Randall Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Benson likely out for season BEAR DOWN | Badly injured ankle gives opportunity to driven Peterson November 26, 2007 BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com Slumped over on crutches outside the Bears' locker room with his left ankle encased in a walking boot, running back Cedric Benson wore the look of a man who already knew his fate. ''I've got to go downtown [this] morning,'' Benson, the mercurial former No. 4 overall pick, said of his impending doctor's appointment. It's expected that Benson will miss the rest of the season after he was carted off the field Sunday following a 21-yard run. His left ankle was twisted down awkwardly when he was tackled by Denver safety Hamza Abdullah. It was the second-longest run of the season for Benson, whose struggles have been issue 1-A behind quarterback Rex Grossman's ups and downs. ''They told me not to say anything,'' Benson said while waiting for a helping hand to leave Soldier Field. For the record, coach Lovie Smith called it a ''pretty good ankle injury.'' Adrian Peterson's long-awaited chance to be the man appears to have arrived. Peterson grabbed the opportunity and ran with it, bulling his way in on a four-yard touchdown run that was more a testament to human will and determination than running skill. Peterson stayed upright in a crowd of Broncos defenders, led by 350-pound tackle Sam Adams, and moved forward in a mass of linemen across the goal line. ''If you see four yards, you should get six,'' Peterson said. ''Once they give me the four, I try to fall forward for another two.'' He'll be celebrated for it today by the same people who chastised play-caller Ron Turner for taking Benson out last week in Seattle to give Peterson a shot. It's a fickle business. There had been cries for Peterson to get a chance for weeks. When he did, he was accused of ruining Benson's momentum. ''That's just how it goes,'' Peterson said. ''I know all the stuff, so it's just a matter of me going out and doing it.'' Benson finished with 47 yards on eight carries, which leaves him with 674 on 196 for the season, a 3.4-yard average. Peterson gained only 45 yards on 17 carries but also had a team-high five catches for 41 yards. He's going to run hard, and the Bears should lose a little predictability with Peterson no longer needing to come in as a blocker and receiver in passing situations. The touchdown run is what teammates have come to expect from the 2002 sixth-round pick, who has bided his time mostly on special teams. ''We have a lot of faith in him,'' center Olin Kreutz said. ''He's a strong guy. He comes in there and he comes to work. He is a hell of a team player.'' What the Bears do roster-wise, assuming the worst fears are confirmed today, is unclear. Corey Dillon had interest in joining the Bears in September, but that is no longer the case. Garrett Wolfe had a 25-yard run in garbage time at the end of the first half and will slide into the No. 2 role. One back who looked good was Denver's Andre Hall, who was with the Bears for a month in 2006 training camp. Hall lost out to P.J. Pope, who is stuck on the practice-squad injured reserve. ''Whenever we've called on [Peterson], whether it was injury or whatever, he's always stepped up to the plate,'' Smith said. ''We feel very comfortable with him, as we do Garrett also. Garrett gives you a different dimension, so we feel good about both guys.'' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'canes2004 Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Let the mad dash for AP begin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liverlips Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Let the mad dash for AP begin. That's AP2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaterMan Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Andre Hall and Koby Smith look like better options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'canes2004 Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 That's AP2. No, Minny's AP is AD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted November 26, 2007 Author Share Posted November 26, 2007 No, Minny's AP is AD. Not to me. He's AP to me. I don't do nick names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'canes2004 Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Not to me. He's AP to me. I don't do nick names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loaf Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Andre Hall and Koby Smith look like better options. those guys were snapped up 1-2 weeks ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted November 26, 2007 Author Share Posted November 26, 2007 (edited) I'm wacky because I use his real name? those guys were snapped up 1-2 weeks ago In several leagues I'm in Adrian Peterson Chi has been snapped up and held too. Edited November 26, 2007 by Randall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gdawg Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 (edited) Another week, another RB cut down. If AD doesn't come back next week, I can't even field a full team. Lost AD a couple weeks ago, Jacobs last week, Benson this week. Throw in losing SJAX for a giant chunk of the season and Sammy Morris for the year What a season. Oh, lost Hackett yesterday too Edited November 26, 2007 by Gdawg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loaf Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 I'm wacky because I use his real name? In several leagues I'm in Adrian Peterson Chi has been snapped up and held too. yeah, I drafted Benson and Peterson and have held onto Peterson all season in Dash-4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.