It's not a revenge game Cedric Benson says; local media calls it Benson Bowl 2009!
by Josh Kirkendall on Oct 21, 2009 4:38 PM EDT
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PrintRemember Cedric Benson before he came to Cincinnati? He didn't get along well with teammates, we heard. He was just another distraction on a team that was owned by a guy nicknamed The Redeemer. I remember it. I also remember thinking to myself, "for the love of god, anyone has to be a better option than Chris freaking Perry." Benson joined the Bengals early in the 2008 season and, while he hit the hole hard, finished his runs, didn't fumble the football, he didn't make that much of a difference. In his first four career games with the Cincinnati Bengals, Benson rushed for 137 yards on 41 carries for an average of 3.3 yards-per-rush and no touchdowns. But he was the best option on a Bengals offense that absolutely stunk.
Benson would go on to record 462 yards from scrimmage on 89 touches in the final three games of the season. Not bad for a guy that was let go as a lost cause. Since December 21, 2008, Benson has led the NFL with 813 yards rushing and, at one point this year, led all running backs with the most rushing yards in the league.
I would say he's been pretty awesome for us, wouldn't you?
This week gives Benson a new motivation. The Chicago Bears are the team that cut bait on Benson, which, in the long run, seemed like a "best of both worlds" argument. Benson would go on to repair his image and rebuild his career with the Bengals while the Bears found a good replacement in Matt Forte. But one has to wonder, is Benson calling this weekend's game against the Bears, a revenge game, which local writers are calling "Benson Bowl"? Chick Ludwig (yes, he's back!) writes:
Benson brushed off the “R” word (revenge) and said he harbors no animosity against his former team. However …
“I definitely feel more accepted here,” he said. “I found a way to make things work … what was given to me here.
“I came in when the team needed a lift and provided that. I was definitely on the path of coming up and the Bengals just got a little piece of that.”
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Agreed.
If he can do what he did to the Ravens’ run D…in Baltimore…here’s hoping he can do the same to the Bears (against whom…I don’t care how they frame it…he has more incentive).
TennBengalFan…are you in Nashville?
by TheWalrus1971 on Oct 21, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Nah Jackson
CB85......Collaros for Heisman
by TennBengalfan on Oct 22, 2009 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I've got a number of friends who are Bears fans...
…And they have been dogging the shit out of Cedric. It may not be a revenge game for Ced, but it is for me. I hope he rushes for over 200 yards against the Cutlers.
I hope he tears the bear defense ass up!
Here’s hoping for 125+ yards and 2 TD’s!
by Diesel2405 on Oct 21, 2009 6:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Speaking of 'Dogging the Shit'
That’s EXACTLY what Benson was in Chicago: DOG SHIT!
He stole the Bears money, pure and simple. I have NO respect for athletes that steal large
quantities of money.
Only after he was shown the door (and after his phone didn’t ring) did the lightbulb start to go on for Benson.
In 1975 the Chicago Bears drafted Walter Payton #4 overall.
Thirty years later, the Bears also drafted Cedric Benson #4 overall.
That, my friends, is the ONLY thing Benson will ever have in common with the late, great Walter Payton.
He was a wasted draft pick for the Chicago Bears.
A bad pick...
Is Cade Mcnown or Rashaan Salaam or David Terrell or Curtis Enis.
The fact the Bears couldn’t get Benson to produce, but Cincy can, sounds like it’s the fault of the team, not the player.
Right IFChris
And the player bears NO responsibility there.
Ever hear of guys like Ryan Leaf or Charles Rogers, among many others?
The simple fact remains that some first rounders come in and, after cashing in their lottery sized paycheck, simply don’t put forth the effort that they should.
Usually it’s because they (mistakenly) think that their teammates and coaches should kiss their ass because they are in the presence of ‘greatness.’
Unfortunately it happens all the time in the NFL. Absolving the player of responsibility in this situation is absurd.
Benson played and drank his way out of Chicago. Considering Thomas Jones, and now Matt Forte, have had no trouble running the ball in Chicago, signs point to Benson never putting in the work required…until he was cut. Benson would probably tell you the same thing. Otherwise, I don’t see the big deal. Things worked out best for all parties involved. Any Bengal fan who suggests Chicago is a bust factory might not want to throw stones.
