Bye bye Benson

If you can't act like you want to play then this was the best solution. A waste of time and everything else. I'm pretty sure he's not crying about it.

I just posted this on the "Cedric Likes To Party" thread, but one this makes that subject heading old news.

I was thinking, (something I usually try not to do) that Angelo currently has a former first round draft pick who's starting at Left Guard for a pretty good Dallas team.

He also has a former second round pick who will likely be a starter on defense this year for a pretty good Dallas team.

If Dallas picks up Benson and he prospers, I believe that Angelo and Smith will begin hating the Cowboys almost as much as they hate the Packers.

This isn't likely to happen because I think Ced's a bust ... buth there always the possibility.

This shows how ill-conceived the latest Bear's draft was. Taking the OL ahead of the RB and QB positions just puts an enormous amount of pressure on the new young linemen as they attempt to block for RB's and QB's that no one in the league has to respect.

The O- linemen need help from the skill positions in order to be effective that the Bears don't have. Unless there is an immediate improvement in the play from both these positions our young linemen are going to look just like our old linemen.

Cutting Benson should have happened earlier, the Bears just look weak and desperate now, as if they are throwing up their hands. I don't really get the logic - if last month's incident wasn't bad enough to cut him, why is this month's? Looked at from his point, no one has been hurt, and I'm sure he still wants to defend himself in court from any charges, so why not just keep extending him another chance unless he was actually convicted? As I said, I think they should have pulled the trigger last month and looked for alternatives.

Who can they get to replace him? Who can run for 3 yards in a straight line? There has to be someone...

Dude, I mentioned Shaun Alexander and Dominic Rhodes months ago. Let's hear it for Plan B!!!

I knew they should have signed Michael Turner when they had the chance! Now look. We supported a child who does not have the discipline or maturity to play pro-ball. We traded a real pro (Thomas Jones) so that the baby could have his bottle. And how does he reward us? By behaving like a spoiled child! Lesson learned: you have to weigh heart & desire with talent. And we all know that true desire can override any talent deficiency.

I'm glad the police busted Benson because he would still be a bear if they didn't. Now who would take the carries. Shaun Alexander would be the smart choice but who knows. Somebody has to be better than Alexander how about that guy that got cut from the bills. Travis Henry.

is there a way to like suspend him...

i mean..this is just what Dallas needed!!!

its APJR ...officially!

Bears are paper thin at running back and didn't substantially upgrade the O-Line. I think Jimbo Covert was the last o-lineman drafted by the Bears that was decent as a rookie.

Welcome to getting hit in the backfield Mr. Forte.

At least last year the Bears learned what it was like to run an offense with no running game. That should help them this year.

Right?

Also, Angelo is a freaking genius -- so we shouldn't have much to worry about.

Right?

And Lovie possesses one of the best football minds in the business. So we shouldn't have much to worry about.

Right?

How much is this move going to cost us? Benson has sure disappointed, he had a lot of fans giving him the benefit of the doubt and now this...he left the team no choice, they had to send a message to the team and the league that this activity will not be tolerated, why doesn't a guy with his cash not hire a driver????...why would he be back in Austin when he just got his Azz in trouble there two weeks ago, this is just him being arrogant, stupid, and mis-guided....Now we have to look at the scrap heap to get somebody in until we know what Forte can do....Kevin Jones, Shawn Alexander, but not Travis Henry....trading one problem for another......I hope Benson wakes up and gets on somewhere else (AFC), just as long as its not the hated PACK.....

Let's hire Vinny Del Negro to be both the Bulls' head coach and the Bears' starting RB!! He parts his hair down the middle, like it's 1981, so he should be able to part a defensive line and run for 10 yards a clip. How YOU doin'?

bculz sez: "is there a way to like suspend him...

I mean..this is just what Dallas needed!!!"

I was thinking along the same lines.

So far they've done pretty well with Bear's castoffs who were drafter in the first two rounds.

I highly doubt that Benson will ever be a star running back in this league, but stranger things have happened, and anything is within the realm of possibility.

If Cedric found his groove in Dallas, and ran the rock with passion AND results, Angelo would look like a buffoon.

bculz sez: "is there a way to like suspend him...

I mean..this is just what Dallas needed!!!"

I was thinking along the same lines.

So far they've done pretty well with Bear's castoffs who were drafted in the first two rounds.

