Jones, Benson fill their roles

Jones, Benson fill their roles
October 30, 2006
BY MIKE MULLIGAN Staff Reporter


Cedric Benson talked the talk, but Thomas Jones walked the walk.

True to their word, the Bears coaches got beleaguered 2005 first-round pick Benson into the game by the third series Sunday, but it was Jones who came up with the big-time performance, rushing for 111 yards on 23 carries (4.8 average) and scoring on a nifty seven-yard run in the Bears' 41-10 victory over the 49ers.

Benson gained 26 yards on eight carries (3.3), including a one-yard touchdown plunge.

The forgotten man in the alleged running back controversy is reserve Adrian Peterson, who gained 10 yards on his only carry. Peterson, a special teams standout who had 391 yards on 76 carries last year (5.1), has carried the ball twice this season. Maybe it's time to ask why he's not getting any carries, never mind Benson, who complained earlier in the week that coaches haven't given him enough notice as to when he's going to play.

''It was consistent with about how much I've been playing,'' Benson said. ''I feel about the same. I don't feel bad about things. Nothing special happened today, other than us kicking [behind].''

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner said he hasn't followed the running back saga. He said Jones knows how his coaches and teammates feel about him.

''He's been a very good football player for us,'' Turner said. ''He knows that we know it. He knows that we know and that all the guys in the locker room all appreciate it. The rest of it is all talk and we didn't really get too concerned about it.''

Jones has been the starter all season, but the combination of the bye week and an inferior opponent coming to town fueled the idea that the Bears needed to find out what Benson can do. The team wanted to improve its running game, which has been good at home but shaky on the road, in part because the Bears have trailed in two of their three road games and the game situations have forced them to throw.

''When we commit to the run, we can run the ball on anybody,'' Jones said.

Jones gained 1,335 yards last year, the most by a Bears running back since Walter Payton. He has gained 543 yards on 139 carries (3.9 avg.) through seven games while Benson has 174 yards on 55 carries (3.2). Jones said he doesn't worry about the hype over which running back should get the carries or if Benson deserves to play because of his status as a former fourth-overall pick with a big-money contract.

''I don't get into that,'' Jones said. ''That is a whole other story. It's good to sell newspapers, but that is not what I am here for. I am here to do my job.

''I am the starter on this team. I have been here the last couple of years.

''We're 7-0. I am excited about the season. I am happy to be on this team and be in the situation I am in.''

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