Not everyone on Bears happy to see Benson leave

The people at Halas Hall who were closest to Cedric Benson expressed their feelings about him Wednesday, two days after he was released following a pair of recent alcohol-related arrests in a 35-day span.

"It's always tough to lose one of your players," said running backs coach Tim Spencer. "He has a lot of friends in our running back room. We've had numerous conversations, and I like Ced.

"Ced was all right with me, and you hate to see this happen. But we all have a responsibility. We're responsible to a lot of people, and we've got to handle our business."

Benson's DWI arrest early Saturday morning convinced the Bears' decision-makers that he wasn't handling his business off the field, and last year's 3.4-yard average per carry was evidence enough that they could live without his production on the field.

But second-year backup running back Garrett Wolfe said he will miss Benson.

"Me and Cedric were close," said Wolfe, one of few teammates who could say that about Benson. "You know things are expected of us, and obviously the staff felt Cedric didn't do things that were necessary.

"But Cedric was a good friend, (and) he's a great teammate. He's been nothing but a help to me since Day One."

Wolfe had yet to speak with Benson but was planning to do so soon.

Spencer was Maurice Clarett's position coach for the one year the enigmatic and troubled running back spent at Ohio State before trying (unsuccessfully) to enter the NFL draft a year early and then failing miserably as a pro when he did enter the league.

But unlike Clarett, currently incarcerated for armed robbery and aggravated assault, Benson at least played in the NFL for three seasons.

"Obviously I'm saddened and disappointed that it did happen to him and that we had to let him go," Spencer said. "I've kind of been in a little situation before where you want things to happen for an individual who's having a little difficulty and it hasn't gone right.

"As a coach, you really can't control everything. All you can do is tell them what they should and shouldn't do and hope that they do it."

Because he's just 25 and had looked good physically in off-season practices after suffering a season-ending fractured ankle last season, Benson could be an attractive pickup for another team willing to give him a fresh start.

But that's no guarantee, according to Spencer, who was asked if he thought Benson would play in the NFL again.

"I have no idea," Spencer said.