GRIDIRON ASSASSIN
Footballguy
For those that questioned me when I said Cedric Benson was a bit of a 'headcase' - this from today's Chicago Tribune:
Link
Benson must stop pouting, start finding way to play
by David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune
September 26, 2006
Tuesday's two-minute drill …
With one notable exception, Bears players paraded off the Metrodome field Sunday after their 19-16 comeback victory the way one would expect a team to react after such an emotionally satisfying win.
But the one exception, Cedric Benson, moped around so obviously that you wondered whether he could become a nuisance in a locker room led by veterans who will not tolerate distractions.
The enigmatic running back lagged behind many of his teammates at pace reserved for the injured or weary. Benson was neither, having played not a snap for only the second time in his brief career.
Looking at Benson's vacant expression, it was hard to tell if he was a member of the team that had just stolen a game on the road to remain unbeaten or the one that squandered victory. His body language screamed sniff, sniff.
The contrast between Benson and his jubilant teammates was so noticeable that coach Lovie Smith, assistant Darryl Drake and team chaplain Harry Swayne separately attempted to raise Benson's spirits on the walk off the field.
Later, as the locker room emptied, another senior team employee was huddled with Benson—a lot of attention devoted to an unused backup running back on a first-place team.
It suggested how fragile Benson's psyche is and that the Bears know it. It also spoke to how willing they are to reach out to a high-maintenance player who doesn't know how to be a backup because he never has been one.
But Benson needs to get used to it, at least this season. Bears coaches have offered the "flow of the game" excuse to explain why they stuck with Thomas Jones the entire game, but one theory is the Bears couldn't risk the dropoff in intensity by using Benson.
"We didn't have a lot of running plays and our running game never really got going," Smith reiterated Monday. "We were never into the flow of the game to make that move. It's as simple as that."
Asked about pass-protection issues, Smith downplayed the idea that Benson was a liability. "No, we [just] wanted our best group in there at the time," he said.
Smith stands behind his players publicly, a reason he is so popular with them. But what he would never say is the passion with which the Vikings' defense played required a professional response from the Bears' backfield Benson can't yet provide, whether it was picking up the blitz on passing plays or protecting the football on runs.
Jones never takes a play off and nobody in the huddle or on the sideline ever wonders where his head is. If the Bears could say the same thing about a first-round draft pick in whom they have invested $16 million, then they would have found a way to get Benson in the game against a Vikings defense that limited the running game to 2.4 yards per carry.
The Bears need Benson as they continue this Super Bowl-or-bust season because two backs are better than one, especially one with his talent. But his head and heart must catch up to his body.
One day, perhaps, Benson will be the answer every down. But right now he appears to be too much of a question, one a focused team devoid of divisive issues can't afford to let linger. ...
Link
Benson must stop pouting, start finding way to play
by David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune
September 26, 2006
Tuesday's two-minute drill …
With one notable exception, Bears players paraded off the Metrodome field Sunday after their 19-16 comeback victory the way one would expect a team to react after such an emotionally satisfying win.
But the one exception, Cedric Benson, moped around so obviously that you wondered whether he could become a nuisance in a locker room led by veterans who will not tolerate distractions.
The enigmatic running back lagged behind many of his teammates at pace reserved for the injured or weary. Benson was neither, having played not a snap for only the second time in his brief career.
Looking at Benson's vacant expression, it was hard to tell if he was a member of the team that had just stolen a game on the road to remain unbeaten or the one that squandered victory. His body language screamed sniff, sniff.
The contrast between Benson and his jubilant teammates was so noticeable that coach Lovie Smith, assistant Darryl Drake and team chaplain Harry Swayne separately attempted to raise Benson's spirits on the walk off the field.
Later, as the locker room emptied, another senior team employee was huddled with Benson—a lot of attention devoted to an unused backup running back on a first-place team.
It suggested how fragile Benson's psyche is and that the Bears know it. It also spoke to how willing they are to reach out to a high-maintenance player who doesn't know how to be a backup because he never has been one.
But Benson needs to get used to it, at least this season. Bears coaches have offered the "flow of the game" excuse to explain why they stuck with Thomas Jones the entire game, but one theory is the Bears couldn't risk the dropoff in intensity by using Benson.
"We didn't have a lot of running plays and our running game never really got going," Smith reiterated Monday. "We were never into the flow of the game to make that move. It's as simple as that."
Asked about pass-protection issues, Smith downplayed the idea that Benson was a liability. "No, we [just] wanted our best group in there at the time," he said.
Smith stands behind his players publicly, a reason he is so popular with them. But what he would never say is the passion with which the Vikings' defense played required a professional response from the Bears' backfield Benson can't yet provide, whether it was picking up the blitz on passing plays or protecting the football on runs.
Jones never takes a play off and nobody in the huddle or on the sideline ever wonders where his head is. If the Bears could say the same thing about a first-round draft pick in whom they have invested $16 million, then they would have found a way to get Benson in the game against a Vikings defense that limited the running game to 2.4 yards per carry.
The Bears need Benson as they continue this Super Bowl-or-bust season because two backs are better than one, especially one with his talent. But his head and heart must catch up to his body.
One day, perhaps, Benson will be the answer every down. But right now he appears to be too much of a question, one a focused team devoid of divisive issues can't afford to let linger. ...
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in the first round have been pampered their whole lives and can't accept the fact that they have to EARN playing time.Send me a memo when Benson gets his first NFL TD. Going on a season and a 1/4 now...
Sorry, guy.
