[CBFF] AP - Chiefs' Johnson sympathizes with Benson's slow start in Chicago

[Jerry Madsen]

Thursday, September 13, 2007
Chiefs' Johnson sympathizes with Benson's slow start in Chicago

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Associated Press

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- He wasn't looking for advice, but if Cedric Benson 
needed some, Larry Johnson could probably offer it.

He understands.

Johnson waited his turn in Kansas City and replaced a popular running 
back, just as Benson did with the Chicago Bears.

"When I came in, everybody was anti-Larry Johnson," Johnson said. "You 
kind of had to win the crowd over as far as your play because any 
mistakes you did, they would have pointed out, 'That's why we didn't 
need him here.' As soon as I had the opportunity, I seized it. And it 
made more sense where people were like, 'OK, it seems like a smart move 
by the organization bringing Larry Johnson in.' "

Johnson replaced Priest Holmes and developed into one of the game's best 
running backs. Benson is getting his opportunity now that Thomas Jones 
is with the New York Jets. First impressions haven't been good.

He carried 19 times for 42 yards and fumbled once as the Bears dropped 
the season opener at San Diego 14-3, and that came after a sluggish 
preseason. Of course, it's early. Extremely early.

And a good outing against Kansas City at Soldier Field on Sunday would 
be a step toward erasing those doubts.

Benson shrugged off the San Diego game.

"It was Week 1 against a really good run-defense team," he said. "It was 
good for us. It gave us a chance to see the areas we really need to 
improve on. We can only get better."

The perception is he got the job because of his potential more than his 
previous production, that management is taking a leap of faith and 
trying to justify a high draft pick. If Benson produces, there will be a 
safe landing. Otherwise, there could be a loud thud.

Then again, the running game needed time last season.

Chicago rushed for 89 yards or less in three of its first six games, 
including 38 yards at Arizona in Week 6. The Bears rallied from a 
20-point deficit to win by a point that night, and the running game got 
going afterward.

Jones ran for 1,210 yards. Benson got stronger as the year went on and 
finished with 647, averaging 4.1 per carry.

Management then delivered on a promise it had made to Jones and traded 
him in the offseason, a risky move but one it deemed necessary. Jones 
and Benson had a chilly relationship at best and both probably would 
have been unhappy sharing the load this season. So the Bears handed off 
to someone who has shown glimpses of brilliance but has been hurt every 
year since being taken fourth in the 2005 draft.

Benson has also rubbed teammates the wrong way at times. But the Bears 
were quick to rush to his defense after Chargers linebacker Shaun 
Phillips called him soft in a radio interview this week, saying trash 
talk and a few hits can rattle him. A surprising assertion considering 
one of the main knocks on Benson is that he absorbs too much contact and 
needs to add a little finesse to his game.

"I see myself cut back, make some moves in the open field," Benson said.

And teammates see a running back who is anything but soft.

Quarterback Rex Grossman pointed out that Houston safety Glenn Earl 
suffered a broken ankle when Benson ran him over in the preseason. 
Center Olin Kreutz fired back at San Diego, saying, "They won their 
first game, you would think they were Super Bowl champs the way they run 
their mouths."

And offensive coordinator Ron Turner said the Bears "did a lot of good 
things in the running game against San Diego," even though they ran for 
just 80 yards.

If Benson falters, the other options at the moment are Adrian Peterson 
and rookie Garrett Wolfe. In other words, the Bears need him to produce.

Quickly.

Not too long ago, Johnson was in a similar spot. He had 20 carries as a 
rookie in 2003 and 140 total in his first two seasons -- 84 fewer than 
Benson. Then, he ran for 1,750 yards in 2005 and 1,789 last year.

"I can understand and sympathize with what he had to go through," 
Johnson said. "When his opportunity came, he had to take full advantage 
of it. It was his time to shine. He took full advantage of it, and 
that's what you have to do in this league."