My only thing is this.
Who here has been given 30 million dollars? Then NOT ONE of us would know how we would react.
That being said, it’s not like he had the warmest reception in Chicago. Because he held out, he was ostracized in the locker room. That has an effect on people. It’s been widely reported. Everyone loved jones and acted like benson was a spoiled brat for trying to get the contract he wanted.
by brandone on Oct 21, 2009 8:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Right
Money changes everything.
But the fact is that Thomas Jones was extremely well liked and well respected in the locker room.
That doesn’t mean that Benson couldn’t also have been well liked and respected.
The simple fact is this: In the NFL (especially as a ‘high paid’ rookie) you have to prove your worth to your teammates and coaches every single day.
Benson didn’t do that. He acted more like a spoiled brat.
Some guys ‘get it’ and some guys don’t.
I'll agree
And as a bengals fan you can’t argue anything about draft busts with any of us. But I also think the locker room should respect the business aspect and give a rookie a chance.
by brandone on Oct 21, 2009 8:53 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
holding out for top draft picks IS stupid
95% of the contract is already guaranteed and non-negiotable. It is determined by the league in advance. It is determined by draft position. Players who hold out for that small extra are stupid.
here
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook/090825&sportCat=nfl
The Bengals may have thrown the sixth selection of the draft out the window by using it on offensive tackle Andre Smith, who was trouble in college and is reinforcing his negative rep by holding out.
“Slotting” dictates 95 percent of a first-round pick’s contract, so Smith’s holdout can impact only 5 percent of his deal, while dramatically increasing the odds he will become a bust, and thus lose significant future income. As he sits munching chips and playing video games while his teammates sweat in the sun, Smith not only harms his chance of long-term success but alienates his future teammates. Imagine how the other Bengals players must feel about Smith — who’s never taken a snap, yet awards himself the summer off because he won’t sign a contract that contains more guaranteed money than enjoyed by all but one Cincinnati player already out in the sun earning his pay. Aaron Maybin of Buffalo, B.J. Raji of Green Bay and other first-round picks held out way too long, pointlessly, since “slotting” dictated their deals anyway. They didn’t accomplish anything other than harming their own long-term chances of becoming stars. TMQ thinks teams should take the hard-edge approach of reducing their contract offer daily once training camp ends: since at that point, with each passing day, the first-round pick has less value to the team. If the player is going to be worthless in his first season, why should he receive a huge bonus for that season?
Smith’s holdout is yet another argument the NFL should shift to a rookie wage scale that ends negotiating altogether for first-year players. A rookie scale is a must to stop the ridiculousness of unproven players receiving more than stars (Matt Stafford got $42 million in guarantees before taking a snap; Eli Manning, a Pro Bowl quarterback who’s won a Super Bowl, got $35 million guaranteed in his new deal) and to prevent promising players from turning themselves into busts. Why do agents advise holdouts? The good agents don’t! Incompetent or vainglorious agents have clients hold out because they want to brag that they brought an NFL franchise to its knees, blah, blah. This violates the ethical standard of agency: The agent must act in the client’s interest, not the agent’s interest. And please future No. 1 picks, understand this: The market sets your contract value, not the agent. A good agent can improve a deal’s details. But no agent has ever dictated how much a team pays a player, and no agent ever will.
I suddenly have that hunch again,
that Ced is going to run all over the Bears, 2tds, 101yds. Carson is going to pass all over them and Colds is going to be hot this week. 114yds, 2tds. The D-Line is going to be great this week too!! MJ will record 2 sacks and block a few passes. just a hunch that I get every week about this time!
Benson Bashing
Benson has really taken a beating from the media and fans, but has found a home with the Bengals. He genuinely seems happy to be in Cincinnati and is looking to make the best of the gamble the Bengals took on him. I hope Benson bashes through some Bear defenders on his way to the goal iine multiple times…..I think that the Zimmer funeral on Tuesday left the team flat and the Texans just took it to us. Schaub certainly has our number. This week, hopefully, the Bengals get their edge back and come away with a win. Big Ced certainly should be plenty focused and motivated.
