Benson holds nothing back
Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson had a lot to say Wednesday about his tenure with the Bears.
Space constraints limited how much of Benson's comments we could include in the print edition of Thursday's newspaper. For those who are interested in reading more comments from the offbeat running back, a full transcript of Benson's interview is below.
Q: You're facing your old team this weekend. What will that be like?
A: It’ll be fun. Kind of like every Sunday, you know. Granted, this one has a little bit of significance considering that I was once there. It will be a lot of fun. It will be fun to see some of the guys I used to play with and get to play against them.
Q: Will you have an extra determination to send the Bears a message Sunday?
A: I would think that it would take a lot more than just having a good game against the Bears to send a message like that. I’m not out to necessary prove it. I’m out to be the best player I can be in this game. I’m out to be pleased, overly ecstatic, about my performance on a daily basis. I think through the consistency throughout the season and a wonderful performance and helping this team get to a playoffs, ultimately to a Super Bowl, that will prove or relay any message that might need to be relayed.
Q: What went wrong here?
A: That’s a good question. I don’t know. I couldn’t place my finger on it. I wasn’t the one who told me that I was no longer a part of the team. I could not tell you exactly what went wrong.
Q: Why have you been more successful in Cincinnati?
A: I don’t know. Maybe here they wanted it to work. Maybe here they were more inclined to making it work, I don’t know. I came to this team when this team needed a lift. I as well needed a lift. Or I was on my way toward an upward climb. I came here and provided it. Maybe they saw something in me that I believe very few people there saw but did see. They wanted to make it work and it sure has.
Q: Do you feel like the Bears hurt your chances to catch on with another NFL team?
A: Yeah, no doubt. Of course, there was a lot – I mean, I heard all the rumors that were said coming out of Chicago. Even the Bengals told me all the things, that they would call and inquire about me and get nothing but negative things. Just that I didn’t work hard, that I was I guess a prima donna or I didn’t work hard on the field, just wasn’t focused, just anything negative that they could say, it was said. I’m sure that contributed largely to me not getting picked up right away.
Q: But Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Lovie Smith recommended you.
A: I greatly appreciated [that]. I think Lovie knew the deal. Lovie saw what few did see up there. Lovie saw what Cincinnati was getting. So I definitely appreciate him saying positive things about me.
Q: Why were you unpopular with your teammates here?
I don’t know. That’s a good question. Some questions that you all ask are very interesting because I don’t have the answers. I think there was once upon a time where I would like to have known the answer. But now it kind of doesn’t really matter anymore. But I couldn’t pinpoint it. I remember there being a lot of talk about the holdout and things like that, but that’s quite ridiculous in this business because there are holdouts involved. It’s not just football, there’s the business of contracts involved. I’m sure there was once upon a time where many players on that team had a holdout or something along those lines.
Q: How did you jump-start the Bengals' running game?
A: I came in working hard. I came in with no complaints. I came in not looking back and moving forward and working hard. I think maybe I provided some momentum within the organization or on the team, maybe a little spark. Whatever opportunities the offense gave me, I took full advantage of.
Q: After the Bears released you, did you ever think you were done with football?
A: No, that thought never really crossed my mind. I always assumed that at some point it would happen. I was working hard to make sure I was ready when the opportunity presented itself.
Q: How good does it feel to be a top-three rusher in the NFL?
A: I can’t put it into words how good it feels. This is what I worked for. This is what I dreamed about when I deamed of being a professional player. Dreams are coming true. It’s a wonderful feeling and I will promise you that I will take full advantage of it all the time.
Q: So would you go into the Hall of Fame as a Bear or a Bengal? (laughter)
A: I would definitely have to go as a Bengal, considering that I never really got jump started there in Chicago. I mean the one year I had where I started, I think I got 7 games under my belt before I got hurt and was out for the season. Prior to that, I hardly ever really played. Couple carries here, couple carries there, but I never really got an opportunity to get my socks wet.
Q: Looking back, would you do anything differently with the Bears?
A: Knowing what I know now? Looking back on it, if I could change anything, I would not pay attention to anything that I had no control over or whether my opinion mattered or not. I would just stay focused on my job. ... Just stay focused on absolutely only the things that I’m in control [over].
Q: Have you fared better in Cincinnati because you came in as the main running back, instead of splitting time with someone as you did with Thomas Jones?
A: I think what that did was provided like a slot for me to kind of ween my way into the acceptance of the team as a guy who could be in a big role for the team. Nothing better could have happened. It may have been a different outcome, may have, had I gone to a team that was decent or that was not struggling so much in the running game or that was winning. It may have been a different outcome. ... But I think largely the fact that this team was where it was at the time that I got here contributed a lot to things getting off on a very, very good foot.
Q: Did you ever wonder why the Bears drafted you so high when they already had Jones?
A: Sometimes, yes. I remember there was – you know how in drafts, teams always kind of wants you to agree to something before they pick you, or else they’re probably not going to go with you or something like that. There was a bit of that going on before I was picked and still managed to get – never agreed to anything – but still managed to get picked there. I didn’t know much about the Bears or their running game or anything prior to, but I believe that there was somebody or a small group of people, very small, who saw the potential and where they wanted to take the team as a running game and where it needed to go. And I think they saw that in me. That’s why I got picked. But I think there was an over largely group much bigger than the group who was for me that wasn’t really for me.
Q: Did Bengals players welcome you right away, or did it take some time?
A: They were very welcoming. Like I said, this team was in need of a spark and I didn’t come in saying too much. I just came in and went straight to work. Hit the ground running. I think everybody took heed to that, took notice, and respected it and appreciated it.
Q: Did the way your time with the Bears ended especially hurt?
A: Yeah. There was a moment where I was pretty down and out. There were times where I was sitting at home on the couch reflecting on everything. I couldn’t believe where I had, I guess, gave myself an opportunity to be at now. Jobless, fourth pick, first round. There were a few times where I was kind of down on myself. But I knew that would get me nowhere. All I wanted to do from that point on was to move forward. So I accepted the situation and found a way to learn from it, found a way to be somewhat thankful that it happened, and move forward.
Q: You said Lovie "knew the deal." Did the rest of the offensive coaches support you?
A: [Long pause] No. I think the offensive line staff was, I think they saw a lot of things and appreciated me. But for the most part, I don’t really think so.
Q: What about your teammates?
A: I don’t know. I don’t know. I wouldn’t know. I’m not one. Yeah, everything was happy go lucky in the locker room, but I don’t know how people truly felt.
-Tom Musick
