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Cincinnati Bengals

Notes: Benson determined to remain No.1

By Scott Priestle, CNATI.com Posted November 18, 2009 1:06 PM ET

Cedric Benson did not bother to put on a happy face Wednesday. He insisted he has no opinion about the Bengals signing former Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson, but his body language suggested frustration.

"Oh, I didn't know I was supposed to be jumping out of my seat or anything," Benson said with a smile. "I really have no feelings about it. They made a move they felt they needed to do, and that's fine with me, whatever decisions they make in that area. It's not going to affect me in any kind of way.

"Whatever happens from here on, I can guarantee you I'll definitely be making the best of it."

Benson got an opportunity last season that Johnson could get this season, and he has dramatically changed his image around the league. If he was considered aloof and injury-prone in Chicago, he has been a popular teammate and dependable player in Cincinnati.

"Most of the time you hold your fate in your own hands. I'm not letting up in any aspect of what I do," he said. "I expect to continue to be the No.1 guy, and if not I'll make it that way."

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said the team signed Johnson as "insurance." He called Benson last week to inform him the team was considering such a move.

"I appreciated it," Benson said, "but in all due respect, this is a business. Not that I expect anything. It is a business, and sometimes things can happen in strange ways."

Benson recently suffered a hip injury which forced him to miss the second half Sunday in Pittsburgh and kept him out of practice Wednesday. He said the injury -- an abductor strain -- has improved in recent days and he would like to play in the team's upcoming game in Oakland, but that will be determined later this week.

If Benson is unable to play, it is possible Johnson will take his roster spot, despite having only a few days to learn the playbook. Benson made his Bengals debut last season after only five days with the team; he carried 10 times for 30 yards in a loss to the Cowboys, and two weeks later he was the team's primary running back.

"The offensive playbook here can be tricky, so it takes a little bit to get adjusted," Benson said. "But Larry's all right. He's a professional and a great player at that. I'm sure whatever adjustments he has to make, or if he gets a chance to play, I'm sure he'll make the best of it."

Johnson has had numerous off-the-field troubles in recent years, and he was considered a malcontent in Kansas City. But safety Chris Crocker said the Bengals are an ideal team for him to join because they have so many players who have been released by other teams.

"In this locker room, we don't judge guys on their past," Crocker said. "We welcome him just like anybody else."

Offensive coordiantor Bob Bratkowski said if Benson's healthy, there's little competition from Johnson.

"It's a situation where Ced can't go, then you're going into two halfbacks in a game and neither one of those guys has been a guy who goes in all year long and get 25 carries a game," Bratkowski said. "Larry would give you the (possibility) to have the reps evened out and nobody gets overloaded. ... If they're all up and running, Larry's probably inactive."

A QUICK TRIP -- The Bengals will fly to Oakland on Saturday rather than Friday, as they have previously did for West Coast trips during Lewis's tenure. The players' schedules and curfews will be the same this weekend as they would be for a 4:15 p.m. start time at home.

"We'll just treat it like we're still on Eastern time," linebacker Rey Maualuga said.

Lewis referred to it as "a nice, tight business trip."

"A lot of teams do it this way," he said. "There's less time. You have less time out of your bed, your environment."

HENRY HOPES TO RETURN -- Receiver Chris Henry will miss the rest of the season because of two broken bones in his forearm, but he hopes he hasn't played his last game as a Bengal. Henry is a free agent after this season and wants to return.

"This is the team that brought me in and stuck with me, so I'd love to pretty much finish my career (here)," Henry said. "We can get something done when the time comes."

Henry suffered the broken bones Nov.8 against Baltimore when he was hit by Ravens safety Fabian Washington after making a catch. He said he knew the arm was broken before he hit the ground. He has not watched a replay.

"What I think happened is he tried to get the ball out, missed the ball and hit my arm and broke it," Henry said. "He kind of karate chopped me."

Henry had two metal plates inserted in the arm and is currently in a cast for six weeks. He said it will be replaced by a smaller one for another four weeks.

"I've just got to roll with the punches and do what I need to do to get ready for next year," he said. "It's another hurdle I need to get over, but it's not going to be hard for me. I've got to stay positive and things will work out. I'm going to do everything I need to get back. This is nothing. I hate not being out there playing with my teammates, but this is the game we play."

Henry, who has had his share of trouble off the field, said he's better prepared to deal with this setback than any previous adversity.

"That just comes with time. I learned to handle all situations," Henry said. "I'll be all right."

WARY OF AN UPSET -- Maualuga played on some teams at Southern California that dominated highly ranked opponents but suffered letdowns against second-tier teams, including Stanford, Oregon and Oregon State. The 2009 Raiders might be the NFL equivalent of 2007 Stanford.

Maualuga acknowledged that some of his USC teammates took the Cardinal lightly. "But nobody in this league is weak or soft," he said. "They're capable of beating us, too. We have to prepare like every other week."

PRACTICE REPORT -- Offensive guard Evan Mathis (ankle), linebacker Keith Rivers (calf), safety Chris Crocker (calf)  and Benson (hip) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.

Cornerback Johnathan Joseph (foot) was limited, while fullback Jeremi Johnson (chest) fully participated.

GALLOWAY VISITS -- Three veterans -- wide receiver Joey Galloway, safety Mike Doss and defensive tackle Ed Johnson -- worked out for the Bengals on Tuesday, and just because no move was made on Wednesday don't close the book on any of them.

Bratkowski said the team will keep Galloway's number handy.

"I go a long way back with Joey, I knew he was available and his people had called me when Chris (Henry) got hurt and it was a time to bring him in and see," Bratkowski said. "We'll see how things go as we go forward, how guys do this weekend."

Bratkowksi was the offensive coordinator in Seattle for Galloway's first three seasons in the NFL.

"We wanted to get a look at him and see where he was at, what condition he was in," Bratkowski said.

CNATI manager editor C. Trent Rosecrans contributed to this report.

 

Categories: Cincinnati Bengals, Featured Stories, News

Tags: Cedric Benson, Chris Henry, Larry Johnson, Rey Maualuga