Benson has EVERY right to
be happy that he has turned his career around with the Bengals.
Has has ZERO right to ‘Bag on the Bears.’
The simple fact is that he couldn’t cut it and couldn’t produce in Chicago.
Ced should buy a full-length mirror and take a good look at it.
Ced was forced into the starting role by Chicago over Thomas Jones by team management. He wasn’t forced to earn a role in the starting rotation. The Bears’ management team are morons for putting a young kid in that situation.
Umm Adam
With all due respect you simply DON’T know what you are talking about.
Benson was drafted iin 2005.
In 2005, Jones started 15 games. Benson ONE!
Next!
I stand corrected Adam
I misread your comment and you are correct about Bear management.
That said, if Benson had played to his capabilities from the get-go, none of that happens in Chicago.
Another simple fact:
He’s producing in Cincy. For some reason, this seems to be a sore issue with you, but ask yourself, why did the change of scenery make such a difference? Or, you could just put it all on Benson, convincing yourself the surrounding talent was good enough for him to succeed in Chicago. I mean, we all know a successful running back owes it all to himself. Not the quarterback, the line or the other offensive weapons on the field.
Signed, a quarterback named Rex Grossman and receivers not named Chad Ochocinco, Coles, Henry and Caldwell.
He's producing in Cincy
because he washed out in Chicago and decided to grow up .
Essentially that’s it. It’s not a sore issue with me.
What IS a sore issue is when he acts like a little kid and blames EVERYONE but himeself for what happened in Chicago. Get it?
This next statement by you is simply one of the most ludicrous statements I have EVER heard:
convincing yourself the surrounding talent was good enough for him to succeed in Chicago
Incredible! Ever hear of a guy named Walter Payton?
He succeed with some of the sorriest QB’s in the NFL (Bob Avellini, Vince Evans and Mike Phipps) until Jim McMahon came along.. Payton played 13 NFL seasons. He didn’t have a single Pro-Bowl lineman until Jim Covert came along in year EIGHT!
That’s right, Payton played 2/3rd’s of his career WITHOUT a Pro-Bowl lineman and without a real NFL QB (while you guys had great players like Munoz, Anderson and Esiason at those positions).
Despite having CRAPPY talent on offense (essentially everyone on defense knew that Payton was getting the ball) he ‘succeeded’ quite nicely in Chicago, thank you very much.
Nothing personal but your comment is beyond ridiculous.
In fairness to Benson, because of Payton we do hold our RB’s to a higher standard.
We expect great effort and we despise players who dog it.
you say it's not a sore spot
but you are flat out defaming the guy because he is better now than he was in chicago.
you know why you remember walter payton’s name? because he was one of the greatest running backs, if not the greatest, of all time. i can think of almost no one, besides barry sanders, who could do more with less on offense. most players need to be surrounded by talent to succeed.
my advice is to let it go. he was a kid, he grew up. the blame goes to both benson and the bears. their job as an organization, especially as coaches, is to motivate and prepare their players for success. he is to blame because he’s getting paid to play a sport and no one should need more motivation than that. but i doubt he was going out there, saying to himself, “i’m going to run half speed on this play.”
You miss the key point
Most of what you say I would agree with.
But there’s this. Some players have such a ‘F++KED UP’ attitude when they come in that no ‘coaching motivation’ will help.
Guys like Ryan Leaf and Cade McNown are but a few examples.
Look, I’m a long time Bears fan currently living in Phoenix (the reason I remember walter’s name is because I watched every game he played.).
On sports talk radio a few hours ago, the hosts (Gambo & Ash) were discussing the ‘Benson and the Bears’ situation.
One of the guys, at the end, said the same thing I’ve been saying: "After Benson’s ‘performance’ in Chicago, he should SHUT UP and just let his play do the talking Sunday.
Yes, you can say the Bears ‘mismanaged’ the situation in Chicago.
However, if Benson came in with the RIGHT attitude, none of it happens.
It’s that simple. Some players come in like the NFL owes tham something. beson was one of those players.
You need to take Walter's name out of your mouth
Because he doesn’t belong in the conversation. No running back compares to him, so if that’s the pathetically ridiculous standard you are holding Benson to, there’s no point in even discussing this with you.
