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Bears GM Jerry Angelo expresses disappointment in Cedric Benson

By Vaughnn Mclure

The facts have not all come out in the Cedric Benson boating incident, but Bears general manager Jerry Angelo expressed disappointment Saturday night in the predicament he believes his running back put himself into last weekend.

Benson was arrested May 3 near Austin, Texas, and charged with boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest. While police said Benson became unruly, causing him to be pepper-sprayed, Benson contends he wasn’t drunk and alleges officers abused him. Two witnesses back Benson’s claim of being a victim.

“The thing that I’m most disappointed [in] is the fact that he put himself in a position to be the victim,” Angelo said from the Bears Care Gala at Soldier Field on Saturday night. “That’s the disappointment.

“He has done a real fine job in the off-season. Obviously, this makes big story lines that’s not good for business. But, unfortunately, we’re having to deal with it.”

Angelo started Saturday’s media session by saying the organization would not be quick to judge anybody until all the facts are out. Benson has a court date scheduled for May 19, and those close to the case don’t expect charges to be dropped before that date.

As for how the Bears might discipline Benson, Angelo said he anticipates having Benson present for the start of training camp July 23, which would indicate the Bears have no intentions of cutting Benson soon. He has yet to speak with Benson.

“I’m not anticipating any reason why he wouldn’t be [at camp],” Angelo said. “Again, we’re talking way premature right now. We’ll just let the courts decide what the facts are and we’ll go from there.”

But Benson could face some penalty. The league is aware of the matter and looking into it.

“As you know, there is a personal conduct [code] with our league, so it really is in their hands every bit as it is ours—probably more so, at this point, with them," Angelo said. "So we'll just wait until things are settled down, then we'll go from there."

Asked to explain why he labeled Benson's situation a "lapse in judgment" without the facts being clear, Angelo stood by his statement.

"He put himself in a position," Angelo said. "Obviously, he knows that he's going to be held to a higher standard. All athletes know that, particularly those that are high-profile like him. That's his hometown. Everybody knows him. Again, it is what it is, and we'll deal with it."

Several teammates spoke on Benson's behalf Saturday night, none more supportive than running back Garrett Wolfe.

"For something like that to happen, it kind of hurts my heart," Wolfe said. "Of course, Cedric's my teammate, and I'm always going to believe what Cedric says until proven otherwise. And I trust Cedric's judgment. … I know, in the end, Cedric did the right thing."

Quarterback Kyle Orton echoed some of Wolfe's thoughts.

"It's just a tough situation, and obviously he has all the support from the guys," Orton said. "Hopefully things come out and put him in a little bit more of a positive light.

"I'm sure he's upset. Obviously, this isn't the kind of stuff he wants to have out about him. But Cedric's a good guy, a good friend and a good teammate."

www.chicagotribune.com

Posted In: Legal on May 11, 2008 Comments (592)

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