Maybe Vic Carucci wasn’t off the mark after all. Carucci wrote a story a few days ago and noted that the Bengals had some “questions at running back.” Either he knew about Cedric Benson’s issues or his incorrect assessment just added some weight.
According to the Austin American Statesman, Benson was arrested and charged with assault for an incident last month. Here’s an exerpt from the article, written by Tony Plohetski and Kevin Robbins.
“The affidavit said the May 30 incident began at 1:50 a.m. when a fight began between Benson and an unknown person inside the bar. Club staff separated them, at which time Benson shoved a manager “in an attempt to continue the fight he was previously engaged in,” the affidavit said.
The affidavit said Benson spit blood from his injured lip at a bar employee.
Workers then asked Benson several times to leave.
“Benson refused, and was escorted out of the bar,” the affidavit said.
Outside, the affidavit said employees tried to prevent him from going back in. At that point, he punched “with his right fist to the left side” of an employee’s face, causing the employee to stumble backwards.”
And here’s a part of Benson’s version, given in a statement by his lawyer, David Cornwell, and published on ProFootballTalk.com.
“Late last month at a nightclub, Cedric Benson was asked to take pictures with some female fans,” Cornwell says. “A man approached Cedric and objected to him posing for pictures with the women. Cedric explained that he had been asked to pose with the women and the man punched Cedric.
“An altercation followed and while Cedric was leaving the club, he was approached by another man aggressively. Believing this man was a friend of the man who had punched him; Cedric attempted to protect himself and continued out of the club. Immediately upon leaving the club, Cedric called the police. He was interviewed by the police and left the area.”
Typically, the truth lies somewhere between the two versions. And given some of Benson’s past transgressions before he became a Bengal, it is possible he could face some discipline from the league. My guess is that a worst-case scenario is probably a game suspension or two. And again, that is a worst-case scenario.
Fortunately, the presence of Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard give the Bengals some options if indeed Benson misses any time. But at this point, it’s hard to figure out what the league office might do. Or what even happened to get Benson in trouble in the first place.