[CBFF] Benson, Bears insist back wasn't pouting

[Phil DeNomme]

(hopefully this wasn't posted already but a good read about Benson and his
so called pouting)

 

 

 

 

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Lovie Smith rarely if ever comments directly on
something that was written or said in the media, but he did just that
Wednesday in defending Cedric Benson. 

 

Two Chicago newspaper columnists accused the Bears running back of sulking
and pouting after Sunday's comeback win in Minnesota because he did not play
in the game. The claims were made based on his body language leaving the
field and in the locker room. 

 

 

After rushing for 59 yards on 21 carries in the first two games of the
season, Cedric Benson did not play Sunday in Minnesota. 

One of the reporters wrote that Benson "moped around so obviously that you
wondered whether he could become a nuisance in a locker room led by veterans
who will not tolerate distractions."

 

"There is some inaccurate information coming out about Cedric Benson and
whether we're disappointed in him and the reasons why he didn't play this
past week," Smith said. "I would just like our fans to know that Cedric
Benson practiced very well last week. He's doing everything that we've asked
him to do right now. 

 

"He's a big part of what we're going to do around here. I couldn't be more
pleased with how he's handling playing behind a good player in Thomas Jones.
Hopefully this week we'll get him some more playing time. He had another
excellent practice today and we'll go from there."

 

Benson rushed for 34 yards on 11 carries in the season opener at Green Bay
and 25 yards on 11 attempts the following week against Detroit. While he did
not play in Minnesota, he insists that he wasn't unhappy. In fact, he was
one of the first players to greet Rex Grossman on the sideline after the
quarterback threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Rashied Davis. 

 

"I know I wasn't pouting," Benson said. "Come on, that's not me. You really
think I was sitting on the sideline whining about not playing after a win
like that? I was very excited about the win.

 

"I still have the same mind frame I had many weeks before. I just know my
time will come around. There was a game last year where it was kind of
similar. It was a tight game and I didn't get out there. It didn't surprise
me or anything like that. I'm not the starting running back. I wasn't ticked
off. I was glad we won. I was really proud for Rex and his performance."

 

While one of the reporters that wrote about Benson's demeanor didn't even
attend Sunday's game, the Bears running back revealed that others have
misread him in the past.

 

"I've gotten that a few times," Benson said. "Some people have a
predetermined thought about how you might be or who you might be, but you
never really get to know anybody until you spend some time with them. If
we're just going off looks and appearances, I mean everybody's having a bad
day every day.

 

"Of course, nobody should be judged. It's not fair for us to sit here and
judge one another. But going off the circumstances of the situation, (in)
the sport, (with) the media, it's just part of it. It's something I have to
walk away from."

 

Benson, the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft, is happy to be playing
for one of six 3-0 teams in the NFL and is confident that he will become a
more significant part of the offense.

 

"Naturally you wanted to be a part of (Sunday's win)," he said. "It (stinks)
I didn't get to play. But hey, we won. I'm able to get up every morning and
come in this building every day and work hard every day knowing that the
sail is going to turn. I know it will. I'm just going to be patient on that
and let it work itself out and make great things happen when it does turn."

 

While the veteran Jones will remain the starter, Bears coaches are pleased
with Benson's attitude and ability and see him contributing sooner rather
than later.

 

"It's just an issue of more experience," said offensive coordinator Ron
Turner. "Cedric's going to play. Cedric practiced really well last week and
had a good day of practice (Wednesday). We're going to get Cedric in there.
We need him to get in and play, and he's going to play and he'll make some
plays for us. He's ready to go."