I highly doubt that Benson will ever be a star running back in this league, but stranger things have happened, and anything is within the realm of possibility.

If Cedric found his groove in Dallas, and ran the rock with passion AND results, Angelo would look like a buffoon.

I am glad with Benson gone. I think Forte is going to be rookie of the year, and will open some eyes. We've needed a breath of fresh air in the backfield for a long time.

I really like the Bears lineup now. There are all kinds of RB's we could get in a pinch for backup.

As a longtime Chicago Bear fan, I think of this team as featuring great middle linebackers and outstanding running backs. The team that had Red Grange all those years ago, that had Gayle Sayers in one decade and Walter Payton in the next, with decent supporting cast members in the same backfield and in the other years. Always strong at running back.

Now the heritage of the running back has become the high draft choice that gives little or no production. Rashan Salaam. Curtis Enis. Cedric Benson. Good Lord, who has been in charge of choosing these players? Where is the production? Whatever happens this year, it is highly unlikely to be a pleasant surprise. Good luck to Forte.

So there would have been no pressure for a rookie first round RB to come into a city that had drafted 3 straight RB busts? He wouldn't have been able to block for himself. And the BEARS linemen have been plenty okay considering that they've had a few pro bowl linemen who weren't first round picks. It's just that lately there hasn't been anything special to write home about. Williams was the best option. It would've been silly to draft a RB twice in 4 years. You can't have a 1st round pick backing up the new first round pick. Especially since they would be only 2 or 3 years apart in age. Benson just snowballed into stupidity. Where was Ricky Williams with his calming personality when he needed him? Angelo has to do a better job drafting these guys who are supposed to be pros. We might as well keep trading out of the first round because once we draft a guy and he gets that first round money he turns into cat pee. At least when it comes to RBs. Do you think it's our fault because we have such a high standard after being spoiled by Sweetness? And I'm sorry but Alexander hasn't done anything without his terrific oline from 2005-06. Without them he's been unspectacular. He's not an option. Rhodes would, but isn't he signed with someone?

Mark...i hate to agree with you, but i you are so right bro!!

Why does Dallas get a pass on Thugs? I mean, why are we so holier than thou...and Dallas...well..they will rehabilitate ya..huh?

Like MI and his Crack Pipe program?

JA cuts the guy before the DA determines whether or not to press charges? Now the backfield consists of an untested rookie (with fumble problems), a special teamer and a 190 lb scat back. Let the Tim Tebow derby begin!!

I'm going to put it out there like this. I believe Da Bears may have pulled the trigger a bit too quickly at this point. Just like they did with Tank (under the legal limit). If Benson was to be cut or released, then it should've been for his poor play. Not because of these incidents. Put aside your differences and feelings of the man and his football abilities. Bottom line is that he hasn't been found guilty of anything. At this point he is only accused. And anyone at anytime can be accused of anything. Should you lose your job just because someone accuses you of something? Let's be honest here. Any of you posting can be accused of something. Does that make you guilty? And should you be fired from your job as a result of these accusations? NO! On both accounts. So let's not do this to that man. And remember, Benson is still a very young adult. Many of us have made mistakes as a young adult. No matter what our occupation was at the time. If guilty, then Yes, Crucify his butt. But if he is innocent, then he shouldn't lose his job because of it. And as far as I'm concerned, they could've been gunning for him due to the last incident. Since when is being "Cocky" against the law. I'm sure many of you have seen the videos on COPS of a man totally cussing out the officer for giving him a ticket. With the cameras rolling, the cop was helpless. Because the man did nothing illegal. And there are plenty more videos just like that. So how can they continue to use "Cocky" as a defense.

We released Tank, whom was under the legal limit, on the same terms. And then the team was paper thin at DT. We are super thin at running back now. This is football. An injury can happen anywhere, at anytime. So what happens when the rookie goes down. Back to AP? Wolfe? Come on! We have to pick up a veteran back, with some type establishment under his belt. Shawn Alexander is out there. And a possible upgrade over Benson. Lamont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes and even Kevin Jones. Hopefully we address this quickly, so that whomever they pick up can get adjusted now, as opposed to waiting until camp start. There is no reason we shouldn't be going after the best possible back out there. Hopefully we get it together. Go Bears!

Looking at it in more detail; by cutting Benson, Angelo's stock has risen a few hundred points with commissioner Roger Goodell.

