Did the Bears "blackball" Cedric Benson before signing with the Bengals?

by Kirkendall on Oct 22, 2009 4:45 PM EDT in Analysis Comment 37 comments

Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson (32) jumps during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

2 months ago: Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson (32) jumps during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

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It's not like we can ever truly understand what someone like Cedric Benson is thinking. First of all, we're a bunch of blue collar hard workers who wish they had enough money for the Merit Fitness 725T Treadmill -- yes, I'm being forced into getting "healthy". Which means eating leaves. Which means no more necessary late snacks. Which means no more Mountain Dew. Which means crappy light beer. Pain in the ass.

Anyway, one has certainly argued the same point we've heard countless times with draft pick busts. And by means, Benson was a bust for the Chicago Bears. But what really happened in Chicago? Benson has a perspective, even claiming that the Bears talked bad about him while other teams were looking into signing him before the Bengals did.

"I heard all the rumors that were said coming out of Chicago," Benson said. "Even the Bengals told me all the things, that they would call and inquire about me and get nothing but negative things. Just that I didn't work hard, that I was I guess a prima donna or I didn't work hard on the field, just wasn't focused, just anything negative that they could say, it was said. I'm sure that contributed largely to me not getting picked up right away."

"You know how in drafts teams always want you to agree to something before they pick you or they're probably not going to go with you?" Benson asked. "There was a bit of that before I was picked. I never agreed to anything but still managed to get picked there."

For Chicago's part, they denied any of this happened. Now all of that is in the past and now he's found a home in Cincinnati, Benson is happy.

"Dreams are coming true," Benson said. "It's a wonderful feeling, and I will promise you that I will take full advantage of it all the time."

Bengals fans are happy too.

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Bears fan here.

We did not “blackball” Cedric Benson. The Bears did not make Benson receive two D.U.I. charges within the same month. The Bears did not make Benson run his mouth in the locker room and complain about his number of carries. The Bears did not make him start trouble with then RB Thomas Jones because he thought he deserved to be the #1 back. The Bears did not make him underachieve on the field. We even got rid of Thomas Jones to give him the spotlight and he didn’t do anything while he was in it. Now that Cedric is having success he wants to complain like he had been producing like this the whole time he was in Chicago, which is completely false. The guy just needs to play, shut his mouth and be happy Urlacher is on IR.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on Oct 22, 2009 5:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I grew up in Chicago and next to the Bengals, the Bears are my team. I never understood why Angelo chose Benson over Jones, who already proven himself to be a very capable back. Benson also did not do himself any favors by holding out as long as he did. To be fair, his problems with the law were blown way out of proportion as he was later cleared of all charges. However, the charges added to his persona of being aloof and not being a team player and were ultimately the reason the Bears chose to release Benson. I am happy to see that Benson has learned from his past mistakes and from what I have read seems to have become a team player.

by MrBungle on Oct 22, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah he did become a team player now it seems

and is pretty damn productive for the Bengals. It’s a shame that the Bears were stupid enough to let Thomas Jones go after our trip to the Super Bowl for Benson to step right in but the Bears management are pretty much incompetent. I was personally happy the day that we released Benson. Our running game better step up now because there are two ex-Bears running wild that we released.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on Oct 22, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ya what's up with Forte?

Was last year a fluke?

by MrBungle on Oct 22, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I pray that it was not a fluke.

The guy is a great runner but he needs good blocking in front of him because he tends to run upright. Once he gets through the line he is dangerous with his cuts but he is showing that he can’t really make something out of nothing. Our O-line has 3 new starters on it and they haven’t really gelled too well this season. Frank Omiyale is our starting LG and he is a huge problem with our line IMO. I’ve been praying they would put in Josh Beekman who was our starting LG last season when Forte had his breakout year but Omiyale makes more money than Beekman and that’s pretty much how our team operates. If you make more money, you start regardless of talent. It’s crap.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on Oct 22, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the analysis

I haven’t had a chance to follow the Bears too closely this year. I was think maybe Forte was a beneficiary of the Orton effect. Just kidding.

But in seriousness, you have to question, which I am sure you have, the offensive player development when three skill position players seem to be thriving under three different systems.

by MrBungle on Oct 22, 2009 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Urlacher is a shell of the player he used to be. His skills have been in decline for several years now.

by MrBungle on Oct 22, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is true.