The fact of the matter is, the offensive weapons weren’t very good when Benson was in Chicago. That’s not the case in Cincy. Pretty simple, really. Walter Payton has nothing to do with anything being discussed here.
Umm Chris
Lemme help you out here.
I’m not saying that Benson, in his first few years in the NFL, should ‘compare’ to the great Walter Payton.
Use your head son.
Let’s look at Walter’s first year . . . and Benson’s first year.
Second year . . . and second year.
Walter gained exactly ZERO yards in his first game.
Walter Payton wasn’t always ‘the GREAT Walter Payton.’
That did take a little while to happen.
Here’s the comparison.
Walter came into Chicago, SHUT HIS MOUTH, and ran his ASS off.
Benson came into Chicago . . . and RAN his MOUTH off (and ran the ball for S++T)!
See the difference? Early on. Right from the get-go.
It’s called ATTITUDE.
I’m talking about Walter’s ATTITUDE, from the minute he got to Chicago.
Forget the yardage, the difference between Walter’s attitude and Benson’s was ‘night & day.’
Apparently, using your head means comparing players to Walter Freaking Payton.
Sorry, I don’t do athlete comparisons.
Hey geomak shut up!
No one cares what you think and no one ever will.
by Diesel2405 on Oct 21, 2009 9:13 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Right Diesel
That’s because I actually KNOW what I’m talking about.
That knowledge threatens many. Mostly the ignorant.
Congratulations.
And you know what you are talking about b/c you were in the locker room when he played there huh?
What number are you? Did you ever play? It’s funny how stupid fans think they know so much like they were a part of the team and they were witnesses to everything. Are you the guy who steals the jock straps? Did benson catch you sniffing is cup and kicked your ass?
by Diesel2405 on Oct 22, 2009 12:08 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Right
I needed to be in the locker room to know what went down in Chicago with Benson.
Look, there’s absolutely NO dispute as to what happened there.
No great mystery. None at all.
It’s all well documented.
Is there anything specific that I have said that you care to disagree with?
I think we can all agree on a few things
1- Walter Payton has nothing to do with this discussion. Why bring him up?
2- Benson has changed from being labeled a bust to a highly productive player- currently 3rd in the league for rushing behind a questionable offensive line.
3- The Benson deal has worked out well for both parties. The Bengals got a replacement for Rudi and the Bears picked up a nice rookie RB in Matt Forte.
GeoMak- it does sound like you hold a grudge against Benson and have a case of the sour grapes. I’m sure a lot of us here would too (see the Ocho Cinco “trade me” files) But you’re not going to get anywhere here by flaming Benson. He’s been nothing but great since he came to Cincinnati. I think that it’s both Benson and the Bears management/coaches fault he didn’t fare well in Chicago. So if you’re going to point the finger at Benson, best be pointing another finger at your team as well.
Right
BTW: Has Ced, even once, said something like this: “I made some mistakes in Chicago and a lot of what happened there was my fault.”
I’m guessing . . . NO. I’m guessing, according to Benson, it was all EVERYBODY ELSE’S FAULT. Not his. Pathetic.
Benson needs to buy a full length mirror and take a good look at himself in it.
At this point
You need to just drop it. The bears drafted him. Maybe they should have taken into account his character.
by brandone on Oct 22, 2009 10:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I could care less about Benson
Really.
I just have NO respect for people that blame everyone else but themselves (which is exactly what he does).
That’s all. It’s nothing ‘more or less’ than that.
You might like those kind of people. I don’t.
BTW: Lemme tell you how this one plays out. It’s all ‘peaches and cream’ right now with Cedric. Wait until there’s some adversity. That’s when the true measure of a man is revealed.
Stay tuned.
Ok.
We went 4-11-1 last year. There’s not much more adversity than that. And he finished stronger than he started.
My problem is you don’t blame Chicago as an organization at all. And as much as he sucked in Chicago, he doesn’t take all the blame. That’s why coaches get paid. TO COACH
by brandone on Oct 22, 2009 11:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Umm
I have ALWAYS blamed Jerry Angelo for his part in this mess.
But the bottom line is this (for those of you who DON"T understand pro-football). The RB position is probably the easiest position to transition from college to the pros.