They stuck with Tank as long as they could, but were smart enough to launch him before Roger had to step in.

Now they've done the same with Cedric.

In some respects they come away from this mess with a little class, unlike the Titans, who were ambiguous to the end regarding the Pacman fiasco; or Miami, which gave Ricky Williams multiple opportunities to redeem himself.

In Goodell's mind, this franchise probably embodies many of the virtues that he wants the National Football League to exhibit, and display to the viewing audience.

But don't be mistaken: Angelo didn't make this decision lightly, and it put a serious hurt on his street cred as a General Manager capable of making quality first round picks.

He's looking good to Goodell right now, but I can't say the same for the Bear's fan base.

Blowing a #4 pick in the draft is no small change.

Shaun Alexander would be an improvement over Benson and he could show Matt Forte a few things. Travis Henry is just another problem child and is not worth the trouble.
After seeing several other teams making the necessary moves to get the players they wanted on draft day this really hits home now.
The Bears could have drafted Williams and still picked up Mendenhall by making a trade.
Instead Angelo thought small as usual and now leaves the burden of his failures on the shoulders of a kid to pick up the slack.
At least Benson is gone and I cannot imagine anyone here missing him.

Roman, do you get me? 'Cause Ricky doesn't. I thought everyone agreed that the O'line was the reason for the bad running game??
Why is so much hate directed at Benson....Salaam and Enis didn't get
all this blame. Benson is the type to end up running over the Bears if he hooks up with a consistent O'line. Then I KNOW you all will be screaming what a bad move it was to Cut Benson. There is NO running back that is going to be good behind a line that is trained to use all their energy to protect an immobile quarterback when he rolls out ever third play. Stay in the pocket and throw passes,so when you run the ball you don't look like a**es.

The Bears could have drafted Mendenhall and Brian Brohm, and taken 5 or 6 OL with their next picks. Instead we got another CB, a TE and a DE that are all not that important.

I don't think it is fair to blame the line alone for the offensive disaster that we saw last year. When your QB is awful you get 8 man fronts on every down. When your RB can't break a tackle you get a constant diet of blitzes and pressure. No one can block under those conditions. Does anyone really think the whole line got old all at once? Does anyone really believe a rookie left tackle is going to save our offense?

We need skill players that get respect. Remember, Dallas is starting a castoff Bear on their OL. They can do that because people respect the rest of their offense enough so that every failing isn't exposed on every down the way the Bear's are. Colombo would not have made it here because we ask our OL to block for QB's who aren't very efficient at reading defenses and making the easy throws, and RB's who can't break tackles, (not that our WR's are better - they have not been). If the skill guys are competant, the blocking gets easier - it's that clear.

This was a poor draft. It seems to be a Bears tradition, hit on one or two guys, blow the other picks completely.

I will take ANYONE else over Benson, and I mean that. And I would also take anyone else over Rex. Might as well turn the page on the whole sordid thing and get a stud in here who can pass and run.

Benson has sucked from the first time I ever saw him run in a Bear uniform and I've never wavered in that opinion. No escapability, no moves and poor field vision.

Yes, the OL sucked and still sucks but they can easily do better than Ced.

Culzie and Villano sittin' in tree.......

Culzie and Villano sittin' in a tree.......

"Without RexandCed".....

AP and Forte are upgrades..."they can both play all 3 downs"...Now for Rickey's spanking...

ok son..AP has a 4.7 'career' yards per carry on this team...AP has the best vision on the team...he's the best at breaking tackles because of how he gets his shoulders square so quickly...he is a threat out of the backfield to receive as well as block...or both...knows the whole playbook, too!!

TJ told me straight out he thought it was BS that AP was the odd man out because of Benson's draft position...

AP's not an every down back?...excuse me?...lol, he's been the only guy for the last two years who can stay on the field for 3 plays...

Minnesota game...20 rushes..78 yards..2 TD's
G.B. game...30 rushes..102..1 TD
N.O. game...21 rushes..91 yards...Threw 9yrd pass for TD

I'm good with AP, Forte, Wolfe, and Pope...I don't know how a Shaun Alexander would benefit the Bears...he's broken

We also have to let Kyle go off...meaning Olsen, Hester, Bradley, Lloyd, and Booker

The sky isn't falling....RexandCed are

and that's a good thing

Great...we have Goodell on our side now....my question is...now what....its not like he can pass block...can he??

