Smith 'disappointed' by Benson's arrest

Rookie running back Matt Forte was chosen by the Bears in the second round for a reason.

But not this one.

Already burdened by having to rehabilitate a fractured ankle that ended his 2007 season five games early, a season in which he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry, Cedric Benson undermined his position even further when he was arrested late Saturday night near Austin, Texas.

The fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft was charged with boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest, both Class B misdemeanors. The Bears have been dissatisfied with their running game in general, and Benson in particular, and now this.

"I'm very disappointed," Bears coach Lovie Smith said of the 25-year-old running back at the conclusion of the rookie minicamp Sunday at Halas Hall.

"I haven't had a chance to speak with Cedric yet, but any time we're talking about one of our players getting arrested, you're disappointed. What we're going to do from here is, I'll go back and try to get as much information as I possibly can and go from there."

A Bears spokesman said general manager Jerry Angelo was out of town and unavailable for comment.

According to the police report, Benson was aboard his 30-foot boat on Lake Travis with about a dozen friends, although he was the only one arrested by the Lower Colorado River Authority after failing a sobriety test on the boat.

He then refused to put on a life jacket in order to take a follow-up sobriety test on land. Benson resisted when officers attempted to arrest him, and he was pepper sprayed and then booked shortly before midnight.

According to the police report: "When Benson did not pass the test, he presented himself as a threat to the officer and argued about whether or not he would be taken to land to have a follow-up field sobriety test performed … and refused to put on a life jacket (procedure for transporting civilians).

"At that time the officer decided to arrest Benson, who continued to present himself as a threat to the officer, argue with him and refuse to do as the officer requested, which resulted in the officer using pepper spray on Benson."

Smith declined to elaborate on the circumstances of Benson's arrest.

"I'm going to make comments when I see information, and right now I haven't," the Bears coach said. "So right now I'm not going to comment on that."

After reaching Emerald Point Marina, Benson was transferred to the Travis County Sheriff's custody for transport to jail, where he continued to "refuse to cooperate and would not leave the officer's boat," according to the police report.

"The LCRA officer requested assistance from (the) Travis County Sheriff's Office deputies in removing Benson from the boat and basically carrying/dragging him to the deputy car for transport. At Travis County Central Booking, Benson was offered a Intoxilyzer test and refused to take it."

Benson was released after posting bond of $14,500.

During his 2003 season at the University of Texas in Austin, Benson was charged with criminal trespassing when he kicked down the door of an apartment in search of his plasma television that had been stolen. He received an eight-day sentence but got off with time served on the day of the arrest and good behavior.

While Benson rushed for more than 5,500 yards and 64 touchdowns at the University of Texas, he has struggled with the Bears since he was drafted with the fourth pick of the 2005 draft.

In three years with the Bears, Benson has rushed for 1,593 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 3.8 yards a carry. He also has missed 13 games. Last season he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry before he was injured.