NFL News & Rumors » Bengals offensive changes upset Benson

Bengals offensive changes upset Benson

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After spending much of the off-season focusing on improving their receiving corps, Cincinnati has understandably taken a similar approach in play calling thus far, preferring to attack opposing defenses via the air instead of on the ground, as they did last year.

While that is certain to keep the Bengals prima donna duo at receiver in Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco happy, the feelings are not the same for running back Cedric Benson, who voiced his displeasure with the changes this afternoon on Sirius NFL Radio.

Here’s a part of what Benson had to say:

“I don’t know. With all those players and names you brought up (Terrell Owens, Jordan Shipley, Jermaine Gresham) they’re all, except for one, directly involved in the passing game. So, I mean, if I had to guess, it seems that that’s kind of the route that we’re trying to go, which can be a bit frustrating because we were successful running the football last year and being a power team.”

“Being that type of team got us where we ultimately wanted to be, which was in the playoffs. I don’t know what would be the reason the team would want to change their identity, unless in the past season it didn’t work. But that’s not the case here. And, I mean, I don’t know. I guess whoever’s making those shots, or calling those shots, you got to kind of roll with the punches.”

From cincinnati.com (share this quote)

Benson has not spoken with head coach Marvin Lewis or offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski as of yet about his frustrations in the play selection, but it’s likely that he’ll be having a conversation with one or the other fairly soon, given the amount of publicity his comments will generate headed into the weekend.

It’s doubtful that any meaningful changes will come as a result, but Benson’s unhappiness with the gameplan could cause bigger problems in the locker room if left unchecked.