyway and now you have one more log for the fire Jerry.

Ricky responds: Oh, totally agree man. It was a very dumb move.

How come Briggs didnt just pick him up in his Lamborgini before the cops got there?

Hello! Hello! Is there anyone out there using their brain? You're discussing whether not boating while drunk in bad or dangerous? Get real! It's bad, dangerous and illegal. Benson, that piece of crap loser put everyone's life on that boat in danger. The bigger question is: Was boating drunk on Lake Travis part of his extensive Rehab Program to recover from the broken leg? Did the Team Doctors and Trainers decide to include Drink Boating in the program to get Benson ready for this season? Maybe Benson was doing it on his own to speed up his recovery. Maybe it's part of the tremendous self motivation that Benson has shown in Chicago the last three years.......not! You know, the fire, determination, work ethic, self sacrifice and never say die attitude that he brought with him from Texas.......not! I'm sure all those character traits are responsible for his great success on the field.......(What success?)...not! The story now is not that Benson is a piece of garbage, we all know that. The story will be if the worst GM(Angelo) and Head Coach(Lovie the loser) have the stones to cut him tomorrow(They don't and won't). What a joke this team has become under Angelo and Smith. Benson is just the poster child of what they stand for.

Ricky responds: Yes dude, it was very, very stupid. I don't think anyone disagrees with you.

The real real real story here would be if there was

ACTUALLY SOMEONE who was boating and NOT DRUNK!!!!

Unless your a professional fisherman or in the Navy!!

Truthfully, I think that having Benson around will be crucial for Forte's development. So he can see what NOT TO DO.

I liked Ced when there wasnt an alternative....but Now we have one, but cutting Benson just doesnt equate to good business sense.

Trade him...or Play him...but we cant have a repeat of Tank, where we lost a player in his prime and got NOTHING FOR IT.

The story that I heard 15 seconds before this one was that Matt Forte spent the whole night before reporting to rookie camp studying the playbook. Showed up the next day and impressed everyone with his knowledge. Remember when we first drafted the drunk, pepper-sprayed boater? He said he didn't need to learn the playbook because he had instinct. Obviously it all depends on your definition of instinct that would make a great running back. In Ced's case we learned quickly that he was inclined to hit the turf as soon as possible. I'll take the smart guy, thank you.

Lamborghinis can float? With the air bags maybe.

Speaking of Fantasy Draft....is that a go this year?

...Benson reportedly called out for his mom as police pepper sprayed him

doesn't that pretty much tell u all u need to know about ced?

Culzie, what do you think we could get in exchange for Benson? Practice squad place kicker? A couple pairs of cleats? He's not worth anything. Good business sense also means knowing when to cut your losses. We should bring in Shaun Alexander and Dominic Rhodes for workouts and see if either of them have anything left in the tank. If Matt Forte is as smart as I think he is, he won't pay any attention to Ced or anything he's done on the field, which is not much. Forte is the mark of a fresh start for this team. Cut Ced.

Hitman, I sense you are writing a little diddy about all of this..........

The captain of the "Exxon Valdez" was under the influence when he ran aground ripping the tanker open spilling how many barrels of oil into the water? Any other questions about operating a watercraft while drinking?

I don't think there's any question that Ced is now batting with two strikes against him (even though he's had more strikes than that). Now, he's on his final chance which will include his performance this year albeit sharing the load with Forte. He'd better watch himself even prior to the season.

For me, Benson never came across as having the "eye of the tiger" or anything of that realm in addition to his on-the-field inadequacies. He never seemed to say the quite the right thing or in quite the right way. He also never looked the part as I would examine his eyes. Now, he should have a decent-enough offensive line that we can more fairly judge him. Good riddance to yet another first-round bust if he doesn't perform this year!

why don't you wait til all the facts come out??? Right now, you are looking for ammunition,not facts, in an effort to sensationalize this story. I think the Bears have learned their lesson, if they cut him, then they will just have to pay his salary while he helps the Cowboys into the post season.

seriously Bculz? How is a second round undersized division 2 caliber player an alternative to an all-american? Does your magical pink hat tell you this is logic consistent with the likes of basic
intuition? Good day to you.

I read somewhere that the cops questioned him 6 times this year on the lake already... It looks like they were just harassing him and Cedric took the bait.

or was it Lovie and Angelo finding a way to kick him off the team?

Cutting Benson without seeing what Forte can do would be foolish. Also, I think he has been convicted in the media before all the facts are in. Ok - his character doesn't help his side of the story, however his story is so drastically different from the one the police gave, perhaps other memebers who were on the boat can testify to what happened.

If the city didn't already want his head on a platter, or if he was productive last season, would everyone have been so quick to jump all over him? I doubt it.

This is his make or break season. He did his best running when competing with Jones, and now with Forte in the mix, the Bears may have a good 1, 2 punch again. We'll have to wait and see.

Cutting him now when all the facts are not in makes no sense. Also, it took Tank how many arrests and gun charges/murders, before he was cut? Benson isn't going anywhere yet - nor should he.

Stuck...you dont do your homework Kid...I told you to read that article...

Forte' coulda gone to one of those elite/underachieving BIG TEN schools, but opted to go where he knew the coaches.,..

I have a question for you...how come NO ONE ever mentioned Mendenhal at all...all year long....and then...all of a sudden, he has one game and he is opting to go to draft...

he wont be S**t without JUICE taken the heat off him.

READ BEFORE YOU WRITE...YOULL SOUND LESS LIKE A CHEESHEAD!

