Cedric Benson Complains of Alleged Bears Smear Campaign Against Him

The Bengals host the Bears in one of the more consequential games on this week's NFL slate, which most people probably wouldn't have guessed when they first looked over this season's schedule. A good share of Cincinnati's resurgence this season is owed to the improved play of Cedric Benson, who is presently third in the NFL in rushing yards. Just last year, that would have seemed as inconceivable as the Bengals posting a winning record through six games.

In his first stop in the league with the Bears, Benson was a washout. The fourth overall pick in the 2005 Draft, Benson never eclipsed more than 675 yards in a season with the Bears and averaged only 3.4 yards per carry in 2007, his last season with the team. Add in a host of off-field arrests that involved alcohol, and few Chicago fans mourned his departure in the spring of 2008.

Benson wasn't without a team for long, signing with the Bengals at the end of last September. Though he claims that nearly didn't happen, because the Bears badmouthed him extensively to his new team.

‘No doubt,” Benson said. ”I heard all the rumors that were said coming out of Chicago. Even the Bengals told me that they would call and inquire about me and get nothing but negative things.”

”That I didn’t work hard, that I was, I guess, a prima donna, just wasn’t focused,” he said. "Just anything negative that they could say was said. I’m sure that contributed largely to me not getting picked up right away.”

The Bears are denying those rumors, though few would be surprised if they contained some grain of truth. The guy didn't perform in Chicago and he caused problems away from the field. That's going to damage your reputation a bit among coaches and executives. Still, he has a new home and he's having more success than he ever has as an individual performer in the league. Time to let the sour grapes go and focus on your newfound success.

(H/T to Mouthpiece Sports)

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.