It really doessn’t require a lot of ‘coaching.’
If (and that’s the key word . . . IF) Cedric Benson had come to Chicago with the ATTITUDE he apparently has in Cincy then perhaps his running ability that the Bears drafted him for would ‘show through – as it has in Cincinnati.’
It’s really a question of ‘causation.’ The old ‘Chicken & the Egg.’
If Benson performs in Chicago (like he had at Texas and like he’s now doing with the Bengals) then he’s still a Chicago Bear.
Meaning you do care about Benson?
Perhaps if you use the correct phrase — I could’NT care less — then your point might be a little more valid.
And if you "couldn’t’ care about Benson, why are so busy posting about him, all while comparing his stint in Chicago with one of the greatest players to play the game. Yeah, that sounds a lot like not caring.
For the last time IF
What I DO care about is ACCURACY . . . AND REALITY.
When Benson blames EVERYONE (but himself) for what happened in Chicago (as he CONTINUES to do) he just again reveals himself.
As far as Payton (and please son, try to follow):
A). When a BLOGGER here, tries to blame Benson’s failure in Chicago for their lack of ‘offensive support’ that SIMPLY opens the door for me to bring up one Walter Payton (who probably had LESS support when he went to Chicago).
Get it? (Actually, it’s really not that difficult).
B) Even after his first few seasons with the Bears, Walter WASN’T a ’can’t miss’ HOF’er. That . . . takes time.
I am NOT saying that in his first few seasons in Chiacgo that Cedric should hvae been leading the league in rushing.
I AM saying that, after a few seasons, he should have figured out that his head belongs ON TOP of his shoulder pads . . . and not stuck in his ass.
Get it?
It's mainly Benson's fault.
If he comes in SHUTS his mouth and runs his ASS off, there’s no issue with management.
It’s really telling in the NFL when a rookie comes and in and is pretty much hated by his teammates.
That’s says something (usually about the rookie).
Why bring up Walter?
Simple. Some genius here said that Beson couldn’t succeed in Chicago because of faulty personnel.
Funny, that didn’t stop Walter!
That’s why I brought up Walter: (Both drafted by Chicago, both at #4, and both played on less that great offenses).
See? That’s why?
Hello!!!!!!!
Get it?
Sometimes a change of scenery is in order and you should cool it GeoMak
Cedric came to Chicago on bad terms with high expectations that he did not fulfill. A lot of Bears fans got salty when the Bears ditched Thomas Jones and kept Cedric. He came in with a bad attitude which didn’t win him any favor with players & the media, not to mention that whole “taking himself out of the Superbowl”business which still gets brought up now and again.
That said, it looks like Cedric is in a better situation and is responding well. The Bears just got Gaines Adams who, like CB, is rumored to need an attitude adjustment after not living up to draft expectations, and we picked up Jay Cutler who is supposed to be the NFL’s resident emo quarterback.
All things considered, I would rather the Bears be the team they are now (but make fewer mistakes {ugh that Falcons game was horrible}) then the team they were a few years ago. I am reasonably happy with the way things have turned out and I’m sure you Bengals fans feel the same.
We’re not in the same division or conference, we could be more productive worrying about teams that we see every season, not every 4 years.
I’m looking forward to a good game, though I hope Benson will get shut down just like Turner did.
Why should I cool it?
I can’t STAND people (like Benson) that blame everyone else but themselves.
Be a man, Cedric. Tell the truth.
The Bears wasted one of their highest draft picks on a guy who came in with a ‘Cade McNown’ type of attitude.
That’s all.
If you listen to Benson (and his supporters, however) THIS is what happened.
A) The Bears draft Benson #4 overall in 2005.
B) The McCaskey’s, Jerry Angelo, Lovie Smith, the other coaches, all thr players and the fans CONSPIRE to make life miserable for the ‘new kid on the block.’
PURE STUPIDITY!
