Bye Bye Benson

The Bears have waived running back Cedric Benson after a tumultuous three year relationship. Benson was charged with DUI over the weekend, less than a month after being accosted by authorities for boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest, charges that Benson and at least one passenger on his vessel disputed. Benson, the fourth overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft, never seemed to find his way into the hearts of Bears fans. An extremely productive back during his tenure at the University of Texas, Benson struggled to make the transition from college to the pros. The former longhorn averaged just 3.4 yards per carry in the 2007 season.

I think this was a move the Bears were forced to make. Benson was given opportunity after opportunity and sometimes management just has to cut a player loose no matter how high he was selected. The move leaves the Bears with seven-year veteran Adrian Peterson and their 2008 second round pick Matt Forte(44th overall) as their likely primary tailbacks. The Bears must have been feeling uneasy about Benson going into the offseason to select a running back that high and drafting Forte looks like a great move now. Credit the Bears for looking ahead and landing a guy who rushed for more than 2,000 yards his senior year at Tulane.
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Permalink - Posted in General on June 10, 2008 - Post a comment