Keep Texans Talk Google Ad Free!
Venmo Tip Jar | Paypal Tip Jar
Thanks for your support! 🍺😎👍
Cedric Benson: What Is He Thinking?
- Thread starter swisher
- Start date
Fiddy
All Pro
Wilboun on PTI made a good point. As a 1st round RB, you are only going to get one shot at a big contract because of the way you are going to be used. Take Edge for example, now that he is looking for big money everyone is saying that he is getting old and his "tires" are getting worn out. This is Benson's one chance to make the big money especailly since he is a back that will pound the ball between the tackles constantly...
Txn_in_FL
All Pro
And it is also a chance for him to crash and burn and not play worth 
and a sack full of hammers. Sorry, I just don't feel that a rookie who has never played a down in the pros has any place holding out.
Besides the Bears have played this game with a back before, does Curtis Enis ring a bell?
and a sack full of hammers. Sorry, I just don't feel that a rookie who has never played a down in the pros has any place holding out.Besides the Bears have played this game with a back before, does Curtis Enis ring a bell?
Huge
All Pro
Agreed.Fiddy said:
But Cedric is holding out because he thinks he should get a contract equivalent to that of Phillip Rivers' from last year because Rivers was the 4th overall pick. He's holding out thinking he's going to get a bigger contract than the 2nd overall pick who also happens to be a RB. It's simply not going to happen. What the Bears have offered is more than fair (more than what Cadillac Williams got from Tampa Bay, less than what Ronnie Brown got from Miami). Cedric's just being really stupid about this.
hot pickle
Canada Eh
like I said when the bears drafted him, he won't want to play for the bears
he was was kind of crying when he got drafted and, i said after that those were tears of sadness not of joy, but yall didnt believe me
he was was kind of crying when he got drafted and, i said after that those were tears of sadness not of joy, but yall didnt believe me
awtysst
Draft Guru
Fiddy said:
FIne. However, isnt 17 million bucks in guranateed money "big money" in the NFL? I mean he is the 4th rd pick and a rb. He cannot expect to make more then the number 1, 2, or 3 picks. This offer is more then fair in my mind. In fact if I was Chicago I would consider cutting he offer every week he is not there.
texasguy346
Mod Squad
nunusguy said:
I tend to agree with you about that. I think it was 610 that asked Charlie Casserley about this, and he didn't want to get into details but basically said they start out by showing the player and his agent how the contracts have increased by percentages for the past several years for guys picked in a similar position. They then make a contract offer accordingly, and if they're receptive to it then the deal gets done fairly quickly. However, once the players around the pick start getting signed and everyone starts to get slotted they make a contract offer according to the players drafted around the draft pick and dont budge much out of that realm whether it's more or less (generally less than offered before). I heard the interview a few days ago so I might have missed a few details but that was the meat of it. Ced isn't going to get the Bears to budge much now that everyone around him is signed.
Precisely. The #3 pick, B.Edwards with the Lions and the #5 pick, C.Williams with the Bucs is the Markets range set for Benson: #5 money is the floor and #3 money is the ceiling. Pretty simple right ? Should be, but apparently Benson wants as much or more than Edwards is getting and I can't blame the Bears for telling him to take a hike.texasguy346 said:
Fiddy
All Pro
He will go back into the draft next year...awtysst said:
I heard that he is still using his agent that he used when he signed the minor league deal to play for the Rockies. Baseball agents are so hard-headed that he could also be a factor...
The problem may also be the percent increase because a QB was the 4th pick (Rivers) last year and may have gotten more money than the 3rd pick (Fitzgarald) but I'm not sure what the contracts were so i'll have to find that out. Benson may be trying to get the full percent increase but since he is going off of QB money, the Bears may not want to give him the full increase.texasguy346 said:
Sticky situation, I hope he signs soon...
