Cutting Benson now makes no sense

No they shouldn't release him because he was drunk boating, that actually shows some personality on his part. He should be canned because he sucks. He did not live up to his 4th round pick potential at all. Maybe Forte needs a little drunk boating R&R to wake up and smell the coffee and get someone in there. Boating,drinking, pepper spray, and fighting with the cops is all real fun we, have all done it right, but your correct Roman all that has nothing to do with the fact that he has never performed as a running back; that is why he should be gone. I won't miss him when he is.

Slight correction: I meant to say 4th overall pick not 4th round pick, although I guess he is living up to a 4th round pick. Sorry Ced

Agreed!

Benson is not even half the player that Tank Johnson was.
Johnson was an idiot but he actually produced on the field. Benson has never done that and probably never will.

You don't have to cut him because he thinks that he is Capt. Jack Sparrow. Cut him because he is a total bust as a football player.
I would rather see them pick up someone like Dominic Rhodes then to waste a roster spot on this guy for another year.

Again...cut Benson June 1st

I knew Benson didn't have what it took his Junior year...but hey..if this is the excuse Jerry can use to cover up how retarded he has been with Ced...fine

AP is the back to compliment Forte anyway...I can't think of a guy on the roster more qualified to bring the new kid along ...we can also use the entire play book with AP...duh

and the Indy game will take care of Rex....that's gonna be funny

Dwight Freeney on Chris Williams...no need for laugh tracks on that one, either

Otah, Nicks, Mendenhall, and Zbikowski should all be Bears....

Bears 2008 draft....The Generics

i say now that he gets one more chance just like grossman well get one more chance and now that ther might be a chance we have a better line with the drafting of williams lets just see now if we only had someone to catch the ball so either way if they dont produce this year next year theyll both be gone

football is a team game where the sum of the parts is supposed to be greater than the individual values of players....chemistry and trust are the 2 most important things to have on a team and it was missing last year ALL THE WAY AROUND from the o-line to the running and passing games to the cohesion on the defensive front...having a few new fresh faces in coupled with a defense that hopefully returns and stays healthy can possibly give them the positive energy that is needed....whether or not Benson is a bust or not, will be indicative of his performance this year...he has shown to be a slow starter but picked it up a little last year B4 being injured, just like in 2006 as well...the jury should still be out yet just like in his boating case....

With Jerry Angelo preaching "high character" players, this is a perfect opportunity to make an example and rid themselves of a complete bust. If the Bears allow him to get away with this, they'll tell all these rookies that this behavior is tolerated. Angelo selfishly looked to other way on Tank because we were in the middle fo a Super Bowl run that he desperately wanted to win. If Tank had pulled what he did in the off season, he'd have been cut immediately.

Cut Benson, pick up Rhodes. Perhaps investigate an unused back in Cincinnati named Rudi Johnson, see what it would take to get him. Anything, at this point, is an upgrade.

I agree with you Roman.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/932287,benson050508w.article

He was cocky and insulting...hhhhmmm....sounds like the normal police attitude towards the citizens in
my community they are supposed to interact and facilitate reasonable services while doing their job, without pre-judging.

I am going to reserve my opinion as for now, but viewing the picture on the front page of the Sun-Times, it seems Mr. Benson
was roughed up regardless of what the police thought his actions were towards them. I am just glad he was not shot!

I did say I would reserve an opinion, didn't I?

By the way Mr. Modrowski, you may not want to mentioned it or hope it just sails by, but for the life of me I will not comprehend the double standard in animals being used unjustly for human pleasure.

A horse broke their front two ankles this weekend and had to be destroyed. It was so horrendous that it could not be done in the stables but right there on the race track in front of a bunch of GREEDY AZZ FOLKS, who know there are possiblities this can happen and feign horror when it does! Noticed there were no instant-replays, but we can show replay upon replay to infinity about human fraility which sometimes make bad judgements, but for those who control the media made sure don't mess with the status quo hobbies - because they can't be seen in a bad light I presume.

The majority of these individuals probably stick their noses in the air over dog-fighting, cock-fighting or any other form of human beings creating tension between animals which noramlly would not harm anyone unless invading on THEIR personal space to protect their young. Who the freak goes deer-hunting with a high-powered rifle sitting in a blind an ambushes a docile creature such as this?

