madlithuanian

So many do, just by the sheer numbers. I do agree that he he always rated far higher than he should Top ten easily...but I'm not sure top 5.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/category/rumor-mill/ NO TAKERS FOR BENSON Posted by Mike Florio on June 12, 2008, 5:54 p.m. Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the running back Cedric Benson was unclaimed via waivers. Every team had a crack at Benson, and could have made a claim for him through waivers. The team that landed him would have picked up the last two years of Benson’s contract, at $820,000 for 2008. As it now stands, Benson is an unrestricted free agent. He might remain on the shelf until pending legal troubles resulting from two arrests in roughly a month are resolved. Or until a team starts losing tailbacks to injury during training camp. Regardless, it’s a stunning fall for the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft.

Man, I know I've gone too far when Shoop v Turner is mentioned! I think I got so caught up in my dislike for Benson, that I actually started to believe AP was as good of a pure runner... I'll back off from that! I still think AP's a better overall football player...but I'll try to leave that aspect well enough alone since it really matters not.

I'm not embelishing... Here are your exact words: Its really dissappointing to me that Brown, Briggs, and Url would take part in that. And its surprises me because Brown knows the effects of cheap shots. Regardless, you can call it bullcr$p all you want. I call it cleaning up your own backyard. Your examples aren't analagous. What transpired with Benson is nothing like the Briggs or TJ incidents. Teammates liked those guys. And the idea of our putrid offense calling out or hurting any defensive player has to be the funniest thing since John Belushi! (Well, maybe with the exception of Kruetz). Especially in the Briggs' one... his back-up wasn't going to get the job. He was literally backing the position up when Lance got his wrist slapped by Lovie. Hey, I do remember as a rookie he showed promise. Heck, I admit to being totally excited about the prospect of him getting more touches. But he's proven different. That promise soured fast... I'm sure all that had an effect on Benson's development. And with that said, it showed too much weakness...not only physically, but mentally. The D took it upon themselves to rough him up a bit. So what? Unless it was done as cheap shot, just deal with it. These guys want to win. If Benson would rather complain about it than lowering a shoulder...that's his problem. I'm glad he's not a Bear. Football isn't ballet. People get hit, unnessesarily at times. Good players bounce back...others crumble under the pressure.

I think those stats are more damning of our coaches than anything else! And I will back off on saying AP is as good as Benson. Fine, Benson is a better pure runner. But I could care less. He's not a Bear. And I'll argue he never was. But throwing Turner under the bus will always get an agreement from me!

I guess I just never thought much of him this past season and currently... Granted, we're in a tough spot at the moment, but I also think there will probably be another guy brought in. Even without that, I'm totally OK with Forte, Wolfe, Peterson...I think you and I are are somewhat on the same page that our expectations are tempered for this season. Let's see what we finally have in Wolfe and now in Forte.

It is scary... But no scarier than our QB situation. Or our WR situation. Or our OL situation. Or our offesnive coaching situation.

I'm kind of playing Devil's Advocate here to an extent. I'm not a huge fan of AP's, other than his positive attitude, ST ability and change of pace ability... I also do wonder if he got the same amount of carries as Benson, would his numbers improve? I know AP certainly had that a bit last year and did decently. Benson could be a better pure runner...when not injured and fumbling. Which both instances seem to happen more than most would prefer. Therefore, I'll take AP... The falloff I don't think is big enough to warrent having a problem child on your roster sans DUIs or not.

By the way...the career stats are as follows from NFL.com: Benson - Rush YPC 3.8, Rec RPC 6.9, 10TD's, 4 Fumbles Peterson - Rush YPC 3.7, Rec RPC 8.7, 8 TD's, 2 Fumbles Benson doesn't look a whole heck of a lot better than Peterson.... In fact the receiption numbers are better for AP, and the fumbles are lower.

BUt it is about Benson... That's why we're having a hard time following you I think. I think you're falling into the trap of over-simplifying it. The reports do vary a bit...but overall, the gyst is that numerous defenders tried to give Benson extra hard hits because they did not like him. You've got to think it was more than he was just an a-hole. It was probably his attitude, his ethic, his performance in practice, their respect for the solid guy he's trying to unseat,etc... All of that. I do agree, it's not the D's job to hurt a team-mate. Yes, in the true sense, what they did was inherently wrong. If it were actually found true, they should have been penalized by the team. But, there's not much way to prove it other than a fess up. To me, it's not much different than guys taking a few swings at one another in practice. As long as nothing was done dirty, just take your lumps. Again, I think you're throwing Brown in a "cheap shot" category unfairly. You know none of this being true for certain, yet keep labeling Brown a cheap shot artist. I think that's unfair. You may attempt to label him a mean and nasty team-mate, but there was never any mention by anyone that cheap shots were taken. How exactly is Benson better than AP? Can you show me your validation of such? Better YPC? More TD's? Less injuries? More tackles? Better pancakes?

It's not...worry not.

My father thinks differently. He's seen Payton, Piccolo, Sayers, Brown and Sanders all play... He still swears no one would have touched Gale if he had been healthy. From what I've seen in footage, that argument could be made. And I think while most would have Walter, I know quite a few that would say Sayers, and not just my father. I personally think it's Walter, but that could be because I never had the chance to really see Gale play.

