redblkwht
08-29-2005, 01:25 AM
Courtesy of
chicagobears.com
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Benson ends holdout, agrees to five-year deal
By Larry Mayer
August 28, 2005
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Bears first-round draft pick Cedric Benson finally ended his holdout Sunday, agreeing to a five-year contract.
The deal comes three days after the rookie running back showed up at Halas Hall with advisor Brian Peters for an impromptu meeting with Jerry Angelo and 10 days after the Bears general manager had issued a statement announcing that the team had made its "best and final offer."
Rookie running back Cedric Benson will soon begin practicing with the Bears after agreeing to a five-year contract.
"We are happy this process has reached a conclusion and look forward to moving ahead together," Angelo said Sunday.
Benson, the NFL's final first-round pick to agree to terms, missed the Bears' first four preseason games during a 36-day holdout that was the longest by a rookie in team history.
Benson will now have to work his way up the depth chart with the Sept. 11 season opener in Washington just two weeks away.
Backup Adrian Peterson (43 carries for 199 yards and 3 TDs) and starter Thomas Jones (35-184-1) rank fourth and fifth in the NFL in rushing this preseason, respectively, for a Bears offense that's averaging 132.0 yards rushing per game, eighth best in the league.
The Bears selected Benson with the fourth overall choice in the draft, their highest pick since choosing Hall of Fame defensive lineman Dan Hampton at No. 4 in 1979. It was also the highest pick they've spent on a running back since taking Hall of Famers Gale Sayers (1965) and Walter Payton (1975) also at the No. 4 slot.
Highly productive and durable, Benson possesses excellent vision, quick feet and toughness. The 5-10½, 222-pounder is a punishing inside runner with great balance and body control.
Benson won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back as a senior in 2004 after rushing for 1,746 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also became just the fifth running back in NCAA Division I-A history to top 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons.
Benson set an NCAA record by scoring touchdowns in 37 games and the Longhorns were 25-0 when he rushed for at least 100 yards. He's particularly skilled in the red zone, having reached double digits in TDs in all four seasons at Texas with 12, 12, 21 and 19.
"Cedric's the kind of player that gets better as the game goes on and the season goes on," said offensive coordinator Ron Turner.
"He's got great running skills. He has a knack for finding the holes, getting yardage after contact and getting tough yardage. I think he's a runner who's going to be very durable."
News of Benson's agreement came only a few hours after coach Lovie Smith had named rookie fourth-round pick Kyle Orton as the Bears' starting quarterback.
Benson will speak with the media after practice Monday, but it is not yet known whether he will participate in the workout. The rookie running back hasn't practiced with the Bears since the final OTA workout June 22 at Halas Hall, almost 10 weeks ago.
chicagobears.com
-------------------------------
Benson ends holdout, agrees to five-year deal
By Larry Mayer
August 28, 2005
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Bears first-round draft pick Cedric Benson finally ended his holdout Sunday, agreeing to a five-year contract.
The deal comes three days after the rookie running back showed up at Halas Hall with advisor Brian Peters for an impromptu meeting with Jerry Angelo and 10 days after the Bears general manager had issued a statement announcing that the team had made its "best and final offer."
Rookie running back Cedric Benson will soon begin practicing with the Bears after agreeing to a five-year contract.
"We are happy this process has reached a conclusion and look forward to moving ahead together," Angelo said Sunday.
Benson, the NFL's final first-round pick to agree to terms, missed the Bears' first four preseason games during a 36-day holdout that was the longest by a rookie in team history.
Benson will now have to work his way up the depth chart with the Sept. 11 season opener in Washington just two weeks away.
Backup Adrian Peterson (43 carries for 199 yards and 3 TDs) and starter Thomas Jones (35-184-1) rank fourth and fifth in the NFL in rushing this preseason, respectively, for a Bears offense that's averaging 132.0 yards rushing per game, eighth best in the league.
The Bears selected Benson with the fourth overall choice in the draft, their highest pick since choosing Hall of Fame defensive lineman Dan Hampton at No. 4 in 1979. It was also the highest pick they've spent on a running back since taking Hall of Famers Gale Sayers (1965) and Walter Payton (1975) also at the No. 4 slot.
Highly productive and durable, Benson possesses excellent vision, quick feet and toughness. The 5-10½, 222-pounder is a punishing inside runner with great balance and body control.
Benson won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back as a senior in 2004 after rushing for 1,746 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also became just the fifth running back in NCAA Division I-A history to top 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons.
Benson set an NCAA record by scoring touchdowns in 37 games and the Longhorns were 25-0 when he rushed for at least 100 yards. He's particularly skilled in the red zone, having reached double digits in TDs in all four seasons at Texas with 12, 12, 21 and 19.
"Cedric's the kind of player that gets better as the game goes on and the season goes on," said offensive coordinator Ron Turner.
"He's got great running skills. He has a knack for finding the holes, getting yardage after contact and getting tough yardage. I think he's a runner who's going to be very durable."
News of Benson's agreement came only a few hours after coach Lovie Smith had named rookie fourth-round pick Kyle Orton as the Bears' starting quarterback.
Benson will speak with the media after practice Monday, but it is not yet known whether he will participate in the workout. The rookie running back hasn't practiced with the Bears since the final OTA workout June 22 at Halas Hall, almost 10 weeks ago.