Just needed to get that off my chest! Thank you

(ps) I bet 25 to 1 ninety percent of them will be right back at the race track this weekend!!

Roman sez: "There is no way the Bears should cut Cedric Benson right now."

Correct; ... that time has long since past.

He's the one who should have been traded to the Jets instead of Thomas Jones, for whom we got virtually nothing.

At the time of that trade Benson was still a second year, first round pick, (NUMBER 6!!!) with a certain degree of marketability.

Now he's virtually worthless, and this is damning evidence of Angelo's ineptitude when it comes to assessing talent and value.

He's obviously more concerned with developing his own personal legacy based upon his ill advised draft choices eventually succeeding, than he is with helping the team after it's been proven that his selections were far less than advertised.

Too bad Angelo wasn't partying on that boat along with his prodigal son. (S.O.B.?)

Jerry's the one who should have been pepper sprayed, and forced to walk the plank.

Or perhaps they should have keel hauled him.

First of all, who has gone boating before? For those of you that have, you will know what I am talking about, everyone, and I mean everyone that is out boating around on a sunny day is drinking, if they aren't, then they should be arrested. Benson did nothing wrong in my view. In terms of his stats so far, we could have LT and he wouldn't do any better with that bush league offensive line we put out there, which also caused problems for our passing attack, which again would just compound the running problems. Also, did anyone look at the police report, he was polite and cooperative, but also used profanity and was combative, which was he? People get drunk all the time, probably like the majority of you that go to the games and boo. Anyone that has a problem with someone going out on a boat in the sun and having some beers, and say he should be cut b/c of character problems is a joke, and should stop talking about the Bears.

Roman,
couldn't the Bears cut Benson and demand some of his signing bonus back for conduct detrimental to the team? Getting arrested boating is one thing, but fighting the cops - if the police push that charge - is quite another.

Also, won't Goodell jump on Benson the way he jumped on Tank? Chicago will be very rapidly getting the rep of a thug organization if Benson gets suspended too.

If the Bears cut Benson for violating terms of his contract would they still take a salary cap hit? I don't understand why he would count against the cap if he gets cut for misconduct. If you can, please explain this in the future, I'd like to understand how this shapes up.

Either way, there is something very wrong with our GM and coaching staff. We have way too many problems off the field, and too many people under contract who want more money without more performance...

give him another chance he is telling the truth

A Real Bears Fan / An Intelligent Fan said a bunch of stuff.

I'll address your comments one at a time:

"First of all, who has gone boating before? For those of you that have, you will know what I am talking about, everyone, and I mean everyone that is out boating around on a sunny day is drinking, if they aren't, then they should be arrested."
___________________________________________________

Agreed ... but to a certain extent.

Most casual boating does involve adult beverages, and I'll be the first to admit that I've been in such boats, under less than legal circumstances.

But trolling along for crappies in an uncrowded lake isn't quite the same thing as letting out the throttle on a pair of 300 HP Mercury outboards. Paddling a canoe or a row boat under the influence isn't nearly as dangerous as skimming the water at 80 MPH in a three ton vessel, so let's not mix apples and oranges here.
______________________________

"Benson did nothing wrong in my view. In terms of his stats so far, we could have LT and he wouldn't do any better with that bush league offensive line we put out there, which also caused problems for our passing attack, which again would just compound the running problems."
_______________________________

Thomas didn't seem to have any problems running behind that line while also making catches out of the backfield. If memory serves me correctly, he had a couple of 1,000 plus yard seasons, while splitting time with good old Pick Six, and his multi-million dollar signing bonus, which prior to receiving, he held out of pre-season activities.

Refresh my memory as to how many 1,000 yard seasons Cedric has had? While you're at it ... let me know if he's been able to complete even one 16 game season since he was anointed to his position as opposed to having had to earn it.
______________________________________

"Also, did anyone look at the police report, he was polite and cooperative, but also used profanity and was combative, which was he? People get drunk all the time, probably like the majority of you that go to the games and boo. Anyone that has a problem with someone going out on a boat in the sun and having some beers, and say he should be cut b/c of character problems is a joke, and should stop talking about the Bears."
_________________________________________

Did anyone see the totally s#*t faced look on his mug shot? Sometimes a picture is indeed worth a thousand words, or at least a performance bonus.

