CNATI: Cincinnati OH Sports Journalism

Cincinnati Bengals

Benson not eager to share

By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted November 29, 2009 6:42 PM ET

The question seemed simple enough: With three proven, hungry running backs, are there enough carries in the Bengals' offense to go around?

For the Bengals' Cedric Benson, it wasn't so simple. After the question was posed to him, Benson waited a full five seconds before he began to answer.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

"I don't know. I don't know," Benson said Sunday, following the team's 16-7 win over the Browns. "That's a weird question right there."

And then, after another pause, Benson said, "I didn't know I was having to share time. Is that what you're implying?"

Not necessarily, the reporter said, but there are clearly three quality running backs on the roster. Benson was the featured back for the first eight games and might be for the final few, once he returns from a hip injury. Or the Bengals could opt to utilize backups Larry Johnson and Bernard Scott is more prominent roles, now that each has topped 100 yards in a game.

"Uh, I don't know," Benson said. "If it wasn't like that before, I don't know if it'd be like that."

It will be interesting to see how it will be. Benson said he was ready to play this week, but the Bengals wanted him to rest. There will be no holding back this week, he said. Benson wants to practice every day and reclaim his previous role.

He entered the Nov.15 game against Pittsburgh as the NFL's second-leading rusher, with 837 yards in eight games. Despite missing a game-and-a-half, Benson entered play Sunday with the second-most carries in the NFL. If the Bengals wish to continue using their new toys - Johnson and Scott - it will be difficult for Benson to maintain such a prominent role, because there won't be enough carries to go around.

The question, of course, came after Johnson finished with 107 yards on 22 carries and Scott had 18 carries for 87 yards in the win over Cleveland.

Johnson ran twice last week against Oakland, but Sunday, he took advantage of his expanded role. His first three carries of the game were good for at least 10 yards apiece, and he became the third Cincinnati running back this season to top 100 yards.

Scott, who ran for 119 last week, suffered a turf toe injury on the first series of the second half Sunday but remained in the mix.

"You've got Larry Johnson with his history of carries and the way he runs the ball and the 'physicalness' he brings to the game," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "Cedric is very similar - I don't know if there's a difference between the two - and then with Bernard Scott and the way he plays... You can't forget about Brian (Leonard) and the plays he's made on third and fourth downs to get us wins.

"We have four very physical, capable guys back there and each of them brings something that's a little different. Each of them has their special thing. But Ced and Larry run the ball pretty similar and are great backs."

Both also came to Cincinnati with baggage: specifically, with reputations as malcontents when things don't go their way. Benson has been a model citizen since signing with the Bengals. He's been popular among teammates and coaches. But he was noticeably unhappy with the team's decision to sign Johnson and didn't hide the fact that he's still not thrilled with it.

Next week could be the first time both are in a Bengals uniform at the same time.

Benson said he could have played this week, but the coaching staff chose to hold him out.

"We want me to be fresh going into these last five games and into the postseason," Benson said. "That's a good plan. It kind of happened that way with the little set-back from the hip thing I had and we'll go with it and make the best of it. ... (The plan to rest) was talked about leading up to this game. It's now all over, in the bag, I'll be out there next week."

And that's when we'll see. No matter how "weird" Benson may think the question is, it still remains -- are there enough carries to go around?

"I have no idea," Palmer said, "but I can't imagine a better problem to have."

Said Scott, "As long as we're all three healthy, there's going to be trouble."

Scott meant for other teams, but could it be trouble for the Bengals and their locker room? At least one running back wasn't happy on Sunday because he didn't get a chance to carry the ball, and it's tough to imagine that will be the last time this season one of the three is left out.

Categories: Cincinnati Bengals, Featured Stories, News

Tags: Bernard Scott, Brian Leonard, Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals, Larry Johnson