Ced charged with assault

[BengalByTheBay]

I am sure BR has been a model citizen and will have his penalty reduced to four games.

God(ell) has dictated it be so.

[BengalPimp]

Here is where Cedric's past really comes into play, because recently:

Braylon Edwards was charged with assault for punching one of LeBron James' buddies, yet Goodell decided not to suspend him (apparently he will only face a fine)

Vince Young also was charged with assault after punching a dude In a Strip Club, but according to reports, VY will also not be suspended (although Goodell will talk to him to explain the NFL conduct policy).

These 2 other players were also charged with assault, yet neither one will face a suspension. So, I guess it comes down to----How much of a factor are Cedric's Alcohol related arrests, even though charges were dropped in both cases?

[BengalByTheBay]

So, I guess it comes down to----How much of a factor are Cedric's Alcohol related arrests, even though charges were dropped in both cases?

And....the gorilla in the corner -- how much will the fact that he is currently a Bengal factor into the equation?

[derekshank]

So, I guess it comes down to----How much of a factor are Cedric's Alcohol related arrests, even though charges were dropped in both cases?

And....the gorilla in the corner -- how much will the fact that he is currently a Bengal factor into the equation?

Meh... I guess it depends what you mean.

I don't think Goodell is actually anti-Bengal. Some fans thinks he hates the Bengals and loves suspending players that play in Cincy... but at worst I see him as a potential victim of the "troubled Bengals" propaganda that was sold not so long ago.

Like it or not, the general public still see the Bengals as a franchise filled with criminals. Mike Brown's reputation as a "redeemer" is nation wide. This arrest furthers that belief and Goodell could "over-react" and hand out a suspension he otherwise wouldn't have trying to avoid the notion that he doesn't come down hard on troubled players. That could be true, and could also be why so many find his decisions so arbitrary.

But in reality... I imagine any suspension Benson may receive will have far more to do with being a "multiple offender" (this is his 3rd arrest) rather than any specific charge he has faced. He may only get a game or two... but I fully expect a suspension of some kind.

[HoosierCat]

Based on the information that has come to light so far, my prediction is that Benson will not be suspended, disciplined, or otherwise inconvenienced by this incident.

There's no mention of booze, drugs or bad behavior towards women. The charge is based on accounts of his throwing a punch at a bouncer while being tossed out of a bar for the "crime" of getting punched in the face while posing for a picture with some fans.

After which he (allegedly) called the cops, not the punchee.

Now, maybe stuff comes to light later that shreds his story. But right now, this may be the biggest tempest in the smallest teapot that I have ever seen.

[ct_bengal]

this is all bs, the same thing happened to me wen i was in a fight at my friends house a few years back. dude got kicked out of the party came back with friends looking for trouble, beat the crap out of em. a month later everybody got a warrant in the mail talking about "turn urself in".i go in charges were dropped to creating a disturbance (equal to a speeding ticket). i could have fought it but it was just easier to pay the 50 dollar fine and not return to court. bottom line ced is fine and i would have done the same thing in his shoes, from the pics i have seen the guy responsible for the whole debacle looks like a huge douchebag. no suspension i wud bet my balls on it...

[derekshank]

Based on the information that has come to light so far, my prediction is that Benson will not be suspended, disciplined, or otherwise inconvenienced by this incident.

There's no mention of booze, drugs or bad behavior towards women. The charge is based on accounts of his throwing a punch at a bouncer while being tossed out of a bar for the "crime" of getting punched in the face while posing for a picture with some fans.

After which he (allegedly) called the cops, not the punchee.

Now, maybe stuff comes to light later that shreds his story. But right now, this may be the biggest tempest in the smallest teapot that I have ever seen.

Yeah. It's certainly possible. And I'm certainly no expert on criminal justice - but I think it's at the very least worth noting that he was charged and arrested AFTER an investigation.

Right now, the most information given on the situation is basically from Cedric's mouth. If it really went down that way, and that is all that happened, then I'd tend to agree. But I guess I find it hard to believe that his side of the story is the whole story given that there was an investigation and that he was later arrested and charged with a crime.

[walzav29]

I predict a 4 game suspension. Just like Ben didn't get convicted he's had accusations. The bottom line is this is Ced's 3rd "incident". That's just the one's we know about. Think about this, the Bears cut him and he was the 4th overall pick, so there is definitely fire with this smoke. The question is do we roll with Bernard?

[Wraith]

I think Ced just need to stay the heck away from Austin, this is the third time he has been arrested there and the third time the police appear to have overeacted to the situation.

[walzav29]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/07/01/vincent-jackson-suspended-three-games/

This is Jacksons 2nd conviction. Allen got 4 reduced to 2 for 2 arrests. This is Ced's 3rd arrest. At least 2 I'd imagine.

[derekshank]

I think Ced just need to stay the heck away from Austin, this is the third time he has been arrested there and the third time the police appear to have overeacted to the situation.

I'm not terribly knowledgeable about the other arrests... but I'm not sure how you could possibly call this an overreaction. He wasn't arrested the day it happened... it was nearly a month later. If anything, I'm guessing there was a reasonably thorough investigation before the arrest.

[HairOnFire]

But I guess I find it hard to believe that his side of the story is the whole story given that there was an investigation and that he was later arrested and charged with a crime.

Actually Benson's version jives with things pretty well. Because the investigation and arrest a month later relate to the scuffle that broke out after Benson was sucker punched. And Benson hasn't confirmed or denied hitting the bouncer. So while he may be guilty of punching a bouncer....it was an unprovoked physical assault on Benson that set things in motion.

Granted, that doesn't absolve Benson of guilt in the matter of punching the bouncer. But if Benson was suckerpunched, as he claims, then he can be seen as a sympathetic figure both in regards to the earlier assault on himself, but also in regards to the bouncer he almost certainly punched.