I'd address the character issue, but since he's more than proven himself to be a selfish, brooding, and unmotivated character, I see no need to further elaborate on that subject.

Cedric's the joke; and it's the truly intelligent Bears fans who realize that the joke is on them.

Lauch that f*cking canadian directly. Send him back to his home planet! He is not suited to the gravity on earth

He should be banned from all professional sports and made to do community work picking up garbage for two years. We have to start setting examples. Now's the time before he kills someone.

His attitude speaks volumes as to how much he cares for his fellow human beings and the Bears.

Suspend him for an additional game to what the league sees fit. 1/8 of his salary is a lot of lost gas money. I keep rooting for him, but it gets tougher all the time. Would love for him to get it together and run for 1500 yards. Yeah, I'm a dreamer. Good luck to my Bears on this one.

Maybe if we purged the league of everyone with the "gangsta" attitude, we'd not see these stories any more. I wonder how many times the words "do you know who I am?" came out of his mouth??

Put morality clauses with some teeth in them in their contracts. How about "any action, at any time, whether on of off the field of play that beings disrepute, shame or negative publicity upon the club, the city, or the league shall be just case for termination of this contract without any further compensation." Seems to me if I were being paid what he is being paid to be a mediocre player (and that's being generous) that I could find 1,000 ways to keep my head down, avoid the problems and keep to myself. It's a sad statement on society when these are the kind of people who are role models to youth...but when some poor kid sees someone being paid seven figures to to a C-plus job for his employer, it's no wonder that so many kids errantly look up to these thugs. When teachers, cops and secretaries take a year to pull down what these half-wits earn in a weekend, I wonder what those kids will aspire to be?

By the way, anyone know that Mr. Benson's GPA was in college, or what his "degree" was in? Time for everyone to stop making excuses for "athletes".

Why don't you guys realize Benson's not going anywhere? He's got money to make these charges go away and the team has already invested too much money in him to cut or trade him.

Horse racing is a noble sport. The trainers and most of the owners love their animals. If it weren't for horse racing, thousands upon thousands of horses would never even be born.

Thoroughbred horses live a grand life. Plenty of food. A warm place to sleep. Good exercise. (They love to run) And the best medical care of any veterinary sector. How good a life is it to have a good career for a few years and the go out to stud for the rest of your life?

Rock Star!

Agree that cutting him is bad idea. How can anyone be outraged over this? Its the off season, the guy is boating and oh my god he had a drink. Hello, has anyone in Chicago ever been on a lake in wisconsin before? What a bunch of hypocrites. Think that tv reporter should have been fired for snowmobiling after drinking, if he hadn't died? No, that was a tragedy for some reason, oh yeah he was well liked (white). And Benson is not well liked (not white), plus he may be another wasted draft pick. Where is the outrage for angelo drafting these guys? Didn't he just draft a couple more problem players, and say they're not bad people they just did stupid things???

Well, maybe, just maybe, eventually people will realize who the person is who is doing the really stupid things like wasting draft picks and bringing these characters to the chicago bears.

Benson doesn't come across as a lier. He's honest to a fault at times when speaking his mind. I believe his account of the incident.

As far as Benson being a bust, no one, not even Walter Payton, could have been productive with that terrible offensive line the Bears had last year. Teams knew that if they'd focus on stopping the Bears' running game, they would beat the Bears because their passing game was so ineffective. The Bears' defense was also porous, especially against the run. The coaching staff was also out-coached in most games. Everyone on last year's team from Angelo on down, should take blame for the team's failure. I wonder what a healthy Benson can do with a decent O-line!

LET'S FIND OUT THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE
TRUTH BEFORE WE THROW THE GUY UNDER THE BUS!
THE BEARS HAVE ALSO SIGNED ANOTHER RUNNING BACK, AFTER THE MINI
CAMP THIS PAST WEEKEND, THE DRAFTING OF FORTE WAS AN EXCELLENT
SELECTION, WE DON'T KNOW IF CED BENSON CAN EVEN RUN AFTER
BREAKING HIS LEG LAST SEASON, THE BEARS ORGANIZATION MUST MOVE
FORWARD, IF THEY MOVED FORWARD AFTER GAYLE SAYERS WAS INJURED
YOU KNOW THEY WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH BENSON!
BENSON HAS TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE COMMISSIONER IS GOING TO DO!

