jason

But don't you see!?!? That's why he went "speeding". He wanted to look like he wasn't quitting, but just happened to -oops! - run into a little more trouble.

Let's put everything together... 1) Reports have come out that he hated being drafted by the Bears, thus the crying 2) Numerous stupid statements in the media - begins to irritate the fan-base 3) Hold out - immediately getting the management and city against him 4) Pouting because he was behind TJ, a superior RB as far as production (and biceps) - irritates all 5) More stupid comments - Irritation level rising 6) Allegations of playing soft, and not playing while hurt (read: hurt is not injured) - irritates teammates 7) Bears cut Tank - precedent set 8) Boat incident Pause. This is where we need to pause and realize that this guy KNEW he was on thin ice. 9) Late night driving incident Pause again. He knew he was on thin ice, and was taking heat from all over the place. So he decides to push the envelope a little. He didn't want to do anything bad like robbing a bank, just enough to push the front office. It's a stupid-smart movie. It's stupid to break the law, but the end result could work towards what he wants. 10) He realizes the driving incident wasn't enough 11) DUI - He pretty much knows that this is the final straw. He has talked to Lovie, to JA, and everyone else of importance. He knows that he's gone. And he's SMILING IN HIS MUG SHOT. 12) Bears cut him...and the "I'm so sorry. I know I should have done better."-BS statement comes moments later 13)????? I think 13 will be "Benson signs with Texans". Or maybe the Cowboys will take yet another talented former Bear with character issues.

I agree almost entirely. However, whenever I see this discussion, I must always state that none of us know how a player would have turned out on another team. There is plenty of proof of players doing poorly on one team, in one situation, and then moving on to do great things with another team (e.g. Wes Welker). We can never know how well DJ or MW would have ended up on the Bears, just like we can't know how well Benson would have done elsewhere. Track records are one thing, but I truly believe that many of these guys are emotionally fragile, much like children in many ways. They are so used to getting the attention, getting everything that they want, that when they are faced with true adversity, and possible failure, they buckle. So, even though a player's track record is an indicator towards behavrior, it's not a guarantee that a completely different situation wouldn't have caused a completely different outcome.

I was merely replying to the crying emoticon. I was far from crying, especially since my disdain for Benson is clear. As for the actual situation, the Bears take a cap hit this year and next. Why not keep him around, suspend him, and give him incentive for next year? If he continues to act up, no harm, no foul...cut him. If possible, trade him ala Pacman. As it stands now, he won't learn a lesson, the team hasn't really played hardball (although they've come close), and Benson will not learn a thing. It's better to teach him a lesson if the Bears are forced to carry the cap hit.

I DO NOT want Alexander. He is soft. He is one of the softest RBs in the NFL. AT the first sign of contact, he hits the dirt. He's essentially Torry Holt, except RBs are not supposed to be that way. Alexander would bring nothing to the table. He's a pure result of his OL. Bad OL = Bad Alexander Average OL = Average Alexander Great OL = Great Alexander I don't see why Forte can't do the same, if not more. He's young, talented, and hungry. Also, rookie RBs are typically the easiest adjusters to the NFL game. I say the Bears use a three-headed monster, run them like crazy, and try to grind the games out. It works for not only the offensive ineptitude that the Bears are sure to encounter, but also the team's strength: defense (assuming there aren't catastrophic injuries like last year).

I'll eat crow if incontrovertible evidence is presented in Benson's defense. Otherwise, I think it's safer to presume, based upon his history of poor decisions, that the law officers are telling the truth and Benson (and lawyer) are full of it.

Congrats on the least informed contribution to this thread. Pretty much everyone knows I despise Benson. However, I love the Bears, and if this decision hurts the Bears in the salary cap, it's a bad idea. It'd be better to sit him down for a year.

Until I know that this is not affecting the Bears salary cap-wise, I will not be happy with this decision. It would have been better to sit his butt on the bench, save the money, and see if he learns after a year of riding pine.

I suppose that's possible, just highly unlikely. Unless Benson just happens to run into ALL the cops who just feel like screwing with someone...also highly unlikely. The more likely situation is that he was guilty both times, and past performance/actions/words indicate he's a dumbass who has yet to learn his lesson. The sad thing is, if he ends up getting cut, he will get picked up soon thereafter, and still won't learn his lesson.

Bingo.

Same goes for ESPN. Benson sent home

MRob was one of my favorite Bears of all time. It just seemed like when he was given the chance, he made big plays. He might be my favorite WR of the last 10 years or so.

I don't understand how you can say there is a clear pattern of harassment. Where is the pattern? How can you be so sure they were in the wrong? If Benson is such a moron, as you have stated, then wouldn't it be more likely that he was in the wrong, and this is just a pattern on his behalf? I can see and understand how this might not change someone's opinion, but to say there is a pattern of harassment is just ridiculous until proven with facts. As it stands now, this is two incidents with one person. Put those incidents with all the other stuff about Benson since he's been in Chicago, and THAT is a pattern.

Just curious. I feel it nearly serves as evidence in the boating case, proving a pattern of poor judgement, but I'm curious to see what others think. Has it changed your opinion?

Agreed...key word being AGAIN.

I think we all realize you are not defending Benson. I think we also realize the comparisons you are making about hypocrisy. I, however, think it's COMPLETELY different. Benson has MILLIONS. I can say with certainty, that if I were in his situation, I would never get caught in a scenario like that. His money, and high profile job, give him opportunities normal people don't have. That's why the hypocrisy is off base, IMHO. Put me in Benson's place and you would soon realize through the media that I hired a personal driver or something similar. For the record, I will say that I've never been drunk driving, but I won't lie and say that I haven't driven home when I shouldn't have legally. So, like the commerical says, I suppose buzzed driving is drunk driving, but that's semantics since you are much more in control buzzed than when drunk (buzzed driving is like driving while very sleepy), even though both will lead to jail.

You got that right. I'd be doing nothing but the right thing every time. I'd be damn near perfect. People would be comparing me to the Chuck Norris facts webpages because of all the good I'd be doing.

I'm amazed the lengths people will go to in order to defend this clown. Put all the pieces together, dude. Benson is a tool.

I'm in the same boat (pun intended). If you were/are as adamant as I have been, then I was your counterpart on the other board. I loudly said that drafting Benson was a bad idea. I despised his comments and hold out. I hated the fact that TJ had to share time with him. And I was clearly one of the few who thought he was guilty on the boat. I believe his actions over the last few months have validated my feelings somewhat. The guy is a first class idiot.

OR, maybe he's just a douchebag, was guilty on the boat, was guilty of speeding (reckless driving in many areas), and guilty in this case. Maybe, just maybe, the cops were just putting out information on a multiple law breaker with a superiority complex.

I'm sure that before his full rookie contract is up he'll be crying for a new one, saying something about future security or some other such nonsense that all these ridiculously wealthy players claim.

Yeah, but aren't those more "Shaq's Rings" than "Kobe's Rings"? Sure, they both have the rings, but when people think about why they won those rings in LA, Kobe is the secondary reason and Shaq is the primary.

IT just proves to all the nay-sayers, that there was, and always will be, a Madden-Farv love affair. I've never heard a sportscaster fellate a pro athlete more than Madden fellates Farv.

Ri-damn-diculous.

I have three words for Benson: Shut up: Produce.