Veteran running back Cedric Benson rushed for 1,067 yards last season
Cedric Benson signed a one-year contract worth the veteran’s minimum ($825,000) earlier in the week. That’s not surprising. A 29-year-old running back with baggage isn’t going to command much coin in today’s NFL. The surprise is that the deal includes no incentives. But after listening to what the former Bengal said the other day, it’s clear GM Ted Thompson wasn’t being cheap, he was simply being smart.
“I definitely have a goal to still rush for 1,000, 1,000-plus, and set up some big numbers,” Benson told FoxSportsWisconsin.com Monday after his first practice in Green Bay. “I understand it’s not a run-first team and the run is not real heavy here, but there’s times where a back gets the ball 25 times (in one game).”
Look, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a player setting high goals for himself, but Benson has about as much chance of getting 25 carries in a game as I have of playing center for the Philadelphia 76ers. And while I’m not sure if Benson will be a good soldier carrying the ball 10 or 12 times a game, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be a good soldier carrying the ball 10 to 12 times a game with an incentive-laden contract.
With no extra money to be earned, Benson’s biggest incentive this season will be to help the Packers win and perhaps earn a contract for 2013. He won’t accomplish the latter by complaining. You’d have to think he knows that. You’d also have to think that’s exactly why Thompson signed him to that team-friendly deal.
[...] Packer Update says Cedric Benson’s only incentive is to win. [...]
Good point Michael. It makes perfect sense that TT refuse any incentives for a RB in this offense. It is great that Benson wants the load, but not if it is because there is more $$$ for more yards or carries. The incentive, as you say, has to be helping to win. At this stage in his career that may be all the incentive Benson needs. We’ll see.
Good point.
However, if the Pack gets a double digit lead, I can see CB getting a good number of carries. He wasn’t saying 25 carries per game, All he said was….”but there’s times where a back gets the ball 25 times (in one game).” And that’s probably true if he’s doing a solid job and if the Pack has a good lead.
To get himself 25 carries a game he must be effective with the ball in his hands and at protecting Rodgers. If he doesn’t have to leave the field in obvious passing situations, hes got a much better opportunity to touch the ball.
Perhaps a better goal to shoot for would be 25 touches a game, that would be a more realistic goal IMO. Even though hes apparently not a good receiver, im sure he will get a chance to prove that one way or the other in the next two games.
He might get 25 touches all-purpose, if he shows he can get it done.