Roman-

Drinking buddies with Benson? Why else would you made such a dumb ass comment saying "who doesn't believe that the cops down there were over zealous?" If over zealous means doing their job, then yeah count me in.

And saying "he is not aggressive on the field therefore he couldn't be aggressive when he had been drinking"? Come on now! When was the last time he sipped alchohol in the locker room during a game?

And perhaps if you had a family member killed by a drunk boater or while driving a boat drunk, you would be so flippant (or just stupid): "And how can you give Tank Johnson all those chances, including jail time, and cut Benson over a boating-while-intoxicated charge?"

Did you ever stop to think that the Bears are tired of babysitting players and are tired of giving guys second and third and fourth chances like Tank Johnson? Just because of his play they need no further reason!

Maybe it's just me, but if I am about to lose my job, I am doing whatever it takes to make sure that doesn't happen-- like spending time on Lake Forest instead!

Roman you should actually read your blog before you post it so you don't sound like a complete-- drinking buddy to Benson!

Tom, violation of what terms??? When did he fight the cops??? Was he found guilty of any crime??? Looks like all misdemeanor charges to me, Striking an officer is not a misdemeanor, and his court date isn't until later. How do you convict someone before the courts do?

An arrest is just that, it's not a conviction. As far as your other comments, the same can be said for all 32 teams.

Tell you what, if that sun-times article is anything similar to the official police report, they will have a hard time convicting him, that all sounds like the officer's opoinion, you don't get conviction on officer's opinions, just jury opinions.

In my utopian fantasy world, he gets burned so badly by Matt Forte in training camp that it won't even be an argument who's #1 in September. Nice mug shot too. What happened to his eyes? Bad combo of Pabst Blue Ribbon and pepper spray I guess.

Let the facts come out before passing judgement. If you cut the guy and then have a star player that Chicago loves (Briggs) do something similar, then you get the backlash (Pittsburgh) for being two faced.

If you read that Benson wrecked his boat, then reported it stolen and then showed up later at his home to say it was not stolen (mind you, after a night out on the town hitting all the big clubs), would you all be screaming to cut him now? I don't think so. So, since Jerry gave Lance time to tell the truth and let the facts (as grimm as they were) come out, he should allow Mr. Benson the same rights. Nobody reading this can truely believe Briggs was sober that night, so, if Benson is arrested and if the BAC does not indicate an illegal level, then we need to keep him on the roster.

Don't get me wrong, we can still cut him June 1 or as soon as Forte signs a contract, but cutting him now would be horrible PR for the Bears that are in need of some good PR with Urlacher demanding more money.

Let the facts come out before passing judgement. If you cut the guy and then have a star player that Chicago loves (Briggs) do something similar, then you get the backlash (Pittsburgh) for being two faced.

If you read that Benson wrecked his boat, then reported it stolen and then showed up later at his home to say it was not stolen (mind you, after a night out on the town hitting all the big clubs), would you all be screaming to cut him now? I don't think so. So, since Jerry gave Lance time to tell the truth and let the facts (as grimm as they were) come out, he should allow Mr. Benson the same rights. Nobody reading this can truely believe Briggs was sober that night, so, if Benson is arrested and if the BAC does not indicate an illegal level, then we need to keep him on the roster.

Don't get me wrong, we can still cut him June 1 or as soon as Forte signs a contract, but cutting him now would be horrible PR for the Bears that are in need of some good PR with Urlacher demanding more money.

THis was covered already in Ricky's post. I don't see a real reason for two of the same topics. Unless, you two are having some kind of turf war. Although I must say, yours does not appear to jump the gun like your interns did.

Please stop making excuses for Benson's lack of production in a Bears uniform. He was running behind the same O line as Thomas Jones in 2006 and he showed nothing while Jones racked up over 1,300 yards. When you go down that easy from a one on one tackle then it is you.

I also saw Walter Payton before he had a single pro bowl linemen in front of him and he dominated games so please get off of this idea that he could not have been productive with this current O line.
Yes the line looked bad but having a collection of 2nd and 3rd string QBs combined with a slow and heartless RB would make anyone line look bad.
Benson can not catch, can not block, can not stay healthy and runs like he is dragging a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado tied to his ankle.

