Bears RB Benson upbeat at practice
editor1 |May 21,2008
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LAKE FOREST, Illinois (Ticker) -- Chicago Bears running back
Cedric Benson on Wednesday worked out with his teammates for the
first time since his arrest in Texas just over two weeks ago.
Benson was arrested on May 3 in Austin, Texas and charged with
boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest.
However, the fourth-year running back disputed those charges two
days after the arrest, claiming he was not drunk and did not
resist - as was charged in the police report by officers from
the Lower Colorado River Authority police during a random safety
inspection.
Benson, who has a court date in Texas on June 30 - for which he
does not have to be present - did not back off his denials
Wednesday. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2005 draft insisted he
was not intoxicated and said he was mistreated by the LCRA
officers.
"It'll be nice to get it cleared up and over with, but I don't
really spend too much time thinking about it at all," Benson
said. "I'm sticking to my story, and the truth will come out
some time, whether it'll be now or a year from now or whenever."
Benson did take issue with previous statements made by Bears
general manager Jerry Angelo, who called the incident "a lapse
in judgment."
Angelo conceded Benson may have been a victim in the incident
but also expressed disappointment that the running back put
himself in such a situation.
"He'd have to explain to me how I put myself in a situation to
be a victim," Benson responded Wednesday. "I was enjoying
myself, enjoying my offseason."
Benson has been a disappointment in his brief career, failing to
reach 1,000 yards rushing in his first three seasons in
Chicago.
In 2007, Benson's season was cut short by a broken leg, an
injury which sidelined him for the final five games.
Benson averaged a career low of 3.4 yards per carry last year,
finishing the season with 674 yards and four touchdowns on 196
carries.
However, the former Texas running back said he shed 10 pounds
over the offseason and expects it to pay dividends.
"I feel faster, quicker, smarter, smoother and healthier,"
Benson said. "I feel great. I feel everything. Everything on a
positive note, that's how I feel."
According to the arrest report by the LCRA, Benson was operating
a 30-foot boat with about 12-15 passengers aboard on Lake
Travis when an officer made contact with him shortly after 9
p.m.
Police say Benson failed a "float test" - an abbreviated version
of a field sobriety test - and became combative with officers,
who then arrested him and pepper-sprayed the fourth-year running
back.
Benson's version was completely different.
"I politely asked him why we needed to go to land to take more
tests when I took every test," Benson said. "Then he sprayed me
with mace, on his boat.
"I'm not handcuffed. I'm not under arrest. I'm not threatening
him. I'm not pushing him. I'm not touching him. And he
sprays me right in the eye."
The charges are punishable by up to six months in jail and
$2,000 each.
While at Texas, Benson was arrested twice - on a misdemeanor
trespassing charge in 2003 for entering an apartment to retrieve
a television that he reported stolen, and on misdemeanor drug
and alcohol charges in 2002 that eventually were dropped.
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