As he dressed following Sunday’s playoff loss, Cedric Benson offered a candidate for understatement of the season.
“This isn’t how I expected my rookie year to go,” he said.
A season that began with a 36-day holdout and included a six-week absence with a sprained knee ligament ended with Benson not playing in the playoffs. He rushed for 272 yards on 67 carries.
“I would say it’s a typical rookie season,” coach Lovie Smith said. “Most rookie seasons, the next year is a lot better. And I see it that way for Cedric. He won’t miss training camp. He’ll be in the off-season program. We like the way he finished, even though he didn’t get a chance to show it except in practice.”
How effectively Benson challenges Thomas Jones will be an intriguing story line to July’s training camp.
“Thomas had a great year and is definitely No. 1 in our starting rotation,” Smith said. “But all guys know they have to perform a certain way to stay there.”
Job hunting
Defensive coordinator Ron Rivera is expected to be on the Buffalo Bills’ interview list shortly as new general manager Marv Levy searches for a head coach. Mike Mularkey resigned as Bills coach last week.
Meanwhile, Rivera remains one of three finalists for the St. Louis vacancy and will have a second interview Wednesday or Thursday. He and Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Scott Linehan are rated ahead of San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.
Rivera, now freed from playoff preparations, will focus his attention on offense. Should he be hired as a head coach, Bears quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson is believed to be his top prospect for offensive coordinator. Fired Raiders coach Norv Turner was believed to be high on Rivera’s list too, but he became the 49ers’ offensive coordinator Monday.
Wilson has worked with Rivera the last two years on the Bears’ staff.
Running man
Bernard Berrian will take a career-high five-reception game into the off-season. He’ll battle Justin Gage and Mark Bradley–if he’s recovered from a knee injury–for the No. 2 receiver spot in training camp.
“He was the one speed guy we had this past year,” Smith said. “Based on what Bernard did [Sunday], we see him expanding the role he had.”
Berrian, who left the loss late with a hip pointer, averaged 18.9 yards on 13 catches this season.
Jerry Azumah (stinger), Muhsin Muhammad (broken bone in right hand), Mike Brown (calf) and Hunter Hillenmeyer (head) joined Berrian on the postseason injury report.
Extra points
Jones left Halas Hall in a car driven by his younger brother, Julius. The Dallas running back attended Sunday’s game. … The quote of the day came from defensive end Alex Brown: “I apologize to the fans,” he said. “I really do. We’ll be better next year, I promise you that.” … The Soldier Field turf looked particularly ragged on Sunday, with Rex Grossman catching his cleats in one patch as he slid on a scramble.