He is not a good football player and he was been given every opportunity to become one.

Benson should be allowed to stay with the Bears. Sometimes police are overzealous in making an arrest. But he has to prove to the Bears and his teammates that he wants to contribute. Aside from this incident, he did show flashes of what he could be on the field behind a good offensive line. Give him a chance to prove himself. Forte and Benson would be a good one-two punch. They would wear down a good defence. Cedric start with getting a haircut and show your teammates that you really want to be part of this team.

Hey Buncha BS...your logic is flawed..because you left out one huge factor...

THE HORSES ARENT FIGHTING EACH OTHER!

DUH

I agree, that we shouldnt have to euthinize them, but most Racing Horses get treated and live better than Most people.

Your Racist BS Logic is way off Homie!!!

Stop just hating rich white people, you will feel much better and probably get out of the Hell Hole you live in.

You could be so lucky to live like a derby race horse!!

Roman..did you really let someone get away with calling Benson a Canadian?

Dude...your slippin'

THis was covered already in Ricky's post. I don't see a real reason for two of the same topics. Unless, you two are having some kind of turf war. Although I must say, yours does not appear to jump the gun like your interns did.

Posted by: stuckinwisconsin | May 6, 2008 08:23 AM

HILARIOUS!

Hes even sucking in the off season. At least Tank did his job on the field. Angelo needs to use the words of a Movie Director and yell....."CUT"!

bculz, you must clean stables for a living considering how you toss out fecal-induced comments readily with very little analytic thought behind each. You are the type my grandparents called a DAMN FOOL!

**************
your logic is flawed..because you left out one huge factor...

THE HORSES ARENT FIGHTING EACH OTHER!

DUH
***************

No clown your logic is flawed! When races-horses leave the gate(banging up against iron cages) and when released they jockey(FIGHT FOR POSITION) along the railing of the race-track. So don't try to excoriate me with your inanity horses DO NOT fight!

I am happy being who I am, though trials and tribulations come upon me daily, I don't think of being a horse, maybe those are your desires. By the way "Thank You" for the knuckle-dragging comment of labeling me a RACIST! I will allow you to wallow in your muck and mir of your OWN hatred regardless of your imbelcilic views. Your small words remind me of a little man who has consistently posted irrational opinions because no one close to you or of sound mind engages in discourse outside of Roman's blog!

Have a Blessed Day!

i am too busy to respond to day...we just got the president of a major oil company as a client. its raining all cash buyers here.

thouroughbread horses banging out of the starting gate in 1 race a year = visuouc dogs being bread to maul each other in cardboard box cages?

what planet are you on FOOLIO?

MArlon sez: "Why don't you guys realize Benson's not going anywhere? He's got money to make these charges go away and the team has already invested too much money in him to cut or trade him."

Wrong.

He's nearing the end of his contract ... his up fron money has already been pretty much pro-rated against the cap space that he is currently wasting; and his salary for the remainder of his contract isn't all that much.

He's a cheap date right now.

They could cut him in a heartbeat, and not suffer at all.

The suffering is already over with, and he's now in their rear view mirror.

Trade him?

For what? A bag of stale peanuts, and a 10 gallon jug of Gatorade?

benson may have been belligerent lets look at the situation this way. say you're a young millionaire on a boat having a good time with a lot of people and some toy cop comes to harass you. sorry but any office that patrols parks, rivers and lakes are view with less esteem. think about it from his perspective, he's getting humiliated in front of his friends. i'm sure that was a blow to his ego (and yes he has one look at his behavior at texas and about sharing the load with thomas jones). you know he wasn't going to let that happen, so what does he do? he shows out a bit to save a little face. the office was probably on a power trip at this point, i'm sorry but the police love it, and got a little frightened. he pepper sprayed him to gain control of the situation which basically means he was scared. and no cop and especially the ones with a chip on there shoulder, like park and lake police, was going to be scared by some guy, so they roughed him up a bit to feel better about the situation.

you may think all of that was a load of crap. i'm serious a lot of the park and river police are the same guy who were picked when they were young and just love taking out there crap on others. if they could cut it to be real cops they would have. ultimately i think both are a little to blame.

