Cedric Benson was arrested for DWI last night in Austin, Tx. He was pulled over after 3:00 a.m. by police. This is bad news for the Bears. He has to go, this Benson. I may have given him the benefit of the doubt on the Boating WI that he received several weeks ago. Now, I know that Benson does not care about winning, his teammates or the fans who support his team. Why can't he stay in or go home early or hire a driver or designate a driver? I could go on and on. These were the same questions we were asking about Tank Johnson a year ago. The Bears cut him despite the fact that his DWI was ultimately dropped. It doesn't matter if Benson is innocent. It's clear that his priority is not football. It's Cedric Benson.
This current disaster happened after I just watched the replay of Benson's best start as a Bear. Bears v. Broncos 2007, the evening Devin Hester tore up the Broncos. Well, early on, Hester muffed a punt which led to a Denver touchdown. It was Benson who kept the Bears in the game. Benson was coming off his 11 carry for 89yard performance against the Seahawks. He had a 43 yard run in that game which the Bears lost. I recall the coaches were criticized for not running the ball more during that game.
Well, they came out running versus Denver. Benson looked great. He ran hard, found daylight and powered downhill. He finished his runs with his pads down. He ran with abandon. He was consistent and looked like a real NFL running back. At least until his last carry, his eighth. It was a good long run, over 10 yards. As he was tackled, he twisted his ankle. Season over. That is the other way we will remember Benson. Arrested or Injured. The only time this moron gets a designated driver is when he is carted off the gridiron. Or being driven from a crime scene in bracelets. I feel woozy.
What's next? We have to find some running backs to plug the hole. It can be done. You just have to be creative. Maybe rookie Matt Forte can cover us until 2009, but I would scour every roster and search for that hidden gem. The Packers got huge dividends for the minor expense it took to snag Ryan Harris from the Giants. Just be active and open-minded, and I guarantee we will come out of this OK. I am talking myself into this. Benson, the bad decisions on and off the field aside, still cannot stay healthy. Hasn't and never will. So, let's say goodbye and move on. I think I'm O.K. now.
On the contract topic, this Devin Hester thing is a real dilemma. He wants out of his rookie deal. I agree. However, he wants #1 receiver money. I cannot agree. As awesome as he is, Hester is not even a solid #2 receiver in the league. He is the greatest returner in league history. There is no set pay level for someone like Hester. He should be the highest paid return guy ever, but I that cannot be enough money. He may never be a good receiver. I suspect that he will, but you can't pay on spec. (See Cedric Benson or any first round bust) Based on past performance, the Bears should front load a 3 year deal with millions in bonus money and heavy incentives on receiving performance. Pay him now for lighting up the NFL for two straight years, but performance base the rest of the dough. After a few years, if Hester becomes an every down stud, he can back up the Brinks truck. Make no mistake, the league will stop kicking to this guy this year. Then, the Bears will have to find new ways to get him the ball. I look forward to that.
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