Benson basks in the moment
CINCINNATI -- Cedric Benson finally couldn't contain his emotions.
The 2005 first-round pick of the Bears sprinted from the field after scoring on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter against his former mates. Benson headed straight for the stands behind the Cincinnati bench, took off his helmet and celebrated with the fans who have embraced him in his new home.
He was met by the Bengals' master of celebrations, wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, who gave Benson a hug and a message.
''Ced and I kept talking about going 'Ham,''' Ochocinco said. ''It's a new [phrase], so just let it soak in, and he'll tell you about it.''
Benson went ''Ham'' -- which he explained as a Southern phrase that means to keep going hard -- through the Bears' defense for 189 yards on 37 carries in the Bengals' 45-10 victory.
''This was a bit of an emotional week with it being the 'Benson Bowl' and things like that; it being an ex-team of mine and the way things unfolded while I was there until my arrival here, so it was an emotional day,'' Benson said. ''But it was a wonderful feeling in the end.''
Benson admitted he challenged himself to fight the emotions of playing against the Bears. ''I didn't want to seek revenge,'' Benson said. ''Revenge was not a goal of mine.''
At one point in the fourth quarter, however, Benson ran across the field and took an extended look at the Bears' sideline. ''I think there was a small part of me that couldn't resist just going up and showing a little emotion,'' Benson said.
Benson is the NFL's leading rusher with 720 yards, and his total against the Bears was the most for a Bengals running back since Rudi Johnson gained 202 against Cleveland in 2004. Benson became the first back to gain more than 100 yards against the Bears since Adrian Peterson did it for Minnesota in Week 13 last season with 128 yards.
''This week we lived up to the hype of the game, even though there was no hype within this family,'' center Kyle Cook said. ''It's one thing for Ced to have a chip on his shoulder, but it's tough for us to have a chip for that guy. Tell you the truth, every guy in this room has a chip on his shoulder about some team that cut him or getting let go and no one else wanting you.''
Benson had 98 yards on 20 carries in the first half; he was over the 100-yard mark until a three-yard loss late in the half. He had 70 yards on his first eight carries, including runs of 23 and 18 yards against a defense ranked sixth in the NFL against the run coming into the game.
''We knew what it meant for Ced, and as the game went on, we knew he was stacking it on,'' right guard Bobbie Williams said. ''But we came into this game with a tremendous amount of focus and didn't get caught up in the hype.''
After the game, Benson had no shortage of former teammates and coaches to get reacquainted with -- minus Bears coach Lovie Smith.
''This was a business trip, not a family reunion,'' Smith said.
Not being able to talk to Smith disappointed Benson.
''I really wanted to say hello to Lovie, but I think he went over and shook Marvin Lewis' hand and then went right off the field,'' Benson said. ''I think if I was a head coach, I'd probably be disappointed in the way my team played that day, too. I wanted to thank him for getting me there, for getting me picked at No. 4 to the Bears. Not everything went the way I would've loved for it to go, but things going as they did have brought me to where I am today. I am very thankful for the situation, and Lovie contributed a lot to getting me here.''
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