I really don't care what the bears do with benson.
if they cut him great, we get to see what forte is about
if they keep him thats cool because maybe just maybe he'll have a great year and increase his trading value.

People please cut that crap bringing gansta up like that made sense. Benson isn't even close to being a gansta. That's just a thin excuse for worse words. Athletes from all types of sports and from all walks of life get drunk, drive drunk and beat their wives. Ganstas aren't the only ones and I hate how people are so quick to throw a net over every incident and call these players gangstas. Having the cop come out and saying that Benson was muscle bound and could easily have overpowered him opens up the rationale that that was maybe the main reason he was subdued after being cocky. Benson even stated that he was tired of it happening to him all the time so if he was anything but docile I can understand that. You do get fed up being harrassed for he various reasons that people get harrassed. It was a minor offense because his bail was so low. And for every guy that says that he couldn't get away with his job keeping him after an arrest is being silly. If you got arrested and didn't miss work no one would know. It wouldn't be plastered on page 3. The only way that anyone would know was if you told someone. I don't drink and it isn't my place to criticize anyone just because I don't. So anyone doing more than just drinking should make it easier for me to criticize. Personally I think that drunk drivers should get some kind of harsh penalty because you know that your judgment would be impaired if you drove. But because most law makers drink and sometimes drive they won't throw the book at those who do. Cutting Benson should be something that is based on the severity of the crime. If you want to save face becaue he isn't as good as you expected by all means do that. Who out there is mad that Mendenhall was robbed while relaxing on the beach front of our fair city? Why wish that a guy can play here if the city is full of criminals preying on innocents. Save the uproar on something the matters. Now the guys that robbed him; those are the ganstas.

Sorry, but - if - the police insist that Benson fought with their officers to the point where he had to be pepper-sprayed and subdued, I have to believe them. Unless he can make the charges go away - in which case I'll believe him - then this incident reflects poorly on the team.

I don't understand why so many people seem willing to believe the police fabricated all of this. It seems like a lot of effort to go to undermine the reputation of a simple football player. At least none of you defending him have accused the police of being Packers fans trying to damage the Bears by going after him - now THAT would be silly.

Im with you Willy..

Here is what real Gansta's do to a city...(which by the way is lead by Dems).

Gang Wars Escalating; Youthful Assassins
Chicago, IL, April 7 -- As a court battle over "warrant-less" searches continues in Chicago Federal District Court, the real battle rages in the high-rise Public Housing Projects on South State and Federal Streets. Chicago is well known for it's reputation as the home of "gangsters", but, the "gangsters" of the 90's are not members of the Italian mafia nor bootleggers of Canadian whiskey. Today's Chicago "gangsters" are the purveyors of drugs, prostitution, guns, and "murder for hire".
Chicago broke an all-time record for murders during the month of March, and police think that many of these killings can be attributed to gang warfare.

According to police sources, the total number of murders in Chicago last month was eighty-eight (88). This contributes to an overall total number of homicides for the year, which stands at two-hundred and twenty-one (221). Police say that if the murders continue at the present rate that Chicago could easily set a new annual record for the number of Chicagoans killed in a single year.

I don't understand why so many people seem willing to believe the police fabricated all of this.

Posted by: Tom | May 6, 2008 11:47 PM

Tom, have you noticed the plethora of Black men being released from jail and / death row lately for crimes they did not commit using DNA testing. Maybe you and some others who post here would not have an askewed perspective if the dominant ethnic group was having this happening to them instead of the allegeded minority group.

Go back and look at yesterday's Sun-Times front page photo of Mr. Cedric Benson. He plays pro football and his face does not look like that after a game helmet or not! We may speak ill of his commitment to the game. But I would not like to see anyone JACKED UP the way his face displayed sadness. Majority probably saw the MSM dangerous Black Man, instead of a man abused by the police.

Of course Mr. Benson is muscular - he is an athlete - and this cocky part I have never understood from this society in the first place. A White male acts cocky he is simply displaying his self-assurance about himself. He is Mr. Confident! But a Black male acts cocky and he is a menace, animal, dangerous threat to society!

