The Packers officially announced the signing of veteran RB Cedric Benson on Sunday, after a couple of days of speculation that the free agent was in Green Bay and close to an agreement.
The deal is for one year, ESPN reported. Financial details have not been disclosed but the contract is likely incentive-laden with little to no guaranteed money.
The Packers were in dire need of a veteran running back after injuries have ravaged the unit. Third-year starter James Starks is out indefinitely with turf toe; second-year backup Alex Green is on a snap-count as he continues recovering from last year’s ACL injury; third-stringer Brandon Saine, an undrafted second-year player, is still dealing with a pulled hamstring. Before his injury was announced, Starks had played a poor game in the preseason opener at San Diego, with a dropped pass and a fumble in limited work.
Benson, 29, adds a veteran presence and proven rushing ability to a young, inexperienced and unexceptional running back group. He’s rushed for more than 1,000 yards each of the past three seasons and has 5,769 yards and 31 touchdowns for his career. Benson (5-foot-11, 227 pounds) is a tough, between-the-tackles-type runner who can grind out tough yards. He’s never been a speedster, though, and, after 91 games and more than 1,500 career carries, his longest runs may be from the sideline to the huddle.
The signing was peculiar for a number of reasons. He’s an aging, wearing-down runner who’s always needed lots of touches to be productive (3.8-yard average for his career). He won’t get lots of carries in Green Bay, where QB Aaron Rodgers and the potent passing game rule the offense.
Benson has never played in the West Coast-style system the Packers employ. He’s also had a fumbling problem, coughing the ball up 12 times over the past two seasons. Packers coaches have said their running backs’ foremost responsibilities are to protect the passer and the football. (Benson is considered an above-average pass blocker.)
Then there’s the issue of his four arrests. The Packers pride themselves on their high standard of behavior and Benson’s past doesn’t jive with that mantra. Finally, there’s the question of why free-agent RB Ryan Grant wasn’t brought back instead -- he’s got far fewer miles on his tires, knows the offense thoroughly after spending the past five seasons in Green Bay and he is a model citizen who was a standup leader in the locker room.
General Manager Ted Thompson will certainly have lots of questions to answer when he holds his weekly news conference on Tuesday.
Follow Packers reporter James Carlton on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLGB.