hot pickle
Canada Eh
alright im gonna, appoligize for that comment, but to me it looked like benson wasnt to happy to be drafted by the bears and him not signing yet, maked me think that i was right,
so sorry if it offended anyone
so sorry if it offended anyone
Youngstown Colt
Rookie
He was crying because he made it, I'm sure most appreciated that
I like Ced Benson, and think that he will do good things for the Bears when they sign him. I think he is acting very um... "metally challenged" right now. All he is doing is losing "value" by holding out. If he didnt want to play for the Bears he could have "pulled an Eli" on them. All he is doing now is pissing off the team that drafted him, in turn getting worse offers than before. His trade value is also dropping because he is now getting a bad rep. He needs to get a new agent and sign a contract before he makes an even bigger fool out of himself. Im just glad that we havent have any players pull this kind of crap with the Texans yet (knock on wood)
PapaL
Loose Screw
awtysst said:
We would enter next years draft. Its been done a few times before. I dont think the blame is only on the player, the agent is also to blame. But honestly, would you want to play for the Bears if you were him? In theory he could not sign with them, enter next years draft and probably still be a top 5 pick. He has run the ball a lot in his career, maybe a year off wouldn't be so bad for him.
TheOgre
All Pro
dunta23 said:
I still don't believe you.
I think he was happy to be drafted 4th overall after all of the critics said he was too slow and had been run into the ground at Texas.
Now he is trying to get the money that he thinks he deserves. He is delusional in that regard. Hopefully he comes to his senses soon.
Ihategeeks
Veteran
The Bears are holding Thomas Jones over him, like Thomas Jones would be a fine player and they don't need to bend over backwards to sign Benson.
Benson and his agent pretty much are laughing at that threat. They drafted him #4 overall, they want the cash for #4 overall.
They know Jones isn't a starter, The Benson camp knows Jones isn't a starter.
But the Ownership is trying the damndest to use it as leverage in making a deal.
But it's not working.
Think if Mike Williams for the Lions tried to get #10 money, the Lions would use Charles Rogers and Roy Williams as leverage. Which from Mike Williams small contract, I would bet that is what they did.
But the Difference with the Lions, is Charles Rogers and Roy Williams actaully have the potential to be superstars.
Thomas Jones has the potential to disapoint a team year, after year, after year, after year and get traded.
Once the Bears stop jerking around offering Boola Boola contracts with no real cash in them and trying to use THomas Jones as justification, Benson will sign.
Benson and his agent pretty much are laughing at that threat. They drafted him #4 overall, they want the cash for #4 overall.
They know Jones isn't a starter, The Benson camp knows Jones isn't a starter.
But the Ownership is trying the damndest to use it as leverage in making a deal.
But it's not working.
Think if Mike Williams for the Lions tried to get #10 money, the Lions would use Charles Rogers and Roy Williams as leverage. Which from Mike Williams small contract, I would bet that is what they did.
But the Difference with the Lions, is Charles Rogers and Roy Williams actaully have the potential to be superstars.
Thomas Jones has the potential to disapoint a team year, after year, after year, after year and get traded.
Once the Bears stop jerking around offering Boola Boola contracts with no real cash in them and trying to use THomas Jones as justification, Benson will sign.
The offer made by the bears is more than enough money for a guy who hasnt taken an NFL snap. Its one thing for guys like Jevon Walker and ..... TO to hold out they have proven they have what it takes. He needs to sign on or wait till next year and reenter the draft. But for a RB to get one year older will hurt him in the long run.
Huge
All Pro
The Bears have offered $17 million guaranteed. That's more than Carnell Williams' $15 million as the 5th pick and less than Ronnie Brown's $20 million as the 2nd pick.Ihategeeks said:
So how is the $17 million (again, that's just the guaranteed part of the contract) not 4th overall money? Because Phillip Rivers got a different deal as a QB that was selected 4th overall but was eventually traded for the 1st overall pick?
TheOgre
All Pro
Ihategeeks said:
He sucked in Arizona but he was good in 2003 with the Bucs, and he was the only thing worthy of mentioning from the 2004 Bear's offense. They drafted Benson because he is an elite power back that fits well with Ron Turner's offense. It is similar to the fact that the Bills drafted McGahee inspite of having Travis Henry. Henry and Jones are both solid backs but neither of them has the potential to be a first-tier back. Obviously the Bears think Benson can be that.
