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01-30-2007, 06:36 PM
Cedric Myron Benson (born December 28, 1982 in Midland, Texas) is an American football running back. He was drafted fourth overall in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.
Cedric Benson attended Lee High School in Midland, Texas, and finished his career with 8,423 rushing yards in his career (the most in Texas 5A history and the fourth most in Texas high school football history). He led his team to three consecutive State Championships, and rushed for a total of 15 touchdowns in the three championship games. He was the first high school player to ever make the cover of Dave Campbell's Texas Football annual magazine. Cedric was also an excellent center fielder on the baseball team. As a senior, in District 4-5A games, he hit .361 with 4 home runs and 14 RBIs.
Benson was a four-year starter at The University of Texas at Austin, where he received the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back in 2004. He finished his college career with 5,540 rushing yards to rank sixth all time in NCAA Division 1A history, and second only to Ricky Williams in school history.
He has often been compared to Ricky Williams, due to their similarities in running style, college choice, and superficial appearance (roughly the same size and build coming out of college, and both had dreadlocks early in their careers). Due to several off-field controversies involving Ricky Williams, Benson has tried to distance himself from Williams and establish his own identity. Despite his efforts, he was charged with marijuana possession during his Freshman year, though the charges were later dropped.
Despite promising not to hold out upon being drafted, Benson was engaged in an extended contract hold-out with the Chicago Bears, but they eventually agreed to a five-year deal, ending the 36-day holdout. Benson is currently second on Chicago's depth chart at running back, behind Thomas Jones.
During his best game in 2005, he rushed for 80 yards on 16 carries against the New Orleans Saints. However, shortly afterwards, in what appeared to be a horrific injury, he suffered a medial collateral ligament sprain and missed most of the remaining season.
During a 2006 FOX News Chicago Sports special on the Chicago Bears summer camp, it was revealed that Benson would be on top of Thomas Jones on the depth chart. Days after the announcement, FOX Chicago reported that Benson has injured his shoulder after a collision with Brian Urlacher during a routine scrimmage. Although the injury was not serious, it placed Benson on the Bears' disabled list for a majority of the NFL's preseason. Jones was declared the unconditional starter before the season began.
Although Benson fully recovered from his injury, Lovie Smith selected Jones as the Bears' starter. Benson scored his first two touchdowns during week five of the 2006 NFL season, against the Buffalo Bills. In a game against the New England Patriots during week twelve of the 2006 Chicago Bears season, Benson collided with linebacker Junior Seau. The collision caused Seau to fall down and fracture his forearm.
Days later, Benson challenged Lovie Smith’s coaching by remarking, “the NFL is not like high school or college, but the best players don't always get on the field.” [1] The following week, Benson out rushed Jones and scored a vital third quarter touchdown. Benson began to receive more carries as the weeks progressed, he ended the season on an impressive note, rushing for over 100 yards against the Green Bay Packers.
However, during the playoffs, Benson became the Bears' secondary running back again. In the divisional playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks, Benson only received twelve carries for which he rushed 45 yards. In the 2006 NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints, Benson scored a fourth quarter touchdown and totaled 60 yards. Though he was given a majority of the team's carries, Jones amassed two touchdowns and 123 rushing yards.
Benson was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 12th round (370th overall) of the 2001 MLB draft. While Benson did not play in the major leagues, he spent his time with the Dodgers playing in their summer league at Vero Beach. In 2003, Benson left the Dodgers to concentrate on his football career.
While attending the University of Texas, Benson majored in social work and sociology.
Outside of football, Cedric established himself as a brilliant student while attending the University of Texas. During his latter years, he earned membership into the Texas' Athletics Director's Academic Honor Roll, and the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in fall of 2003.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/specials/preview/2004/photos/p1_benson_si.jpg
Cedric Benson attended Lee High School in Midland, Texas, and finished his career with 8,423 rushing yards in his career (the most in Texas 5A history and the fourth most in Texas high school football history). He led his team to three consecutive State Championships, and rushed for a total of 15 touchdowns in the three championship games. He was the first high school player to ever make the cover of Dave Campbell's Texas Football annual magazine. Cedric was also an excellent center fielder on the baseball team. As a senior, in District 4-5A games, he hit .361 with 4 home runs and 14 RBIs.
Benson was a four-year starter at The University of Texas at Austin, where he received the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back in 2004. He finished his college career with 5,540 rushing yards to rank sixth all time in NCAA Division 1A history, and second only to Ricky Williams in school history.
He has often been compared to Ricky Williams, due to their similarities in running style, college choice, and superficial appearance (roughly the same size and build coming out of college, and both had dreadlocks early in their careers). Due to several off-field controversies involving Ricky Williams, Benson has tried to distance himself from Williams and establish his own identity. Despite his efforts, he was charged with marijuana possession during his Freshman year, though the charges were later dropped.
Despite promising not to hold out upon being drafted, Benson was engaged in an extended contract hold-out with the Chicago Bears, but they eventually agreed to a five-year deal, ending the 36-day holdout. Benson is currently second on Chicago's depth chart at running back, behind Thomas Jones.
During his best game in 2005, he rushed for 80 yards on 16 carries against the New Orleans Saints. However, shortly afterwards, in what appeared to be a horrific injury, he suffered a medial collateral ligament sprain and missed most of the remaining season.
During a 2006 FOX News Chicago Sports special on the Chicago Bears summer camp, it was revealed that Benson would be on top of Thomas Jones on the depth chart. Days after the announcement, FOX Chicago reported that Benson has injured his shoulder after a collision with Brian Urlacher during a routine scrimmage. Although the injury was not serious, it placed Benson on the Bears' disabled list for a majority of the NFL's preseason. Jones was declared the unconditional starter before the season began.
Although Benson fully recovered from his injury, Lovie Smith selected Jones as the Bears' starter. Benson scored his first two touchdowns during week five of the 2006 NFL season, against the Buffalo Bills. In a game against the New England Patriots during week twelve of the 2006 Chicago Bears season, Benson collided with linebacker Junior Seau. The collision caused Seau to fall down and fracture his forearm.
Days later, Benson challenged Lovie Smith’s coaching by remarking, “the NFL is not like high school or college, but the best players don't always get on the field.” [1] The following week, Benson out rushed Jones and scored a vital third quarter touchdown. Benson began to receive more carries as the weeks progressed, he ended the season on an impressive note, rushing for over 100 yards against the Green Bay Packers.
However, during the playoffs, Benson became the Bears' secondary running back again. In the divisional playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks, Benson only received twelve carries for which he rushed 45 yards. In the 2006 NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints, Benson scored a fourth quarter touchdown and totaled 60 yards. Though he was given a majority of the team's carries, Jones amassed two touchdowns and 123 rushing yards.
Benson was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 12th round (370th overall) of the 2001 MLB draft. While Benson did not play in the major leagues, he spent his time with the Dodgers playing in their summer league at Vero Beach. In 2003, Benson left the Dodgers to concentrate on his football career.
While attending the University of Texas, Benson majored in social work and sociology.
Outside of football, Cedric established himself as a brilliant student while attending the University of Texas. During his latter years, he earned membership into the Texas' Athletics Director's Academic Honor Roll, and the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in fall of 2003.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/specials/preview/2004/photos/p1_benson_si.jpg