Cedric Benson Named Chicago's starting RB

[Cover 2]

Head coach Lovie Smith told the Associated Press that Cedric Benson will start at running back when the Bears open training camp Thursday.
"As we go into training camp, our starting rotation will be exactly how it was as we finished OTAs," Smith said. Benson finished OTAs as Chicago's first-stringer, not Thomas Jones, who was "demoted" after skipping voluntary workouts. Smith did indicate that Jones, Benson, and Adrian Peterson would rotate during camp, meaning Jones would have to climb the depth chart to regain his starting job.

I drafted Benson in the back end of a couple drafts, glad to see this

[J2thez929]

Wow, I though it would take to at least week 6 before Benson became the full-time starter. If this holds true though camps and preseason, you can bump Benson up the draft charts

[Vixtor]

How do you just demote a player that rushed for 1300+ yards on an offense without anything resembling a passing attack? Benson has either been extremely impressive or they are upgrading him on draft position alone. Upgrade his fantasy draft position for sure but I wouldn't go too high. Jones has proven he can get it done.

[Kilroy]

This could also be "Coachspeak" to motivate either TJ and/or Benson. While I agree that it might bump Benson a bit, this is one of several backfields that are gonna be cloudy as h**l for at least the next few weeks.

RBBC.

[Popcynical]

Wait until after pre-season before you go trading for Benson or traidng away Jones...

[tomkatt]

Wait until after pre-season before you go trading for Benson or traidng away Jones...

Agreed.

[flotsamnjetsam]

I really hope this isn't just a smoke screen.

[mystykoekaki]

Sweet, looks like me drafting him in most leagues might pay off.

[stomperrob]

While I have a lot of faith in Benson, being the starter on the first day of training camp doesn't mean much - he's still got all of training camp and pre-season to prove he deserves the job more than Jones. Don't annoint him just yet.

[Crippler]

They're probably just trying to light a fire under Jones for the negative attitude. I think they will give him the starting job back by the time the season starts.