madlithuanian

Balta, put me down for the 49'ers too... Thanks.

Point well made... It was a rumor, so I'll back off from that. I still think the college thing is weak. Lot's of guys look good and play hard in college, only to be busts and injury ridden in the pros. It's anecdotal I feel. I more than agree with you that there are plenty of other things to rag on Benson other than the rumor. Sorry for perpetuating that... I really don't see the desire. When he plays, he goes through the motions I feel. Honestly speaking, if he were that horrid, he wouldn't be on the team. He obviously has some talent and skills...and some desire to play. Just not enough I feel. No doubt...the 3-4 blocking is byond poor. Like you, I place a lot of blame on the coaches for that. Didn't PIT kill us with that a few years back as well?

At first I thought he got benched. Then later realizes he was injured. After the "news", obviously, I looked back in hindsight. But seriously, if he was indeed very hurt, I have no issue. If there is substance to the "rumor", then he deserves to be called out....no different than LT I suppose this past season. Comparing college to pro isn't always a valid comparison. Many of us, including myself, thought he'd be at least a decent sturdy pro. I was wrong. I still wouldn't have picked him, but at the time I thought it was at least decent. What I saw was missed blocks. Both what you said, missing the correct block, and just flat out letting guys get past him. When he does get a body on a D player, he usually succeeds. I just think he doesn't do that often enough. Granted, one would expect him to get better with experience. But I'm not speculating about 5 years from now. I mean, right now, he's not a good blocker. But it really is just semantics... Yeah..the entire O looked bad that game., especially Grossman. The D looked super until Brown got KO'ed... Even if everyone looked bad that game, common sense dictate that we think Tait and Kreutz are good. I seriously doubt any "expert" would ever say Benson is a good blocker. We look the entire body of work. I use the SD game in particular as an example as I was there in person 4 rows from the 40 yeard line and saw everything. I saw a lot of similar from Benson all season long on TV. I still like Johnson.... You won't convince me otherwise!

true enough... I just tend not to believe anything until May...

Congrats Hester! Looks like I'm bound for some Maryland crab cakes... Balta, I'm happy to take on another team if needed.

Thanks! I only want BAL if I don't win the Bears lottery...

We could go back and forth on this all day...(and beef up our post #'s) But I really don't disagree heavily with your comments. I just feel harsher towards him. I still call the man out for sitting in the SB. Cortizone up and play like you'll never get there again! I just don't buy it... If he was indeed that seriously injured, I'll back off. But I've never read that it was a dire injury. I was at the SD game, and I saw Benson miss about half a dozen blacks. If not more. It was like he was trying out to be a matador... How many RB's are good blockers? Not all that many I think. I don't think Benson is close in being considered good. Maybe closet to just average at best in the grand scheme. I think the thought process is if you are not good, you're bad. It's a generalization... ...and I still want Derrick Johnson over Benson! We would have probably traded Briggs and rec'd something quite good.

No thanks...

I think it was the Philly game...

Slow - Compared to most backs..he's slow. He was never considered a burner...but that alsomeans, he's not fast like it or not. Selfish - Based on his contract hold out, it's valid. The team is selfish too. But to say Benson isn't is not correct. Asshole - Maybe a bit much. But I wouldn't say it's off prompt. This guy has no friends in the locker room. Even the biggest a-holes I knew when I played in high school got a long in the locker room... Sayas ignorant thing - Signed, sealed and delivered. Overpaid - Yep, everyone was overpaid last season...but he was over-paid. Bad hands - I'll agree here...his hands aren't that awful. He's not good, but dropped less than Moose. Bad blocker - He's bad...developing or not. He sure isn't good at this point. Won't play hurt - He took himself out of the Super Bowl. Leave Mike Borwn out of this. Borwn would play if his body would let him. I get the distinct feeling Benson would pull himself out of a game if his Super Friends band-aid fell off his pinky... I still would have drafted Derrick Johnson! I was big time behind Benson...until I found out what he was all about. Now, he is on my S list...

I have no problem at all with it... It's our competition, and anything that lessens their chances I like.

Orton can out-drink that clown any day... He hits the hard stuff. And the talent pool Leinart is hosting isn't very impressive... Did the local strip club get out early?

Beware of smokescreens...'tis the season for mis-information.

Yep! Pure class!

I caught it on PFT...ridiculous. Although I laughed my ass off on Florio's take which referenced the Seinfeld episode regarding the tennis pro...

I actually really like the rule. Basically because it gives more power to the defense... There are too many whimpy offensive rules as is. I have no problem with sticking it to the O. (And let's be honest, for the Bears...this is a HUGE benefit since we don't have an O) . It give more emphasis on the rushing attack... D and a running game...ah ...how nice. I also like the face mask ruling. However, I do fear a bit of the ref's calling more 15 yard penalties than before. It's be interesting how it plays out. Until last season, I wasn't even aware of the fumble issue. It's a good rule change.

Gak and Big Daddy...let me first respond and say...I too feel this staff's idiocy is not in question. They actually give idiots a bad name... But I agree with Big Daddy that I really think Payne is going to be the man. Manning I think will end up being a very good back-up/nickel/dime guy... He's just not starter calibur.

Hester, If you'd like, if for any reason I can't get to the pick in time, I'd be more than happy for you to be my vice-GM...

I'd love to be the Bears...

Well that settles it. I'll have to go buy one now.

Works for me... Thanks!

No arguement here...

Two years ago was two years ago... And he's been even more injured since then. Heck, I was wanting to have him get more carries back then too. I wanted to see what we had. Now that I know...I want him having less. ...and knowing is half the battle. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Maybe my memory slips me...I just don't recall any sens of urgency in any of it. From either Lovie and especially Benson. I do really hope we draft a RB in the top 3 rounds... I think fire lit under his butt or not, Benson can't be relied upon.

At least at the beginning of last season. Benson was, like a few other players on this team, given the job...and in his particular case, didn't seem to think anything of the responsibility. It would have been nice to hear the coach say that more is expected of him. And would have been nice to hear Benson do something other than shrug his shoulders... I'd have even settled for right after the season to make that statement. DOn't get me wrong, I'm still glad he made it now. It could just be that we're always thinking "Bears" around here, and the rest of the sports world is focussed elsewhere until the draft.