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Cedric Benson
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Bears RB Cedric Benson’s timing couldn’t have been any worse. While Matt Forté, the Bears’ second-round draft pick, was busy looking extremely impressive at the team’s rookie minicamp this past weekend, improving his chances to become the Bears’ new starting running back this season, Benson was busy getting busted near Austin, Texas, last Saturday evening. The Bears’ beleaguered running back was arrested on charges of boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest — charges that he has vehemently denied.
On the final day of the Bears’ rookie minicamp, Bears head coach Lovie Smith said he was very disappointed in Benson but that he wanted to get the complete story on exactly what happened before considering any specific actions. At this writing, Bears GM Jerry Angelo was unavailable for comment.
The PFW spin
Even before Forté started strutting his stuff this past weekend in camp activities, the consensus among daily team observers seemed to be that it would be only a matter of time before the second-round draft pick took over the starting RB job from Benson, who already was entering this offseason with concerns over the ankle injury that prematurely his 2007 season (he claims he’s 98 percent healed).
After Benson’s unfortunate boating incident, that time could be coming sooner than later. Benson’s shortcomings as a player have been well documented, but it’s his shortcomings in the “character” department that now threaten to be his major undoing. He was arrested twice during his college days and now has had three brushes with the law in the past six years — a court record that is likely to raise eyebrows anew in league headquarters.
Forté, meanwhile, already has shown the Bears enough to convince them he is a more complete three-down back than Benson, especially in terms of his pass-catching ability. Benson will probably be considered the No. 1 back heading into training camp, but by that time, Forté will probably be No. 1A.
Related Articles:
Forté makes strong early impression
May 2, 2008
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