Haams
Rookie
Let's be honest, Ced deserves more money then Ronnie Brown. Chicago doesn't have a QB, and even when they had half a QB they made it clear their offense was going to be pounding Benson between the tackles. He is being asked to step in from day 1 and carry the team. I imagine his agent is pointing out to him that he is going to lose the use of his knees after pounding the ball up the middle for an entire carreer, so he better get paid for it. That said, it's time for Ced to tell his agent to take a hike. He needs to get in camp and with his teammates. The part that pisses me off is that he made a point of cutting his dreds to cut the comparisons with Ricky, then the first thing he pulls in the pro's is this crap. I believe there has to be a compromise, and it's high time to find it. How about ask the Bears to add incentives to the contract they've offered? I'd say proving himself on the field, say getting 1400 yards rushing, would be worth a few extra dollars. He could have the guaranteed money, with a chance to earn what he's asking for.
Huge
All Pro
Eh, no he doesn't. There's a reason Brown was the 2nd overall pick of the Dolphins...they were a worse team than Chicago. Last I checked, Miami doesn't have a QB either.
Besides, if he deserves more money than Brown, he'll get it with his second contract. But his first one? Absoutely not.
Besides, if he deserves more money than Brown, he'll get it with his second contract. But his first one? Absoutely not.
Haams
Rookie
Let me reiterate - I think Ced was justified in asking for more money. I think he was justified in having a hold out. I think there was a time about a week and a half ago where he needed to take whatever was on the table, get into camp, meet his teammates, prove to the team, the management, and the fans that he is there to win football games, and start working on making sure he can get big money when they re-sign him. Look at Shaun Alexander, he doesn't make much money (comparatively), but he's about to. You gotta know when to hold 'em, you gotta know when to fold 'em.
Youngstown Colt
Rookie
And how has Charles Rogers proved he doesn't belong in the second category?Ihategeeks said:
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Haams said:
And Rivers was justified in asking for #1 money last year? Nope, but the team semi-caved in and paid him more than his slot and have created this problem. Benson isn't justified in demanding anything above the #3 guy--he can do it, but there is no "justification" for it that holds water. Waaahhh, I am a RB going to a team that is actually going to run the ball doesn't cut it.
Haams
Rookie
infantrycak said:
No, but pounding the ball down the middle, which is his style, will take an incredible toll on his body. He's going to start doing it from the first day he steps on the feild about 30 times a game. I'm guessing he's not going to have a very long career, so I think he is justified in asking for as much as he can in the years he has. It there was more of a team in place - maybe another running back who can handle a few carries, or a quarterback who could occasionally throw the ball - the situation would be different. From what I've heard, the Bears are basically asking Cedric to be the offense. That's a big load to carry, and something most rookie running back are not asked to do.
Blake
MMQB
Whether or not Benson runs inside or out, or the Bears use him 30 times a game shouldnt affect his salary.
Benson is saying he should get X amount of cash, for running the ball a ton? But if you get injured, should be bears be able to say you get X amount of cash for getting injured and not playing?
Just take what #4 got last year, plus a little more, since rookie contracts do that, and be done with it...
Benson is saying he should get X amount of cash, for running the ball a ton? But if you get injured, should be bears be able to say you get X amount of cash for getting injured and not playing?
Just take what #4 got last year, plus a little more, since rookie contracts do that, and be done with it...
TheOgre
All Pro
He deserves about the average of the #3 and #5 contracts.
The situation with Rivers was a bit different. The team still had the allocation of 1st round money given to it since it drafted the #1 slot overall. Even though they traded Manning, that cap allocation stayed with them. While I don't think Rivers deserved to be paid like a #1 overall pick, I also don't think that the money should just disappear from the entire rookie pool. They should change the rule so that players traded prior to signing transfer their rookie pool slot with them.
The situation with Rivers was a bit different. The team still had the allocation of 1st round money given to it since it drafted the #1 slot overall. Even though they traded Manning, that cap allocation stayed with them. While I don't think Rivers deserved to be paid like a #1 overall pick, I also don't think that the money should just disappear from the entire rookie pool. They should change the rule so that players traded prior to signing transfer their rookie pool slot with them.
Huge
All Pro
I think you're exaggerating what is expected of Benson...by a large amount.Haams said:
Let me reiterate - The 4th overall pick is not going to get more money than the 2nd overall pick. Nor does he deserve it. Especially not when they play the same position.Haams said:
So he should be paid more over the first 5 years of his career because he may not last as long as the other RBs? Are you kidding?Haams said:
There is another RB in place. A proven one at that. Not somebody that's going to replace Cedric but certainly somebody that can share the load. There's also a QB in place. If he can't stay healthy, Kyle Orton has shown a great deal of promise. You think the Bears should cave in to a 5 year demand because their QB is out for one year? Did they not sign Mushin Muhammad in the off-season? Did they not draft Mark Bradley (who's looked incredible so far) in the 2nd round?