MV --

Angelo should try pleasing the fans. Goodell and the league can wait.

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Boat, car, ??? He wore his heart and attitude on his sleeves for all to see. Why wait?

Jerry brought him into this world, Jerry had to take him out.

I hear Ricky Williams has a guest room ready for him, anyway.

Again, the defense has to get us to the 'Promised Land'.

What's new!

GO WHITE SOX!!!

given that Benson has not been given a chance to prove his innocence in a court of law, this is a puritanical overreaction by the Bears. If every Bears player and member of the Bears organization was held to this standard----that they would lose there jobs if they drank and drove in the past year regardless of whether they were caught----I would bet they would lose half of their players and staff.

Roman responds: Spoken like a true lawyer. Thanks for not mentioning my brethren in the media, Pat, you know we never drink and drive.

Thanks y'all! You just gave us another good young player for nothing. Guess y'all never seen the texas two step before, where you have two trumped up minor scrapes with the law, which get you released,and then all the charges are just dropped. You see, this is texas and this is one of our longhorns you been under appreciating. Y'all notice how ced's lawyer found out about that video showing ced wasn't really drunk n drivin in Austin? Yep, said he just happened to notice it just a few minutes after the bears announced they were waiving ced, now isn't that a coinkydink? Guess ced will walk and that boat'n business will get swept away and yehaa ced is free from that yankee bears team and will be running for big d.

Cedric just wanted to get out of chicago and away from all those unfriendly fans and teammates. Like the welcome he got from Urlocker and brown when they smacked poor ol ced around in practice. No sense puttin it on the line for a team like that, best to come on home to big D where we know how to preciate our players and teams. Won't be no more trouble with the law once ced is wearing the big blue star. Thanks for cuttin him loose for us, you yankees sure know how to pick'em, how's that offense lookin? Got a qb, line, wo, or even a rb yet? Well, i'm sure something will turn up, maybe the packers will cut somebody and you can play them.

Well, you should have a high draft pick next year, so that will be good.

Patrick, this isn't a court of law. It's the 3rd biggest market in the NFL. That stands for "Not For Long" if you don't produce on the field & screw up off it. That's Benson.

Benson's only value to the Bears in 2008 was the highly unlikely odds that he would produce a career yr. The odds are much better someone will step up & produce a better yr than CB's last.

Finally da Bears pulled the trigger on this total waste of 17 large. However,this is my theory on why they did it now instead of a couple years ago. This absolves Angelo of making another horrid 1st round draft pick because Benson takes all the blame for being cut. I mean if Angelo cut him last year,Angelo would take the hit for making another stupid ist round draft choice. This way,Angelo (and his little pal Lovie) look like heros by getting rid of this non productive waste of time and money..without admitting they made ANOTHER horrible draft pick.
Now that's what I call SPIN!!!!!
Streamwood Frank

We should have drafted Mendenhal. Then things would be better.

Roman responds: Art! Welcome brother. But I'm not sure RM is better than Forte.

Sing with me....
Bye bye Benson
bye bye surliness
bye bye drunkeness
So happy I could cry-eye!

Keith you been hittin the karaoke bars with "Red" Kerr? LOL
As I stated in the previous thread Ced is a perfect example of what happens when you give millions of dollars to someone not mature enough to handle it. But I do believe he needs a firearms charge before he is truely Cowboys material. That will probably be next week's headline. So I'll join Keith in the key of D...

bye bye Ced
bye bye immaturity
hello to sanity
bye bye Cedrick
bye bye

Seems to me that there are other, bigger issues to consider here. Benson is not, and will not, be the last player to get into trouble. The question is, how much should they be held accountable for what they do in their personal lives (especially when there is no conviction yet)?

When one becomes a professional athlete, they are automatically thrown into a category of role model. Is this fair? Can we tell someone how to behave at all times in their lives, even when they are not in training? And really, what is the likelihood that a young player, who has just come into a windfall of money, will know how to act at all times? It's almost like asking a new college freshman to never take a sip of alcohol. Like that will happen!

It seems as if professional athletes are getting into more trouble these days. If that is true, what made the difference? And who should be responsible for teaching these athletes how to behave? Maybe everything is the way it has always been, it is just that these things are publized in the media more these days.

In either case, athletes are being held to a higher standard and those who don't conform are now paying the price. So, is Benson be treated more harshly in order to send a message to other athletes?