Driving under the influence of alcohol is stupid whether in a car or a boat, and both are dangerous. I live on a small lake and gave up water-skiing with my kids on the Fourth of July because of the crazy boaters out there. I'm sure many were dangerous even without alcohol as a factor. Boating safety is not pushed as much as car-driving safety, and too few boaters know the accepted rules of water safety. Many do not have any idea and could not care less what the appropriate and safe boating procedures are. How many boats have air bags?

See, this is why black guys avoid the water.

Culz, Forte couldn't have gone to a big 10 school, he had only one scholarship offer and it was from Tulane. He also wasn't an nfl prospect until a coaching change happened his senior year. That enabled him to rush for over 2k last season. Oh and Medenhall was a top 50 recruit nationally, but had to sit behind a very good back in Pierre Thomas for two seasons, limiting his touches.

And Stuck, of all the wrong things you say I mean "An undersized..."

6'2, 225! The guy's a monster! Your statement was so inaccurate that I actually started laughing.

That's right, Rickey...kick em in the teeth... make em moils

Welcome to the bris, gentlemen

AP needs to bring along Forte...BensonGoByeBye June 1st

Forte was the best available RB when we drafted him, IMO...and Adrian Peterson is the only RB on the roster that can stay on the field for the entire play book...that's a good marriage

this incident is a good excuse to cut losses without admitting a mistake...that's a Halas Hall mantra

Ricky O. I have to agree, just got off the scale at LA fitness, and I am a nice crisp 6'2 225, and NO one calls me undersized!!

Keylan, you are an idiot(in a humorous way), and true at the same time. At least Ced couldn't get dragged down the street in the water. Of course, I wonder if he can swim....

This looks very questionable, bordering envy. Cops always want to seem in control, and since Benson is no small fry, this cop pepper sprayed him with no justification at all, from the reports I have seen in the news. Their only defense is he is so large. Now it's criminal to be large...come on. Don't think we should cut him, because he has only 1 year left, but I agree with Julie...bring in Alexander and Rhodes.

Tim sez: "The captain of the "Exxon Valdez" was under the influence when he ran aground ripping the tanker open spilling how many barrels of oil into the water? Any other questions about operating a watercraft while drinking?"

I believe I referenced the infamous Capt. Hazelwood in a previous post.

Oy Hitman, this is by far my favorite correction of all blog time. Bad enough we have to weed through your chazeray on a daily basis, but you don't know bupkis about a bris you little feygele. It's not moil, like boil. It's mohel. The mohel is the guy who cuts the shmekel of the little boytchik on his 8th day of life. Stick to the goyisha things you know like Santa Claus and the Easter bunny, both of which are fake.

Now where's my CutCed song already?

PVJB, PV1, Keith, Tim, Ricky, Roman, Hitman, Seedster, Bubba's Mom, Villano, Chucky. One more and we'll have our league.

Ricky, um - Roman said we could have a FCP Fantasy Football league this year (shut up, yes you did!) so could you help him out and set that up for us? I've been full court pressing for this for about a year, so you're our only hope.

Ricky,you have no actual facts, just some info from the schools program. At the very best, Forte is 5'11" and a buck 95. Oh , the naive web you weave. That is undersized. That is also why he went to a division 2 caliber school.
Bculz, the man who has yet to think before he says something-Mendenhall took the heat off of Juice, not the other way around. Also, your misuse of the word 'taken' has humored me to the point where i am once again, not offended by you. Sometimes, I wonder if your maiming of grammar and spelling is done on purpose.

Stuck, you should know by now that Culzie's spelling and grammatical errors are his feeble attempts at flirting with me.

Ricky...as someone who actually GOT A SCHOLARSHIP to college...

let me explain to you a few things..

You can be Recruited...and NOT BE OFFERED A SCHOLARSHIP.

I couldve gone to numerous schools, but I only had one make a formal offer, cause I had rejected the others by then or they got the hint. In this day and age, they dont just make open ended Scholarship Offers to MOST athletes..

and...why on earth would I think before I write??

that would cut down on my WPM typed...which easily would smoke 99% of you!

Yeah Julie, I'll set up a league this in August or something. Is Yahoo cool with everyone again or should we do something else?

Stuck,

"Ricky,you have no actual facts, just some info from the schools program. At the very best, Forte is 5'11" and a buck 95."

Hopefully this is an unsuccessful attempt at humor...

CBSsportsline is good!Yahoo is so chincy, it doesnt keep live game stats.

what about ESPN's?

I'm partial to CBS also. Lots of good features including live scoring, which is key to the survival of any great fantasy footballer.

Bculz, the 'entire.SPORTS.programming.network' that can't seem to fill there slots with anything but a hefty dose of the 2004 World Series of Poker when ATH isn't on, would like you to know that their 'fantasy poker league' has just begun. I guess that will be updated frequently. Does that count? ...sigh... Who to draft? Who to draft?

stuck..i may be a bad speller with a wicked vocabulary, but i do know that I would whoop yours alls butts in Texas Hold Em'

Dont even go there ;)

yahoo is fine, Rickey...

Nobody cares about Cedric Benson...I mean..nobody whose ever carried a football

shoot..I knew my response didn't get clicked and stuff...shame...it had hebrews, hawking, moils (as in foil...worse than a paper cut)....and a freaking Ced song

I circumcised my circumcision song....hmmm..the bright side, tho..... here's hopin it ends up in your next plastic surgery

RexandCed blow

The only thing worse than poetry (including and actually especially spoken word) is BAD POETRY!

but..here is some more of it....just cause its SUNDAY and there is no football on.

==

Hitman needs some schooling on how to both ryme and reason'
As we all are not Looking forward to his bitch'n all season.
When it comes to running footballs, we know that he is only teasin'
Cause his lazy A** cant run to the Fridge and back without wheezin'

~COOLER