[ZB9]

he certainly hasnt endeared himself to Bears nation. Comments like these in this article are a mistake by Ced

By Vaughn McClure
Tribune staff reporter

October 28, 2007, 11:03 PM CDT

Cedric Benson usually bites his tongue when it comes to criticism. Sunday, he couldn't help but lash out.

"I've been hearing a lot of people criticize and talk stuff," he said. "They're not watching the games or the plays. They're just throwing out criticism.

"Do I need to run with more of a burst? No. And [expletive] them. So I guess I'm getting to the hole and walking through the hole, right?"

Benson had a few strong runs Sunday but still ended with just 50 yards on 13 carries with a long run of 12 yards.

"I only got 13 carries today," Benson said. "Ten more and I probably could have got 100. "Eight more and I probably could have got 100."

Benson has been under the microscope ever since the Bears decided to keep him over Thomas Jones. He has rushed for 100 yards just once this season (101 against the Chiefs).

"This is like my rookie year, this is like my first time starting and being 'The Guy.' Nobody said it was just going to all of a sudden take off," he said. "You're not going to have these great games every game. We're struggling here. We're behind, so we can't really run the football. I know it's going to turn. I know it's going to get better for me."

Asked what he could do to improve his numbers and the Bears' running game, Benson referred to the team's offensive philosophy.

"I come out on third downs, I have two downs to do something," he said. "That's not to say we're going to run it on those two downs.

"As an offense, I don't know what we can do."

Individually, Benson said he's done enough to escape some of the scrutiny.

"I don't appreciate all that criticism coming my way," he said. "I can understand if I'm tugging the ball for 18, 20 carries and still getting 50 yards. But what am I doing that's so bad? I don't understand."