Not kidding.

Because from Benson's perspective all he sees is a club filled with security people who not only allowed the sucker puncher to escape unharmed and unpunished, but were in the act of physically throwing a still bleeding Cedric Benson out of a club where only minutes before he had been peacefully posing for pictures with a posse o' puzzy.

[HairOnFire]

I think Ced just need to stay the heck away from Austin, this is the third time he has been arrested there and the third time the police appear to have overeacted to the situation.

I fear there's no truth behind the joke about Austin being a lovely city surrounded by Texas.

[HairOnFire]

I'm not terribly knowledgeable about the other arrests... but I'm not sure how you could possibly call this an overreaction. He wasn't arrested the day it happened... it was nearly a month later. If anything, I'm guessing there was a reasonably thorough investigation before the arrest.

I agree. The arrest isn't an overreaction.

But a suspension would be.

[BengalPimp]

I'm sure more details will come to light in the following weeks. There are a couple of things (if true) in this ESPN article that won't help his case.

http://sports.espn.g...tory?id=5339757

Notably, he did not leave the club peacefuly, and apprently spewed profanity and racial comments.....

"As they took him outside, he continued to push and shove," Senior Police Officer Veneza Aguinaga said.

Bartender Bryan White told police that once outside, Benson complained to people passing by that "all these white boys are ganging up on me and kicking me out."

White said he told Benson he wouldn't take time out of his night just to kick him out, then Benson punched him in the face.

I think most people would have reacted the way Benson did, but unfortunately, when you're an athlete or celebrity everything is magnified 10 times over.

Goodell is a D*ck, suspension is imminent.....Damn I miss Paul Tagliabue.

[cincyhokie]

Sucker punch an NFL player in the face and then "escort" him out the door. Not sure of anyone that would go quietly.

There's 2 sides to every story. Not saying he's guilty or innocent.

I'm pretty confident there are no innocent victims in this case.

[redsbengalsbucks]

I'm sure more details will come to light in the following weeks. There are a couple of things (if true) in this ESPN article that won't help his case.

http://sports.espn.g...tory?id=5339757

Notably, he did not leave the club peacefuly, and apprently spewed profanity and racial comments.....

"As they took him outside, he continued to push and shove," Senior Police Officer Veneza Aguinaga said.

Bartender Bryan White told police that once outside, Benson complained to people passing by that "all these white boys are ganging up on me and kicking me out."

White said he told Benson he wouldn't take time out of his night just to kick him out, then Benson punched him in the face.

I think most people would have reacted the way Benson did, but unfortunately, when you're an athlete or celebrity everything is magnified 10 times over.

Goodell is a D*ck, suspension is imminent.....Damn I miss Paul Tagliabue.

I dont think most people would throw around race, because they get kicked out of a bar after a fight. Many bars have a zero tolerance for fighting. They throw everyone involved out of the place, problem taken care of. I have no problem with Benson being in a bar, getting into a scuffle or being mad about getting tossed after being the victim of a sucker punch, but to use race as an insult after the fact is pure stupidity.

[BengalByTheBay]

I dont think most people would throw around race, because they get kicked out of a bar after a fight. Many bars have a zero tolerance for fighting. They throw everyone involved out of the place, problem taken care of. I have no problem with Benson being in a bar, getting into a scuffle or being mad about getting tossed after being the victim of a sucker punch, but to use race as an insult after the fact is pure stupidity.

"All these white boys are ganging up on me and kicking me out." Meh...not all that inciteful if you ask me. I actually do have a problem with Benson being in a bar, but only because of the relative lack of judgment issue. There could also be plenty of legitimate reasons that him being in the bar wasn't any cause for concern. As for the "white boys" comment, if that's the worst thing he said, I don't have a problem with that. Fact is, he got punched in the face and was probably pretty pissed off. Reserving judgment until the full accusations come out, I would have to say this simply sounds like a case of exactly why an NFL player can't, and probably shouldn't, pretend they can go out and just chill like regular people. It's one of the prices to pay for being very handsomely compensated and (maybe) being recognizable.

[COB]

this simply sounds like a case of exactly why an NFL player can't, and probably shouldn't, pretend they can go out and just chill like regular people.

Yep. Taking an occassional shot to the face whilst ejecting drunken idiots is part of the job for bouncers. It's kind of in the job description. Usually, they handle it themselves with a retaliatory punch, backed by the other bouncers so he knows it's a free one. The bouncer in this case probably took one look at Ced and decided retaliation would be futile and possibly damaging to his facial bone structure.

But calling the cops and filing an assault charge? Ced's bank account had everything to do with that. The bouncer's a douche, but in the end the whole thing is Ced's fault for being there in the first place.

[TJJackson]

Of course we should all probably wait til we get the real story from Cedric's closest BFF - you know.........agreen/gizzle.

[jjakq27]

What's the latest?

[ArmyBengal]

I haven't heard or read anything new on this. Only how the Bengals would counter if and when a suspension were to be handed down.

I'm still of the line of thought that says he doesn't get any suspension on this.

[jjakq27]

http://cincinnati.co...ason-incidents/

Marv's thoughts today: Said Lewis: “I don’t know why we we’re even talking about Cedric being suspended a game. I don’t even know why we’re bringing it up. To me it’s unbelievable. It wouldn’t be brought up in 31 other cities in the country I think.” Lewis went on to say later: “As Cedric’s has come out the truth about Cedric’s is that Cedric got sucker punched in a bar. That’s the thing. And only because it was Cedric Benson does it become news.”

[membengal]

God bless ya, Marvin.

[BengalPimp]

In Marvin We Trust