Benson ends holdout, signs with Bears

Monday, Aug. 29, 2005 | 9:36 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

Chicago Bears rookie running back Cedric Benson, the fourth overall pick in this year's NFL draft, ended his 36-day holdout by agreeing to a five-year contract last night.

Benson, 22, had been the only first-round draft pick not to reach a contract agreement and missed the team's first four preseason games during negotiations. The Bears didn't disclose financial terms of his deal but reports said the Bears had offered a contract that contained $17 million in guaranteed money to the former Texas star.

Benson's holdout was the longest by a rookie in the franchise's history.

"We are happy this process has reached a conclusion and look forward to moving ahead together," Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said in a statement.

Benson joins the Bears less than two weeks before their Sept. 11 regular-season opener against the Washington Redskins. Thomas Jones is the team's projected starter and is followed on the depth chart by Adrian Peterson and Antoineo Harris.

Benson, 5-foot-11, 222 pounds, won the Doak Walker Award as college football's best running back last season at the University of Texas, where he rushed for 1,746 yards and 19 touchdowns during his senior year. He had 5,540 rushing yards and 64 touchdowns in four seasons with the Longhorns.

Benson's contract agreement came several hours after Bears coach Lovie Smith said rookie Kyle Orton would be the team's starting quarterback in the season-opener.

Orton, 22, supplanted Chad Hutchinson after completing 7-of-11 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown in the Bears' 16-12 preseason win over the Buffalo Bills on Friday. Rex Grossman was the Bears' starting quarterback until breaking his left ankle on Aug. 12. He'll probably miss three to four months.

Smith said recently signed veteran Jeff Blake is now the backup and Kurt Kittner is No. 3.

The Bears end their preseason schedule Thursday at home against Cleveland and open regular-season play Sept. 11 at Washington.

Orton, who played at Purdue, was a fourth-round draft pick. He slipped in the draft after he was slowed by a hip injury in his senior season.