But he also had back and neck surgery and wasn’t fully healthy the past two seasons. We were all looking forward to him returning to form before he had his freak wrist accident which pissed me off beyond belief. With that said, I was meaning Urlacher and most of the Bears didn’t care for Benson and he would definitely be gunning for him come Sunday. Briggs will be trying to ring his bell I’m sure.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on Oct 22, 2009 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Benson probably wasn't too smart in giving the Bears extra incentive to smack him around.

by MrBungle on Oct 22, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trust me

they had this game circled on their calender since the schedule broke. He is just adding fuel to the fire. The Bengals also have Tank Johnson on their roster who was on the Bears during their Super Bowl season, I’m sure it’s personal to him as well.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on Oct 22, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really disagree with Benson giving the Bears extra incentive to "smack him around"

You really think players in the NFL need any more motivation to play their best? These guys (most of them at least) are professionals and want to perform to earn bigger contracts. If you need ANY extra motivation to play better in the NFL then something is seriously wrong with you.

by WhoDeyDerek on Oct 23, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"The guy just needs to play, shut his mouth and be happy..."

Dude has a right to voice his opinion. He hasn’t said a damn thing about the Bears until a couple of days before this game when — GASP — he was asked about his time there.

WTF did you expect him to say?

by IFChris on Oct 22, 2009 5:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I said be happy Urlacher is on IR.

Actually Benson said he would have 2,000 yards if he was playing for the Bears last season while Forte was having a good rookie season and he said things about the Bears being unfair to him. This is his second stint and bitching about the Bears. Pay attention.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on Oct 22, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha

be happy #54 is on IR, i like it. i bet urlacher will hate life more than most missed games this sunday. i am sure there will be some quality collisions between bears lb’s and benson on sunday. hopefully none of them involve benson running over people like his college days.

maybe some of benson getting tackled by yard stripes like he did in chicago a few times would be nice instead.

by reefermadness3 on Oct 22, 2009 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I cut your quote off

The Urlacher crap didn’t pertain to what I was responding to. Or don’t you pay attention?

by IFChris on Oct 22, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then cut off "and be happy" as well

because I’m not saying he should be happy in general, I’m saying he should be happy Urlacher isn’t going to be smacking him around all Sunday. When you say:

He hasn’t said a damn thing about the Bears until a couple of days before this game when — GASP — he was asked about his time there.

that is where you need to pay attention before you make a statement like you know what your talking about. Had this not been the second consecutive season that he started bitching about the Bears, I wouldn’t care about what he had to say and he could whine all he wanted but now he just sounds like an idiot who doesn’t realize he brought all of his troubles on himself. Do your homework before you talk.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on Oct 22, 2009 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you know what an ellipsis indicates?

Apparently, not.

Moving on, this isn’t about homework. You can infer whatever you’d like. He was asked a question and he answered it. If that’s too much for you handle, then I don’t know what to tell you.

by IFChris on Oct 23, 2009 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am aware of what an ellipsis indicates

I just didn’t like where you chose to break the sentence. It’s about homework when you make a statement that this was the first time it happened. The guy clearly brought everything on himself and your too much of a Benson homer to realize it because he’s rushed for a little over 500 yards so far this season. I guarantee if he wasn’t playing well you’d be telling him to shut his mouth and focus on your team winning.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on Oct 23, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

But it’s not like he went on a media tour. He’s been largely quiet this week except when they’ve asked him about it.

I’m more angry at Thomas jones. That guy is killing me in one of my fantasy leagues.

by brandone on Oct 23, 2009 2:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Im Happy :)

Bears fans are sad :(

CB85......Collaros for Heisman

by TennBengalfan on Oct 22, 2009 5:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We're not sad about Benson

Forte is more than capable and has been more productive then Benson has ever been. We just have to get our run game going consistently and we’ll be fine. It’ll probably start against your D-line this Sunday.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on Oct 22, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm not trying to nitpick

but forte isn’t the 1st or 2nd leading rusher in the nfl. which means he hasn’t been more productive than benson this year.

as for the blackball thing, no one on this blog was on the phone with mike brown or angelo or smith or lewis when the bengals we inquiring about benson. so if the bengals coaches say that the bears were talking bad about him, i’m inclined to trust them. and i’m not saying they didn’t have every right to say negative things about him, he wasn’t good in chicago. but benson said they were blackballing him and they were. plain and simple. it may have been deserved, but he was just speaking the truth.

by brandone on Oct 22, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What I don't get

is why you would be so inclined to believe bengals coaches or benson or who ever. Like you stated “no one on this blog was on the phone with mike brown or angelo or smith or lewis when the bengals we inquiring about benson” so how would one side be more viable then the other? benson is having an excellent year he tore up the ravens, but I’m not going to believe that he wasn’t picked up because the bears where bad mouthing him. Maybe he should have looked in the mirror and realized his production was the reason he wasn’t catching on anywhere or when teams were inquiring the bears where “just speaking the truth.” as you so elegantly put it.

by rlbigtime on Oct 22, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

I’m inclined to believe the bengals coaches since they have no reason to lie about it. Whereas Chicago coaches wouldn’t want to look bad. But like I said, I don’t care if they were blackballing him, in fact, I said they had reason too. I figured you’d pick that quote out too, but I guess it doesn’t fit your argument.

