Twist of fate: Benson out

Bears coach Lovie Smith stood behind Cedric Benson all season, expressing faith that the third-year running back would silence his critics with breakout games.

[Corrections Officer]

to it was your last game you lame jerk ha ha good for you they should have broken it in ten places you punk...

[Bill]

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Benson gone ?,--- No great loss.

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[Go SOX-Hawks-Bears]

well.... I wanted Benson replaced but it sucks it was this way. I hope you get better Cedric. I have a feeling you will lose your job with the Bears next season so good luck with whoever.

[Go SOX-Hawks-Bears]

Oh Yea, WELCOME AP. We will now see a running back with a heart bigger than he is and the chance to improve the Bears alot on Sundays.
Good Luck Mr.Peterson!

[Slickster]

Well, if old Ced heals like he runs, this will be a two year ordeal! Might have to wake him up to go to rehab.

So, now we're down to Adrian Peterson, who at least runs with enthusiasm, if less supposed talent than Benson and a cast of whatever can be picked up on the open market.

Makes me think wistfully of a guy named Bob Thomas. You remember him; 1200 yards last year, kept defenses honest, ran like he had stolen something, made the entire offense work - to the extent it is capable. Let's see, now, where is he? Oh, yeah, he was dispensable in the mind of Mr. Angelo and now makes his home in New York.

Clint Eastwood had a name for the Bears entire operation that he used in "Heartbreak Ridge." Anyone else remember it and see the parallel?

[benzwrench]

So long Cedric, you lazy SOB. Wonder why nobody cheered you off the field Sunday? NOBODY CARED! You demonstrated to fans game after game by your actions that you didn't care and now you know why the fans didn't care about you. Goodbye to another WASTE of a draft pick. Let this be a lesson to management. DON'T give out those big signing bonuses anymore. Probably won't happen but I for one pay for performance. Bears, DON'T bring him back. Set an example now. Give the ball to the guy that deserves it for good- Peterson. You know, the guy that carried five guys four yards for a score. Remember a guy named Matt Suey? I think you got another one in Peterson.

[Bill]

Slickster wrote:

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Makes me think wistfully of a guy named Bob Thomas.---------

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I thought that you were referring to Bob Thomas, the long-ago Bears kicker.------ He, too, ran harder than Benson !!

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[Teacher in Illinnois]

Cedric was never worth the money to begin with. See ya jerk.

[Joss Fan]

Don't be mean to Cedric. But it will be nice to see Peterson in there.

[Slickster]

Bill wrote:

<quoted text>
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I thought that you were referring to Bob Thomas, the long-ago Bears kicker.------ He, too, ran harder than Benson !!
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Brain cramp; too early in the morning! Thomas Jones, that is. All other points remain as originally stated!

[Mark]

Everyone talks about Peterson's "heart" as if it will matter behind our swiss cheese offensive line. He had 17 carries for 45 yards on Sunday. 2.6 yards per. That's worse than Benson's horrid season average. But those 2.6 yards per carry had a lot of heart and enthusiasm, I'm sure.

[ddog60]

Remember Curtis Enis? What was he, a 3rd overall pick? Classic mistake. Oh yeah, how about the infamous Rashaan Salaam? He was high throughout his career. Going way back, how about Joe Moore from Missouri?? Now, it's Benson as the wasted 1st round pick. It's obvious, stay away from running backs in the 1st round. Who has succeeded as a 1st rounder for the Bears not named Walter Payton or Gale Sayers?

[Tim]

Yeah, Mark did you see when our Ap ran into the end zone in a mountain of guys? I mean did he blast off stellar gains? No, but he played pretty good and just didn't fall over after a gain of 2 yards...I hate to see anyone get hurt but this COULD be fortuitous?!

[quills]

Who is Smith B.S.ing? Went out on a good run???? If you call what Benson has done lately getting better then your expectations are lower than I thought. Has not had a 100 yard game, averaging 3.4 yds all season long. Only 2 or 3 runs over 20 yards long ever in his career. Can anyone say Ennis? Guy is terrible for running back. Peterson gave more effort and results on 1 run Sunday than Benson has in 3 years. When are people going to get sick of what Smith is giving us? It never ends all smoke and no fire. Please Bears get rid of him!!!!!

[DA GOOSE]

Where's the "A Train" now that we need him? Oh yeah, he went to another NY team along with one of our coaches! Maybe we need to send the rest of our coaching staff to NY, then we wouldn't have to worry about the Giants coming to town this week.

[ddog60]

Oops. I just read a column that mentions Neal Anderson. He was also good and was a 1st rounder, even if it was the LAST pick in the 1st round in '86.

[theoutlaw]

Benson sat out the entire pre season in the begining of his career and now he is sitting out the end of his career.How come nobody starts asking "Junior" McCaskey any questions?He is too busy spending and enjoying the money you season ticket holders give him plus the "PSL" money

[boonasty51]

It's the end of an era ... whatever era that is or was, I don't know. Benson should go ... the Bears should cut ties and move on. AP will get them through the season, but in no way is he the long term answer. The free agent market for RBs looks decent, but none of them with the exception of Michael Turner look to be a good fit as many are aging and at the end of their career. If we think Jamal Lewis is going to come here and run like he is in Cleveland, Angelo is still smoking from the wrong pipe. First and foremost, shore up an offensive line that can run block as apparently they've forgotten how to do that.

Benson wasn't good, was never going to be good and had the potential to be, well, not very good. Send him to the Dolphins for cash ... that way he can team up with Ricky and the two can relive their Longhorn years ... when they actually seemed to like and were interested in playing football.

[Florida Jim]

Benson has been an up and down player with very few successes. He has shown a small improvement recently but limited runs due to Turner's rigidity in sticking to a game plan even after Benson had started excellently kept his performance down. Once again Sunday he started well and was loose for a touchdown when he leaned too far forward while heading for the end-zone and tripped himself over the ten-yard line. Instead of being able to decide after the season whether he should be kept or let go another off-season decision awaits us.

[Joe]

I feel bad for bensen, its sad to see any player finish his season short due to injury. I dont care how bad he was. I do pray for a healthy return next season. I cant blame bensen for the running game, although he does some stupid things like trip over his own feet, but hey, stuff happens. I think if the O-line wasnt so damn horrible, then he would of had a better season. We may never know.