Roman responds: Welcome MCB, it's about time you posted.

One question, didn't Ditka get a DUI? How did that affect the way we look at him? No one is more disappointed in Cedrick's lack of production on the field, but society has become more and more hippocritical. I personally watched Otis Wilson and Richard Dent drink, for free mind you, like fish, and drive away from the bar. By the way I was ten and wanted an autograph, so maybe the bottle was grape juice. The fact of the matter is a second round draft pick was gunning for his job, and for all accounts going to get it. Goodbye Cedrick.

Bye Ced. I still think Bears were a little too trigger happy. They should have waited until the outcome of these arrests or better yet make him trade bait.

Who's next on Angelo's criminal list? Urlacher???? If bears won't pay him maybe he can get drunk and get released?

It's a stupid idea Angelo.

Angelo served notice on UNDERPERFORMING punks who are even thinking about it on the BEARS. And rightfully so! Its one thing to be a nuisance, but to kick up dust and not even earn the money you're spending is not worth the time. Now he really has a reason to be surly, immature, and yes....drunken.

Ced was a primadonna who wasn't willing to fight for the starting RB job, he wanted it handed to him. Then he just wanted us to kiss his butt because he was the starter on our favorite team. Doesn't work here this way Ced. I had his back until the second arrest, that was stupid which shows he has no remorse for us fans. He looked allright on the field at times, though.

For those who say we will have a high pick this year...We had a high draft pick last year with him on the team so obviously he didn't make much of a difference. Complaining TJ was the starter, complaining about getting hit hard in training camp. In fact, he did more complaining than rushing at most of the time he was here.

About ex-Bears on the Cowboys, Columbo was a pretty good player anyway...I expected him to do well. Tank Johnson, what has he really done in the NFL, sacked Hasselbeck to help win a game in 06', you can have him, and Ced too.

Give me Alexander to teach Forte how to be a professional, don't know if this Shaun Alexander still has that toughness in him though. Still need a good veteran back..OUR AP is a joke.

Pat, this is not court. This is the football field, and if Tommie Harris had 2 DWI or BWI arrests, he would not be released, because he produces on the field. Ced was released for his whole pitiful package after given 1 last chance(a lot like Tank...)

Don't be such an herb MCB. Athletes are getting in more trouble nowadays? Athletes have always gotten into trouble and it's been worse before. The difference with today is all the media coverage and a lil' something called the internet.

MCB...you must be connected...

cause I blasted your comments apart, and it got deleted.

Bottom line is...

you sound ridiculous...

Some athletes dont conform?

what exactly are they conforming too? NFL policies? The Law? Whities world?

what exactly are you talking about?

Can you give me a couple examples of athletes who HAVE CONFORMED..and ones who HAVENT?

Roman responds: Welcome MCB, it's about time you posted.

I know I responded to MCB on this thread in a gentile fashion, and without any profanity (mainly because I agreed with him).

I saw my response on this very blog, but now it is gone.

What's going on here?

Same thing with a response I made to 123 about Urlacher deliberately getting a few DUI's and getting himself shipped out on purpose.

These posts are all gone.

yeah...somthing is amiss..romans recruiting new bloggers and deleting stuff like eva braun on horse steroids....and now.sweeney is guest blogging...for no real reason....and really..truth is..sweeney said so much..i have nothing to add to it.

Newsflash!

Benson just cleared waivers, and nobody wanted any part of him and his current contract.

Those few cocktails in Austin cost him roughly $2 million.

That's some pretty expensive hooch.

Looks like the rest of the league will sit back and wait until his legal issues shake out before even looking at him. No team wants a player who might have to sit out the first four games of the season, but whoever eventually takes him had better realize that he might take the last 12 games off too.

I see a league minimum deal for Cedric, heavily laden with incentives. That's the only possible way of getting any production out of him.

MCB...you must be connected...

cause I blasted your comments apart, and it got deleted.
Posted by: bculz | June 12, 2008 08:31 AM

He's not connected people, yours, mine and other poster's comments got deleted or didn't see the light of day as well. I think its call PC or do not allow Pandora's box to be opened.

Move it along!....NEXT TOPIC!

Too little too late....???

Cedric Benson ordered to get alcohol car lock - 17 hours ago

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Former Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson was ordered Monday to install an ignition-lock breath tester in his car after he was ...

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