Benson gaining ground with veteran teammates
August 1, 2006
By Larry Mayer
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - Bears running back Cedric Benson is learning that yards aren't necessarily the most important thing to gain in training camp.
Demonstrating tenacity and an excellent work ethic while practicing with the first team, the 2005 first-round pick is earning more respect from veteran teammates with each passing day.
Cedric Benson chats with fellow running back Thomas Jones prior to a recent training camp practice at Olivet Nazarene University.
"I think he's being accepted more by his teammates each day they see him come out here," said coach Lovie Smith. "They're starting to see what type of player he can be."
Respect is earned in the NFL, something that was painfully clear to Benson last season when he missed all of training camp due to a contract impasse.
Looking back on his rookie year, the 5-11, 220-pounder has been telling reporters that he learned "not everybody is your friend."
"Everybody's not your friend," said Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz. "I promise you that not everybody likes me. It's not something we worry about. You find your own friends, but we're all teammates. I promise you we all have his back and we're all on everybody's side.
"It takes a while to earn people's respect. It takes a while for people to have trust in you and faith that you're going to do your job. It all takes a while no matter who you are. I didn't feel that bond with guys until my fifth or sixth year. It always takes a while."
Kreutz laughed when asked whether veterans have accepted Benson as a teammate.
"Of course we do," he said. "But no one's really here to be accepted. I don't care if no one accepts me. We're just out here to play football. You earn respect doing your job, showing up every day and going to work, and he's doing that slowly but surely."
In the first practice with full pads Saturday night, the defense laid some big hits on Benson. But he gained a measure of revenge later in the workout by steamrolling safety Chris Harris.
In subsequent practices Sunday and Monday, the defense has treated him more kindly, though Benson and linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer did collide fairly hard in Monday's workout.
Smith understands the reality of the situation and is glad that Benson is steadily progressing.
Cedric Benson is making strides with each passing day in training camp.
"We're definitely not going to give him anything," said the NFL Coach of the Year. "You have to earn it. Nobody cares what you've done in the past. They're not looking at your college stats.
"But good players normally find a way to get accepted by their teammates and that's what Cedric is doing. We're giving him the football. He's getting a lot of opportunities to show what type of player he is."
With Thomas Jones recovering from a strained hamstring and Tony Hollings no longer with the team, the Bears are down to three running backs in Benson, Adrian Peterson and P.J. Pope.
As a result, Benson has been a workhorse so far in training camp, but the Bears aren't worried about the 23-year-old wearing down.
"We want him to get tired in training camp," Smith said. "We're down two running backs right now, but when you have young players like that, they need every rep they can get.
"He is a physical player. With a young player, each day they should get better. You figure something out differently each day and that's what he's doing."
In recent practices, Benson has done an exceptional job of catching the ball out of the backfield, something he struggled with at times during offseason workouts.
"That's how it's been throughout the camp," Smith said. "I can recall back in OTAs one of his worst days was just based on him not being able to catch the football. But he's worked awful hard. I think he's a complete player and he should show that to us."
Benson sat out Tuesday night's practice with a sore right knee, but said that he plans on participating in Wednesday's 3 p.m. workout.
"I'm not a big fan of missing time," he said, "especially not now because you're preparing for the season and you want to get everything worked out."
"This time during training camp guys are a little sore and we're just making sure," Smith said. "Most running backs during the course of training camp will get sore and need a little bit of time off. Cedric had his day today. Hopefully he'll be back out there tomorrow."
