Bears Release Benson

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jun 9, 2008 9:41PM

The Bears waived Cedric Benson Monday afternoon. The Benson era in Chicago is officially over.

From the Bears:

“Cedric displayed a pattern of behavior we will not tolerate,” general manager Jerry Angelo said in a statement.

“As I said this past weekend, you have to protect your job. Everyone in this organization is held accountable for their actions. When individual priorities overshadow team goals, we suffer the consequences as a team. Those who fail to understand the importance of 'team' will not play for the Chicago Bears.”

The Bears took the field Monday for OTAs and Cedric Benson was nowhere to be found. He had told the Tribune in a Sunday phone interview than he planned to attend the workouts.

The Bears running back was already on thin ice with the team after last month's arrest for boating while intoxicated and restisting arrest, was picked up for yet another DWI charge this weekend in Austin, Texas.

AP Photo/Austin Police Department.