I've been reading your posts and
I guess I get it. You can,t stand a person that takes advantage of your hopes and expectations. Cedric wasn’t the player you wanted him to be and wasn’t the player he wanted to be, in Chicago. Now that he has taken advantage of his misfortunes, whether or not it was his fault or the Bears organizations fault, it doesn’t matter what you think. He is doing great here in Cinci and all you can do is gripe about what he did in Chicago. He is not Walter Payton at all and will never be close, but maybe he has that Walter Payton mentality now,here in Cinci. No, he is not Payton, but when he runs all over you guys Sunday, you’ll be thinking that the Organization would have figured out a way to make him product-able when he was there. Every player out there is different and needs an organization to figure out a way to make him successful, along with the individual players cooperation. It takes two!!!!! As it did with Payton, he didn’t do it on his own.
Not entirely
Don’t say the Bears didn’t do anything to develop him, though. They gave him every chance and catered to him, while he just made excuses. He’s found a place where he is liked and respected now and is playing well. People change, good for him.
However, it seems that he regresses when people bring up the Bears situation. GM is right, he IS a liar and the issues behind criticisms of Benson ARE well documented. Even Marvin Lewis admitted that Benson lied about the Bears “blackballing” him.
It’s disappointing to see him working hard and earning the respect of his teammates, then coming back to the Chicago press and pulling that crybaby bullshit this week. Blaming others for your failures I can stand. Everyone rationalizes things. But bald faced lies about the coach who stood up for you and tried to help you is reprehensible.
These things go on all of the time,
That is the problem then!!! They catered to him. Don’t you think? Why cater to him,!!!Every player needs to develop at the beginning. This is the fault of the organization, isn’t it? I know that he is to blame also, but like I said, it takes two. He didn’t regress, he simply just stated his opinion on what they did to him afterwards. It’s an opinion on what he believed that the Bears did to him. He also said that it was in the past and he wants to move forward. REMEMBER, these were questions that the media was asking HIM and he gave his opinion for an answer. It didn’t work in Chicago, so get over it and cheer for Forte!!!!!
These things go on all the time?
Umm, not exactly. Top ten picks washing out with their original team and then finding success with their next team happens, but not ‘all the time.’
As usual, you continue to miss the point. It’s not Benson’s recent commments about supposedly being ‘blackballed.’
It’s the fact that he has NEVER taken any responsibility for what happened in Chicago. Not ONE BIT.
And personally, I can’t stand when people blame everyone else but themselves.
It’s weak.
If you want me to give you some top 10 busts
I’ll be glad to give you that and more. If you want me to give you some success stories that are related to this one, I’ll be happy to do that too.
Give me your 'long list' of top 10 busts that redeem themselves with another team
I’ll wait.
I’ll give ya one. Thomas Jones. Busted out in Arizona, redeemed himself in TB/Chicago.
As I stated, it DOES happen, just not nearly as much as you think.
But I digess. I’ll wait for your list.
No you guys just don't get it
It’s really simple.
I’m happy for you Bengal fans. I’m actually happy for Benson that he turned his life/career around.
Just be a man, Ced, and take some responsibility for what went wrong in Chicago.
Cause the fact of the matter is this:
When a team drafts a guy #4, they BEND OVER BACKWARDS to make it work. If it doesn’t it almost always is the fault of the player. Pure and simple.
Don’t believe me? Look out west at Vernon Davis. Drafted #6 overall, he was considered to be, if not a bust, then certainly a big underachiever. Most 49er fans had grown to hate the guy. Wasted potential is how they viewed him. Million dollar body . . . Ten cent brain.
Only after he was publicly humiliated by new HC Mike Singletary last season did the ‘light bulb’ start to go on for Davis. He is now one of the 49er captains.
Was his career helped out by the fact that he finally ran into a HC that wouldn’t put up with some of his stupid nonsense? Yes.
But why couldn’t Davis have played this way from the beginning?
Answer? He could have and should have.
It’s really just that simple.
You're right, sort of.
Players should play hard and put their best forward from the beginning, but most can’t adjust to the new fame and fortune. They are 22 years old. Can you imagine what you would do if after graduating college someone gave you a contract that would basically give you all the money you’d ever need?
I know I can’t. I’d probably have a big ego because someone was telling me I was the best. I was their guy. People are immature and sometimes it is the responsibility of the coach to break that.
The bears should have never drafted him in the first place. They didn’t need him and it caused a rift in the locker room. He never really had a chance.