I think you helped make my point...a lot more bluntly!

Many of those NFL Live guys can easily bash on the Bears...we're an easy target right now. We appear to be mostly lousy, with one year here or there that's exceptional. Until we change that, we will be viewed poorly by others.

There's no denying the difference in eras...but the point was that D's and O's had beaten each other up in the past. This is not a new concept. The circumstances are quite different, but the act of a D putting hard hits on an O is not. Sure, that very well may be negative energy...but your comment put me off. You seem to condemn Brown without even really knowing if he even really did it. Even if he did, I'm going to stick up for Brown any day of the year over Benson. THis incidence seems to be at least somewhat speculative, whereas Borwn's overwhelming leadership and skills have been seen by all for years. And conversely, Benson's bad attitude and hit and miss performance has also been seen. Feel free to bash Brown or stick ip for Benson, I, on the other hand, will put my loyalty on players that want to play for the Bears, practice hard, show leadership and show results on the field. If they want to take out the trash...I'm happy to see it tossed out. The D can do anything within the guidelines of how practice is set up. They do not control anything directly, as you mention, the coaches do. However, their actions can certainly impact things indirectly. To say, your boss holds your future is wrong. He ultimately makes the choice to fire you, promote you, etc...but your actions, along with how you work with others in and out of your office impacts those decisions. Sure, in retrospect, I'll say any Bears line-up that doesn't have Benson is better. Maybe with the exception of when Enis played, etc ... Heck, Enis I think had more effort. But, I know what this guy is about, and I don't want him lining up in my backfield. Maybe in the Super bowl, AP doesn't fumble the ball and we win the game. We'll never know. All I know is we have no rings with Benson, so without, I'm not sure it changes...but maybe it would have for the better. Maybe Pope turns into a surprise. Who knows... I'm just surprised you think Benson is that good. I want the best players too. I just don't think Benson is heads and heels better than AP. Just becasue he was drafted high, doesn't make him good. It's reason enough for some sucker team to give him a whirl...but I really can't see how you're angered by not having him in the backfield. Shouldn't you be more angered at how much money he stole from the team? From you, the fan indirectly? He certainly stole all of our hopes...

My intention was not to re-phrase you comments. I apologize for that. With your noticing of the "Karma factor", you were certianly making an assumption Brown did something dirty and is "paying" for it... It just screams of negative energy, and I don't think that's warranted. There's such things as rookie hazing as you mention, etc... It's not like the old days, but I bet it goes on regardless in some form. Certain players take their lumps and gain respect. Others don't and lose respect. And in all honesty, do you really think the mentality in the NFL is really all that much different than junior high? This isn't a group of men figuring out the cure for cancer. Let's a ssume what is being talked about is true. That Urlacher and Brown were hitting Benson with extra mustard because they like TJ better. You then must ask yourself, why? Because he's a good buddy that is fun to be around when you're playing backgamon? No, I'd venture to say because they thought he was significantly better than Benson. And probably becasue they already have seen, first person, that his work ethic is shoddy. So, some could argue, that by taking Benson out of the picture, the team is better with Jones. And take it one more step further...if those guys on D were willing to do that...are they all just pure evil? I seriously doubt it. I think it tells more about Benson that they were willing to go that far. Benson got bullied. Instead of punching the bully in the mouth, he ran and told the teacher. I wouldn't appreciate cheap shots...but if those guys are laying extra mustard on him...then that's all good by me. If he can't handle our own D giving him shots, he sure as heck isn't going to be able to handle an opponenet. Have you read about the '85 Bears D laying hard hits on the O? They did it a lot. I didn't hear anyone on the O whine. They gave it back, and earned respect. Bottom line, I couldn't be happier Benson is out of the mix. Am I happy we wasted a pick, got nothing in return, and didn't address the need properly in the off-season? No. But, I believe this is a pure case of addition by subtraction.

I think you beat me to the punch...

He arguably was the best back ever. I see no issue with him stating that. But I don't see how that pertains to this discussion....

Was Sayers asked about Tank and Briggs? I'm sure he was asked about Benson because this is happening to his RB position... Butkus bitched and moaned about loot...he retired a Bear. So, it's not just bitching about loot...it's other factors.

I think there is a HUGE difference from sending a message of hard hits vs. cheap shots. I don't believe anyone, even Benson, accused the D of cheap shotting him. Mike Brown's been bitten by bad Karma far before that particular incident. I'd wish you weren't wishing ill will on one of our best players without truly knowing what went down.

Granted...but another thing they will factor in, which you didn't mention, is his history of injury.

Good thoughts... I think you may be right...but I suppose we'll all never know unless someone writes a tell-all book.

Sure...I'm just saying that I can easily more teams trying to get a Pacman than a Benson or a WIlliams for that matter. Even if you go with the pure return element of it... There is just more consistency of some success. Sure...you do see that. Even Cade found a another home for a mintue. But, the usual end result is "bust" with a small few exceptions. (Which would make the rule.)

I'd say that about sums it up. But I think the "winner" of the job will be Grossman... He has nude pictures of the coaching staff hidden away somewhere.

For a decent price...why not?