The slightest move a Black male makes and he is man-handled as someome list on the 10-Most-Wanted-List! ( I DO NOT CARE FOR HOW HE WAS MAN-HANDLED OVER SUCH A MINOR ISSUE!! )

Just as everyone else who has stated a reasonable opinion about Cedric Benson's play with the Bears I concur. (But don't hand me this crap he is supposed to be peppered sprayed because of one's own internal fears)

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/FactSheet.pdf

only 127 DP cases have been over turned, majority of those on Death Penalty are White, Majority of those who the crimes were committed against, were white.

most DPs are in Texas, only 12 in Illinois

Dude...way more blacks are killing blacks than the Government!!!

Roman responds; Brian, that's as stupid a statement as I've ever seen on this blog. First of all, ONLY?!?!?!?!? 127 cases have been overturned. I bet if it was someone you loved who spent years in jail thinking he would be put to death for something he didn't do you wouldn't be so cavalier about it. This post makes me sick.

Benson's just lucky he wasnt boating in Philly!?!?!?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24501876#24501876

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24496991/

HOLY SMOKES!!!!

I'll reserve judgment on the Benson drinking issue until all the facts on the case are evenly presented in a court of law. All this speculation about what makes sense or what doesn't make sense or who fabricated what story is pointless. This team isn't the Cincinnati Bengals, period. That's all that really matters here.

It's all about performance and production for Benson or if he's even fully recovered from his season-ending injury last season. Sure, he had a poor season last year, but so did just about the entire TEAM. I'm not ready to give up on a #4 overall draft pick after only 3 years into the league. I look at Thomas Jones, for example, and he was a high 1st round draft pick as well several years before he finally stringed a couple of productive seasons so you never know about Benson. I think too many people cry the quick hook way too often. Trust the coaches and let them decide at Training camp if he's fully recovered and if he can perform at a higher level with hopefully better pieces around him. Cutting Benson and handing the reigns immediately over to Forte without real competition is exactly the same mistake the Bears did when they got rid of Thomas Jones and anointed Benson full time. I blame the coaches more than the players when it comes to the problems of this team.

Seriously, havent' you noticed that black guys seem hesitent to jump into the swimming pool. He's not afraid of drowning, he's afraid of the Texas Police Marine unit. They gave this guy a field sobriety test while he was standing on a boat in the middle of the water. They might as well have given him the field sobriety test during his annual rectal exam.

Roman...do me a favor...dont let these idiots get away with posting blatent lies, and then not post my US.GOV websites that REFUTE THEIR LIES.

Thanks!

B

keylan..can you read?

they gave him a condensed boat sobriety version (which he failed) and then tried to take him to dry land where they could adminster a true Field Sobriety test (which he resisted).

Seriously Man...you need to read about stuff before you go off spouting out crazy statements. and if you were just joking, it wasnt funny enough for me to notice!

I don't look upon Benson as being a gang banger, or a criminal in any sense of the term. He's just a loser.

I simply consider him to be a waste of time, talent, and cap space that could be better put to use on a more productive, and motivated player.

Being good in college doesn't always translate to being good in the NFL.

Rashaan Salaam, Curtis Enis, Ryan Leaf, Rick Mier, Alanzo Spellman, Stan Thomas, and Cade Mc'Crud are all living proof of that.

Grossman will soon be in the team photo on this list, as will Benson.

dude...you must not read what some of these wack jobs are posting..

Tom, have you noticed the plethora of Black men being released from jail and / death row lately for crimes they did not commit using DNA testing. (fairness is a )

this statement is just ridiculous and cant just go unchallenged..

im SICK of people acting like our government is just rounding up innocent people and killing them.

127 people...

do you know that more than that were killed in CHICAGO in 2 weeks of GANG VIOLENCE..

you are crazy to take me on in this issue...

WHAT KIND OF IDIOCY ARE YOU PROMOTING?

hey...Fairness...Roman here...and I am with you...Blacks get put on death row unfairly all the time....and thats totally why Benson got arrested!! Keep up the good work kid.

Oh and BCulz...your posts...which were just FACTS...make me sick.

NICE DUDE!

YOUR ON MY S LIST TODAY

Roman responds: Sometimes I just shake my head. I hesitate to ask, what's your point? So because 127 people die in gang violence, that makes it ok that at least (and obviously more who haven't yet been freed) 127 innocent people were on death row? And how many already were executed unjustly before DNA evidence? No big deal, right?