Let's not pretend Cedric is walking into the same situation as Ricky Williams when he came in the league and was a team's lone off-season aquisition.
WildBlackBear32
Rookie
Come on guys, I don't want to hear all this about Ced's shelf life as being a bruiser. Even IF he is forced to retire before he was 30, he'd have made enough money for himself and his entire family. Hell, he could sign the contract on the table, play it out, retire AND STILL have himself and his family set for life. I'm a huge Benson fan, but I'm a bit pissed at this.
TheOgre
All Pro
The next collective bargaining agreement, the management and players need to hard code the salary for each slot in the draft like they do in the NBA. They could change it so that the veterans get more of the pie than these unproven rookies. That would also all but eliminate holdouts. There would also have to be some rule that the contract could not be renogotiated until the final year of it. Otherwise a rookie would sign and immediately hold out for a renegotiation.
LCROD said:
I hope Benson is not stupid enough to think that he would be a top 5 pick in next year's draft. If his agent is telling him that, and he's buying into it . . . God help him!
No NFL GM is going to waste a top 5 pick on a running back with a year full of rust. No way!
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
LCROD said:
As Huge points out, Williams didn't sit out a year because he refused to play/sign so it is completely different. Think about it--you are a GM next year. Are you really going to take him top 4 after a year off? If not, how are you going to respond when you sign him at #9 and he says, "but I was a #4 draft pick, you have to pay me that way?" Basically he needs to stop being a horse's rear end and get into camp, oops that isn't possible, get to his team.
PapaL
Loose Screw
We're talking about 1 years worth of rust, not signability (which I agree). Marcus said 'No NFL GM is going to waste a top 5 pick on a running back with a year full of rust." I say Williams sat out a year and will play just fine this year. If Benson sits out the year, its not like he's going to forget how to run the ball.
Huge
All Pro
Wasn't me. I said he'd have signability issues...which would be true.LCROD said:
Combine that with him sitting out a year and he'll fall. Maybe not real far but you better believe he'll fall further than the 4th overall pick. And his contract isn't going to be any bigger next year than what he'd get this year. Chances are, it'd be a lot smaller.
TexansCanes
Rookie
Haams said:
you make it seem like the dolphins are all-world, their is a reason why they drafted ahead of chi-town. atleast the bears went out and got some weapons for the offense in the off-season. grossman got hurt but hutchinson and gus frerotte or feely will put up similar numbers. is ronnie going to have to run the ball 30 times like ceb is "suppose" to, i don't know but i will tell you that he will be the feature back and will get about 20-25 a game atleast. ced will also share some carries with thomas "the worst rb ever according to the texans board" jones who can take some of the hits up the middle. as for ricky being the starter at the end of the year, my experience of nick saban will tell me that this will happen if he is the only rb on the team (if ronnie and lamar gordon get hurt)
LCROD said:
But WR isnt RB. The Longevity of the two positions isnt even in the same ballpark. At RB you have 6-8 years of good solid production. After that you lose a step, injuries last longer, ect. WR's can last a long time ,9-10 years, so sitting on the shelf isnt as detrimenta for Williams as it is for Bensen. Plus williams sat out for a much "better reason", he was totally unable to play do to a stupid ruling, not refused to sign because he didnt like his team. This will hurt him in the long run.
Man, this guy . . . . I don't know. 
I stumbled across this on the main NFL message board.
Pretty interesting article about the small percentage of all the football players that make it to the NFL. I've always suspected that Benson wasn't all that interested in playing in the NFL. Of course, he wants that big signing bonus.
But this guy is actually dumber than Maurice Clarett and Ricky Williams.
Just imagine if you were a Chicago Bears fan right now.
I stumbled across this on the main NFL message board.
Pretty interesting article about the small percentage of all the football players that make it to the NFL. I've always suspected that Benson wasn't all that interested in playing in the NFL. Of course, he wants that big signing bonus.
But this guy is actually dumber than Maurice Clarett and Ricky Williams.
Just imagine if you were a Chicago Bears fan right now.