That being said, he was immature and shouldn’t have come in like he did. It was both of their faults and they’re both better off for it. At least if forte decides to start playing to his potential this year.
by brandone on Oct 24, 2009 9:05 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
And you too are right brandone, sort of
I agree with all you say about being 22 and just getting a lot of money. I know that first hand, as a friend of mine was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the late 90’s.
That applies to all drafted early.
But you are 100% wrong with this statement:
The bears should have never drafted him in the first place. They didn’t need him and it caused a rift in the locker room. He never really had a chance.
The Arizona Cardinals didn’t NEED to draft Larry Fitzgerald #3 overall in 2004. They had JUST drafted Bryant Johnson and Anquan Boldin the year before in rounds 1 & 2.
That didn’t seem to affect Fitzgerald.
The diference? Character. Fitz has it and Benson is SORELY lacking in that department.
Anyone that argues THAT point just doesn’t get it.
Yes, these things do go on all of the time!!!
You, just don’t get it. This just doesn’t happen to 1st rounders. It happens to a lot of TALENTED players. Organizations cater to TALENTED players whether or not they are drafted in the 1st round or 7th round. It’s harder to handle higher drafted players. Until they stand up and show these beginners who signs their paycheck and they put these players in check, (See Mike Singletary) these things will still continue. What I said was that it takes TWO!!!!!!!!!! If it doesn’t, then we wouldn’t be discussing this situation. A person that does not feel that it is his fault, usually will not admit it was his fault. Until somebody grabs the the bull by it’s horns, it will still continue. Ask Vernon Davis, now that he was put in Check, if he was at fault. He’ll say it was his fault and the former coaching staff was too. You COMMAND respect and you get respect!!!!!! It’s been that way since the beginning of time. Why don’t the Bears stand up and admit that they were in the wrong? They won’t b/c they feel they did everything right and obviously you do too. God, I love how reporters get these things started!!!!!
You amuse me WHYUS
I am glad that you read my comment about Singletary & Vernon Davis.
However, you (no surprise here) MISSED my point.
Yes, coaches should ‘put their foot down’ like Mike Singletary.
But here’s what you DON’T understand. If Mike Singletary HADN’T come along, and if Vernon Davis’s career had ended up being wasted (cause he never had a guy like Singletary on his back) who, in the end, would be at fault?
Ulimately, I say Davis. If he never panned out because his HC didn’t demand that he grow-up, ULTIMATELY, that’s Davis’s failure. Not anyone else’s
Patrick Willis was drafted by and coached by that SAME Mike Nolan. You never hear anyone EVER complain about Willis, do you?
Didn’t think so.
your missing your own point!!!!!
without MS being hired, then VD wouldn’t be a success. Get my (your) point!!!!! Where was the Bears coach Lovie Smith when CB was there. You said they were catering to him, didn’t you. Is that what you call being like Mike!!!! I didn’t think so. So whose fault do you say this is. I say both of their fault. And for my list of players. I didn’t say that they had to go to a different team, so I’ll give you some I think were busts and made a success after some kind of change happened. 1) Eli Manning was a bust before he even was signed with the Chargers. If he stayed with the attitude he had , he would’ve been a big bust. He didn’t want to be there. 2) Vernon Davis, If MS wasn’t hired then he would’ve been a bust. 3) Wait until Braylon Edwards fills this spot too. 4) Ricky Williams was a bust in NO, and Now is a success in Miami. 5) Keyshawn Johnson was a bust too, until they changed coaches and then switched teams. Look, there are even more of these players and I could go on and on, but the real point is, is that it takes two to create a problem and without two sides, there wouldn’t be problem. It only takes one to solve a problem, whether it be either side solving it. Isn’t that what the Bears did. Solve the problem. So I guess you are trying to say, that the players don’t need coaches to be successful. They should already know how to act, play, and understand what the NFL is all about. I kinda thought that is what CB was doing in Chicago. It was up to Lovie Smith to stop catering to him and be like Mike!!!!!!!! Not wait until it was too late to get rid of a bust or a lost 4th rd draft pick. Cinci has dealt with their share of 1st rd bust, but they never panned out elsewhere. That was due to the lack of management and no knowledge of recruiting the players.
By the way,
Management is supposed to manage all aspects of the game. Including players that Know everything, or think they know everything. That is their job. MANAGEment. Well, if they want to be successful.
BTW: It's kind of funny hearing this stuff
from Bengal fans.
In case you haven’t noticed, the Bengals aren’t exactly a ‘model franchise’ when it comes to getting the best out of their players.
It’s actually quite the opposite.
In recent years the Bengals have made far more news for what their players have done ‘off the field’ than on.
Eli was a bust?
before he was even signed with the Chargers?
That’s a ludicrous comment.
Look, for the final time, you miss my point.
Let’s go back to Vernon Davis for a moment. OK.
One can say that he ‘needed’ a tough coach to excell. OK fine.
Patrick Willis didn’t.
Get it?
Try to follow my logic here (emphasis on the word ’logic.)
1. Davis underachieves while a player taken later (like Willis overachieves).
2. A tough, new coach comes in and ‘forces’ Davis to play up to his potential.
3. Obviously, we are left with this. Everything necessary for Davis to play up to his potential has ALWAYS been there. He didn’t get any stronger, better or faster after Singletary became the HC.
Clearly under the SAME HC (Mike Nolan) Patrick Willis had the desire and attitude and character to succeed. Davis DIDN’T.
Maybe Davis needed a kick in the ass. Willis didn’t.
Each man in his own life is responsible for his OWN actions.
Essentialy it’s Vernon Davis’s fault that he underperformed his first few seasons in SF. Not Mike Nolan’s (or anyone else’s)
It’s just that simple. It’s too bad you can’t understand that.
I can understand everything you said ,
You just said it. Maybe CB needed a kick in his ass while with Chicago!!! By LS and MANAGEment. Do you get that. Maybe they should have not catered to him. Since you want to put the blame on just CB then maybe you need a little help. When something goes wrong with the Bengals everybody expects that the player should be more mature than some are. Some are not. That is why Roger Goodell is making the teams responsible for players actions ALSO!!!! That is why there is mentoring that is going on all of the time, to mold these players into what they can be, on and off the field. It’s the management that goes out and throws millions of dollars at these players and caters to their every want.(spoils them) RIGHT!!! CB is responsible for his own actions and the party that ables him to carry on the way that he did, should be responsible also. JUST LIKE MIKE BROWN AND CHIS HENRY!!!!!! Chicago had enough of CB’s bullshit and cut him. They finally solved the problem!!!! By the way, look around the league in the past few years. The Bengals have just as many players in trouble as the next team. Compared with the last six years combined. That is why this shit goes on all of the time with players," in general". A MONSTER CREATING A MONSTER!!!!
Yeah I get 'that.'
And if you need ‘help’ to play the game the correct way DON’T go around blaming everybody else if you don’t ‘get-it.’
Look in the MIRROR. Maybe ASK some of your ‘more accomplished’ teammates and high first rounders (like say Brian Urlacher) how THEY did it.
BU didn't need help and
a lot of other players don’t need help either! Some players do need help and that is what the draft is all about. The MANAGEment is supposed to help these young talented players and not ASSUME THEY ARE AUTOMATIC SUPERSTARS THAT CAN HANDLE SUCCESS WITHOUT HELP!!!!! In CB’s case, they ASSUMED this. WRONG!!!!!!!! That is what I was trying to say. That part was their fault. Do you agree? Assume makes an ASS out of U and ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Though CB needs to acknowledge that he was wrong the MANAGEment (along with you), needs to acknowledge they were wrong. Just like Mike Brown IN A LOT OF CASES. We the fans understand this in Cinci. When you have a owner Like MB, you will get what I am talking about. MB is never wrong and the fans know the difference!!!!!!!! MB will never admit he did wrong and rules this org. with what he thinks is right. “which is often wrong”. One thing I do agree with MB is, that he signs the paychecks and makes it KNOWN! We the fans of Cinci have seen MB in action in the 20 years of reign. It’s not a pretty site to see! It takes two sides to accomplish goals in the NFL.That is what the draft is set up for.
Though CB needs to acknowledge that he was wrong
That’s the problem.
He needs to and he DOESN’T!
That’s essentiallY ALL I have been saying from the get-go.
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