I think all the posters who are so outraged, should focus on themselves. That was my point. Dont let it make you TOO SICK, but sometimes the truth is repulsive, so here is a barf bag!

Why do you have to believe them, Tom. Because they are police. I could go on for about an hour about stories of police harassing me and my friends, but I won't.

I will say police lie to cover their ass like all people do, there is not enough evidence to convict Benson even on this misdemeanor. 60 hours of college credit, and passing a police exam does not make you tell the truth all of a sudden.

They were trying to justify their actions, I have seen it before firsthand. Details are pouring out and witnesses are backing up Benson, witnesses who have no gain from this. I guess since the police are calling them liars, they are liars.

To you the police are always right. Wish I could live in your world.

I just wonder how many people still think that Benson is a gangsta or a thug after finding out that he hollered for his Momma while the cops were doing their thing. The lady friend on the boat wasn't the only one who say the whole thing and sided with Benson. A guy who didn't know Benson and wasn't on the boat said that the officers went too far and I'm pretty sure it won't see the inside of a court room. I'm sure the charges will be dropped before it get anywhere.

if you take my comment out of context...it may appear to be callus...but my OVERALL point is this..

Texas Cops Possibly Harrass Black Athlete = Black Community OUTRAGED

200 Blacks killed at the Hands of Black Gangbangers over a 2 week gang violence spree = Black Community SILENT!!

THAT IS MY POINT.

SCREW THE DEATH ROW STATS..I ONLY USED THAT AS TO DISPELL TOMS notion that 1000's of blacks are being accused of crimes they didnt commit. Im sure this happens, and Im sure that there are a bunch more who are ON THE ROW who may be innocent.

I also wonder how many GUILTY KILLERS are still walking the streets too.

Bottom Line Roman...is..you decided to pounce on the most minute of my argument details....because you sensed a chink (non racist) in my armor. But...again...Bculz vanquised his interlocketuers with superior socratic methodology.

I went to Wikipedia, (AGAIN!) just to do a little research.

The main sports that interested me were National League Baseball, the NFL, the NBA, and Professional Boxing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_sportspeople_convicted_of_crimes

There are a few athletes in various other sporting venues who also have criminal convictions; (Tanya Harding?) but for the purposes of this argument, I'd rather not discuss tennis or synchronized swimming, and stick with the sports we spend most of out time discussing on this blog.

My search for information involved who, and how many professional athletes have been convicted of serious crimes in these various leagues.

Their racial ratios, along with the documented numbers tell a story all their own; one that is not easily explained, regardless of our own personal prejudices, or opinions about race and bigotry in general.

Many others who were able to avoid convictions, including Ray Lewis, Pacman Jones, Kermit Washington, and Ricky Williams aren't even on this list, which would skew the ratio even further.

I'm not making an indictment here; I'm just looking for an answer, without making a judgements. So please don't try to paint me with a broad brushfull of preconceived notions insofar as to how I think, or what I believe.

In closing, Cedric Benson is in no way a criminal, unless you consider stealing Virginia's money to be a crime.

Chuck - no one says you have to believe the police. I understand not trusting the government, believe it or not. I just think it is unlikely the police would lie to go after Benson. Honestly, what would they get out of it? A brief power trip? That is an awful lot of risk to annoy some guy you really don't know...

I don't believe this sort of incident would ever happen a Walter Payton, or a Mike Singletary, or a Michael Jordan. So I can't believe it all boils down to simply race. I would hate to be wrong on this one.

If Benson did the things the police stated, then he should be held responsible by the Bears as well as the law. On the other hand, IF Benson gets out of this and the police are found to have LIED, the liars should do jail time.

I don't think it's going to happen, but we'll see soon enough.

Tom, I never used race, as I have aged I realize that on this world race plays a major factor in so much, it's almost a constant. What I said was, that police lie to cover their a$$, and I believe LCRA officers or whoever they are, have lied to cover their heines. Black or white, they were intimidated by him, and they have no right to abuse him because they are afraid.

It's better to say he SEEMED aggressive, and pepper spray him, than to take him for his word. There was NO reason to pepper him.

Mike, Walter, or Singletary would have been on a larger boat, so this conversation would be a moot point.

My question is, and this is a 50% chance, what if he did not do what they said, can he pepper spray the officers who arrested him???