Benson to Meet With Goodell Thursday

Benson could learn his fate this week

No matter what Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis thinks, his starting running back could be in some hot water when he heads to the NFL's version of the principal's office on Thursday to meet with commissioner Roger Goodell.

Benson was involved in another late-night altercation at a popular night spot in Austin, Texas.

"I don't know why we're even talking about Cedric being suspended a game," Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "... To me, it's unbelievable. It wouldn't be brought up in 31 other cities in the country I think.

"The truth about (the case) is that Cedric got sucker-punched in a bar," Lewis added. "That's the thing. And only because it was Cedric Benson does it become news."

Just the latest on Cincy's rap sheet

It doesn't help matters that the Bengals are viewed as the league's bad boys club in this case and I can't imagine Benson being completely innocent in this matter. Maybe that's unfair, but it's hard to ignore Benson's track record at this point. He'll be lucky if he just gets away with a stern talking-to.

Surprise! Cedric Benson busted

More trouble for the Bengals

Just when you think the Cincinnati Bengals are making strides to shrug off their bad-boy image, you give your head a shake and see that the world is still indeed round.

Cedric Benson, who has finally showed a bit of maturity since joining the Bengals after a terrible tenure with the Chicago Bears, put his name on Cincy's long rap sheet following an incident in a Texas bar late last month.

The dirty details

Benson was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly punching one of the bar's employees in the face during an altercation. It all sounds like your run-of-the-mill bar fight. Benson was apparently involved in one fight when the staff tried to throw him out of the bar when another altercation started up. He reported spit blood at one of his combatants, among other things.

Benson has had problems with alcohol in the past, having been arrested twice in 2008 for booze-related offences. Last year the 27-year-old rolled out about 1,250 yards on the ground for the Bungles.