I do find it funny how much animosity Chicago fans have for him. Although many have the same hatred for houshmanzadeh here. We just don’t play Seattle this year.

by brandone on Oct 22, 2009 8:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Benson is the 3rd leading rusher in the NFL

and I was referring to at seasons’ end, Forte has had more total rush and reception yards than any of Benson’s during his NFL career. Of course Forte has not played as many seasons as Benson, but I’m just saying he has been more productive than Benson has during his rookie year alone. The Bears coaches didn’t have to say anything bad about Benson, all they had to do was watch the news and see for themselves. If anything they probably mentioned how he was in the locker room and his work ethic which I guarantee the Bengals inquired about. I just don’t get why he thinks that the Bears put all this heat on him when he brought all of it on himself.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on Oct 22, 2009 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm not too sad about it either

i liked watching him in college and was disappointed that his attitude and on-field production were both stinky diapers during his time with the bears. glad (sort of) that he’s found a place to play up to his potential at. i’ll still take forte though, current crappy running game and all, over benson. especially with no kevin jones backing him up this year as was planned.

actually that makes me think of a question for bengals fans: how is benson in the passing game? is he consistently picking up blocks and being a reliable dumpoff guy?

by reefermadness3 on Oct 22, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not too bad

he’s not tearing it up out of the backfield, that’s more of a brian leonard job, but he’s servicable as a checkdown option. his blitz pickups have been decent as palmer hasn’t been on his back nearly as much this year as he has in the past few. i’ve seen him whiff on a few chip blocks, but no one is really expecting him to be perfect. overall i’d say i’m happy. if he was a better receiver out of the backfield i’d be ecstatic though.

by brandone on Oct 22, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well sounds like he has improved his game overall then

except for this sunday of course, hopefully he won’t be a liability as a pass blocker like he used to be. that was a huge reason for the hate in chicago. just from seeing highlights on tv i see enough weapons for palmer anyway, the bears d is going to have to play a lot less sloppy (preferably with an actual pass rush this time too) than their last game to have a good chance of winning.

by reefermadness3 on Oct 22, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You do have a 12th defensive player

If we throw to our tight ends. They’re excellent at fumbling and knocking down passes.

by brandone on Oct 22, 2009 8:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

That's ok

because we have a problem counting how many men are on the field anyway. We might have 13 for some plays then including your tight ends.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on Oct 22, 2009 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol cincy TE

are the most frustrating thing I have ever seen. Seriously I think last sunday one got drilled in the head by Palmer because he wasn’t looking. Thats what preseason injuries do to a team though.

by rlbigtime on Oct 24, 2009 5:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If it had no effect on you....

we wouldnt be discussing it
Im just saying you wish he was this good for the Bears

CB85......Collaros for Heisman

by TennBengalfan on Oct 22, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm wishing I had a productive run game, period.

I don’t care about Benson anymore. I’m just wondering why he can’t let it go since he is excelling like he never did with the Bears. It shouldn’t matter.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on Oct 22, 2009 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shut Up and Play Football

We got rid of TJ and Corey Dillon for a reason.

by jrscheper on Oct 23, 2009 9:30 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Rarely when the ...

hatred runs this deep is it one party’s fault. My guess, Benson came in, at the very least, a bit cocky, as many 22-year-old (going on age 16) high-draft picks are known to do. My guess, the Bears probably had some jerks on the team back then who made things worse. So when an immature Benson was slow to adapt to the NFL game the tension mounted. And mounted. The cork finally popped. But both parties are now remarried. Ain’t love grand.

by Timzilla on Oct 23, 2009 6:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cedric Will Come Back Down to Earth

Back in the day when men were men & Bears were Bears, coaches & players would make fumble predictions. in the aftermath of Forte’s rough time in Atlanta last weekend make it two for Cedric. He will put it on the ground twice, leading to at least 10 points for the Bears and he will blame the police or the Bears front office for him dropping the ball. it’s a conspiracy all the time with this guy. Just try to hold onto the ball Cedric. . . . the brown one.

by Overnighter on Oct 24, 2009 9:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Your post doesn't ...

make sense. What does “… when men were men & Bears were Bears” mean? And what does " … Forte’s rough time in Atlanta last weekend" have to do with Benson fumbling this week? Since being in Cincy, Benson has not been a fumbler, a blamer, nor a promoter of conspiracies. What the hell does this post mean?

by Timzilla on Oct 25, 2009 4:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs