Cedric Benson spoke with Chicago media yesterday in anticipation of the Bears-Bengals matchup Sunday. Benson said the Bears blackballed him after he was released by the team following two alcohol-related arrests. Via the Sun-Times:

‘No doubt,” Benson said. ”I heard all the rumors that were said coming out of Chicago. Even the Bengals told me that they would call and inquire about me and get nothing but negative things.”

Such as?

”That I didn’t work hard, that I was, I guess, a prima donna, just wasn’t focused,” he said. ”Just anything negative that they could say was said. I’m sure that contributed largely to me not getting picked up right away.”

Lovie Smith is denying the Bears did this. Who knows what’s true. (I’d bet it falls somewhere in the middle; the Bears were complimentary with some words, negative with others.)

But if the Bears did in fact tell other teams Benson didn’t work hard, was a prima donna and that he wasn’t focused, can you blame them? As the Sun-Times article by Brad Biggs continues, Benson was braggadocios, but never backed it up on the field. He once allegedly skipped out on a preseason game. His teammates never liked him. And Bears fans sort of always heard whispers Benson just wasn’t a hard worker. He was, by all accounts, a bust.

Add in his run ins with the law — even if he was cleared on both charges — and the perception of the guy, whether right or wrong, became pretty negative.

But you know what? Benson got a fresh start, and has capitalized. He had a good end to the year last season, and is having a terrific year so far in 2009, as he’s third in the league in yards rushed. Good for him. Maybe his time with the Bears was a wake-up call, one that showed him if he didn’t bring it day in and day out, his time in the league could be short. Maybe it just took a new start for him to focus and reach his potential.

The Bears have moved on. Benson, now that he can let his play do the talking, should move on too.