NFL: Bengals' Benson: Bears scared teams away

[Broncos-R-Great]

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_13613941

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Cedric Benson believes the Bears did all they could to prevent him from signing with another team.

Released in June 2008 after two alcohol- related arrests, Benson will come face to face with his former team when the Bengals host the Bears on Sunday. Although he insisted he's not out for revenge and won't try to send a message, Benson clearly has some bad feelings for the Bears.

"I heard all the rumors that were said coming out of Chicago," said Benson, who is third in the league in rushing. "Even the Bengals told me all the things, that they would call and inquire about me and get nothing but negative things. I'm sure that contributed to me not getting picked up right away."

Bears coach Lovie Smith begged to differ, saying, "He was not blackballed by anyone in our organization."

The more I hear about the Bears, the more I dislike them.

[Da Swerski]

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_13613941



The more I hear about the Bears, the more I dislike them.

No one on the Bears went out of their way to keep Benson from getting a job. Though I doubt he got a ringing endorsement either. The guy refused to work when he came to Chicago, and couldn't keep himself from getting in legal trouble off the field. You think if the Marshall ordeal ended badly before the season started the Bronco's would tell other teams "YA HE'S GREAT!"

I have no idea why you wouldn't love Chicago. You're 6-0, you have Kyle Orton, and a lot of draft picks. Am I missing something?

[WhoDeyBengals]

Let me preface this by saying that I have family in Chicago, and I root for the Bears when they're not playing the Bengals. They're far and away my favorite team in the NFC North.

That being said, Benson may have had a primadona attitude when he arrived in Chicago, but the Bears defense's approach to keeping Thomas Jones in the starting role in Chicago was hardly professional, either. They essentially put a hit on the guy. It's well documented. Look it up.

I think Benson had trouble finding work because he had trouble getting a tryout from another team after the alcohol-related incidents. Despite the charges never going anywhere, teams were wary of him. It came down to the Bengals and the Texans, and Benson chose Cincinnati because he was told he'd be the bellwether back. It wasn't about money.

Benson has a ton to prove. He may be third in the league in rushing right now, but a lot of those yards came against teams known for their stoutness against the run... and yet he couldn't get it going against the Texans. Irony.

I expect Benson to tear it up Sunday. He's got revenge in his heart, despite what he may be saying. If anything, I bet he's disappointed Urlacher's out for the year.

[iowabronco24]

No, Benson is being a lil (insert word) about this.

He claims he was blackballed by the bears, he's the one that blackballed the bears. They drafted him at the number 3 pick to be their main guy, and he just flat out blew. Good for him that he's got his stuff together in Cinci now, but he really let his play/actions speak for itself in Chicago, which would be nothing short of pitiful.

[bears6385]

No, Benson is being a lil (insert word) about this.

He claims he was blackballed by the bears, he's the one that blackballed the bears. They drafted him at the number 3 pick to be their main guy, and he just flat out blew. Good for him that he's got his stuff together in Cinci now, but he really let his play/actions speak for itself in Chicago, which would be nothing short of pitiful.

Once Thomas Jones was traded to the Jets in 07' and Benson was handed the starters job he got fat and lazy. It took getting cut for him to get his act together. Blackballed........not a chance.

[bears6385]

Let me preface this by saying that I have family in Chicago, and I root for the Bears when they're not playing the Bengals. They're far and away my favorite team in the NFC North.

That being said, Benson may have had a primadona attitude when he arrived in Chicago, but the Bears defense's approach to keeping Thomas Jones in the starting role in Chicago was hardly professional, either. They essentially put a hit on the guy. It's well documented. Look it up.

I think Benson had trouble finding work because he had trouble getting a tryout from another team after the alcohol-related incidents. Despite the charges never going anywhere, teams were wary of him. It came down to the Bengals and the Texans, and Benson chose Cincinnati because he was told he'd be the bellwether back. It wasn't about money.

Benson has a ton to prove. He may be third in the league in rushing right now, but a lot of those yards came against teams known for their stoutness against the run... and yet he couldn't get it going against the Texans. Irony.

I expect Benson to tear it up Sunday. He's got revenge in his heart, despite what he may be saying. If anything, I bet he's disappointed Urlacher's out for the year.

Urlacher may be gone.......but Roach has played very well in his place, and of course Briggs, Brown, Ogunleye, Adams, Manning are still around to let Benson know the Bears can still hit.

[Broncos-R-Great]

No one on the Bears went out of their way to keep Benson from getting a job. Though I doubt he got a ringing endorsement either. The guy refused to work when he came to Chicago, and couldn't keep himself from getting in legal trouble off the field. You think if the Marshall ordeal ended badly before the season started the Bronco's would tell other teams "YA HE'S GREAT!"

I have no idea why you wouldn't love Chicago. You're 6-0, you have Kyle Orton, and a lot of draft picks. Am I missing something?

I guess its because I used to live near Chicago, and all the Bear's fans just annoyed me, I don't know why they just did. But they're not as bad as the darn Cubs fans, argghhh!!

[bears6385]

I guess its because I used to live near Chicago, and all the Bear's fans just annoyed me, I don't know why they just did. But they're not as bad as the darn Cubs fans, argghhh!!

Just wait till the Cubs win the World Series.........oh right never mind we will all be dead and buried by that time.

[Broncos-R-Great]

Just wait till the Cubs win the World Series.........oh right never mind we will all be dead and buried by that time.

Lol, yeah I guess I gotta praise them, they support a team that will never, ever, win the World Series.

[Angrybearsfan]

Hmm...I thought it was his lack of production and his two arrests that got him kicked off the team.