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Cedric Benson
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There is little doubt the Bengals think highly of RB Chris Perry. They were patient with him even after injuries caused him to miss most of the 2004 and ’06 seasons and all of the ’07 campaign, and he rewarded their faith with a very good training camp this season. When it came time to choose a starting running back, the Bengals chose Perry, not incumbent Rudi Johnson, who was then released.
But Perry hasn’t exactly taken the job and run with it. In his first five starts, Perry fumbled five times, twice more than any other back in the NFL. In a recent interview with PFW, longtime Bengals RB coach Jim Anderson, while chalking up Perry's fumbles to "bad luck," also noted, "You can find all the reasons, but a running back, his job is to hold onto the ball."
As Perry has struggled somewhat, new competition for carries in Cincinnati has emerged. Ex-Bear Cedric Benson, signed after injuries to Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey, has made a positive first impression with his new club. Already he has earned a role in the offense; just five days after signing with the Bengals, Benson rushed 10 times for 30 yards at Dallas.
Benson fell out of favor with the Bears largely because of qualms about his lack of production in his only season as a starter and disgust over him being arrested twice in the span of a little less than a month in the offseason. (Charges in both cases were dropped the week before he signed with the Bengals.) But Anderson told PFW that Benson looks "rejuvenated" after not being with an NFL club at the beginning of the season. "Everyday he is working to play better," Anderson said.
In Cincinnati, Benson has gotten a fresh start — and he appears to be making the most of it. If anything, Benson could push for more playing time in the weeks to come, especially if he can become an asset in the passing game. A scenario where Benson and Perry alternate series is not far-fetched. It should be noted the Bengals are still pleased with some of Perry's performance this season, with Anderson praising his versatilty and competitiveness.
The Bengals have been looking for a way to jump-start their running game for the past couple of years. They were 26th in rushing in 2006, 24th in ’07 and 30th heading into Week Six this season. And from the looks of it, more work for Benson might be the next step they take in this regard.
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