The Voice Of Reason
May 6th, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »Last night I was working a remote at a very festive Cinco de Mayo party. The margaritas were flowing, kids were playfully running around the parking lot, and they had a band playing a set list that could have been copied from a playlist on my ipod. After rocking out to everyone’s favorite Journey song the lead singer began a little chit chat with the crowd which eventually turned into a comment on Cedric Benson. Of course he was referring to the incident which occurred late Saturday night in which the Chicago Bears’ starting running back was arrested for boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest on a lake outside of Austin, Texas. Then the front man of the Fleshing Melons continued to comment, “If the Bears needed any reason to get rid of them this is it,” and the crowd began to cheer.
Now I feel that it is my responsibility to act as the voice of reason because I’m firmly believe that a majority of Bears fans are ready to kick him out of town when in reality there is no chance that it will happen. In no way do I want to defend Benson’s actions from over the weekend. Was it smart? Absolutely not, but since the incident took place there have been numerous conflicting reports. This simply states that we still don’t know all of the details and until we do it is unfair for the Bears organization or anyone else to think otherwise.
Outside of the entire legal mumbo-jumbo, the reason there has been such an outcry for Benosn’s job is obviously due to the fact that since Chicago snagged him with the 4th overall pick three years ago his stats have been anything but impressive (42o carries 1,593 yards 10 TD’s). In addition many seem to reading too much into the fact that the team drafted Tulane running back Matt Forte in the second round of the draft just over a week ago. In the current time of the Jerry Angelo regime I’ve learned two things: first that no matter what the problem may be Angelo is always plan, and secondly after observing how he has handled certain distractions over the past few seasons it is safe to assume that he is not one to admit when he is wrong. After everything that Angelo and the organization has invested in the former Texas Longhorn, he will refuse to cut him after Saturday’s arrest. To do it now would contradict all the moves made this off-season the revamp the aging offensive line which paved the way for Chicago to rush just over 83 yards a game (30th in NFL). Sure he didn’t get exactly get it done last season but why not at least see what he can do now with a more competitive supporting cast. Furthermore, cutting ties with Benson would mean heading into the 2008 season with a backfield core of Forte, Adrian Peterson and former NIU Huskie Garrett Wolfe, a combined 8 career starts (all from Peterson). It seems extremely unlikely that Lovie Smith would want to head into the new year with such an inexperienced group. So why the end of Benson in a Bears jersey isn’t quite over yet, it is nearly a sure thing the his leash just got that much shorter. Until next time, keep your mind on the fine side.