Sep 30th 2008 8:27PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Bengals, AFC North, NFL Free Agenc
The Bengals are 0-4, which isn’t totally shocking given how the organization has been slowly devolving into a caricature of itself in recent seasons. Some of that is head coach Marvin Lewis’ doing, but there’s enough blame to go around for owner Mike Brown to get a heaping serving.

Whatever, it is, as they say, what it is. And today, in an effort to help turn things around, the team signed Cedric Benson. Hip Hop Hurray.

Benson, the Bears former 2005 first-round pick, was cut during preseason for not being very good, and for various off-field legal entanglements. So with Chris Henry fully operational after serving a four-game suspension, this seemed like the perfect time to introduce Benson to the fold.

The club also placed running back DeDe Dorsey on injured reserved, which probably also had something to do with the timing of the move. Of course, the Bengals could’ve just kept Rudi Johnson and there wouldn’t be a need for Benson, but, honestly, unless Johnson can pass block and stuff the run on defense, Cincy would still be 0-4.

I’m sorta surprised it took Benson this long to get an opportunity — he’s just 25 years old and has played in just 35 NFL games. But questionable work habits and doubts about his ability to play nice with others scared teams off, apparently. On the upside, at least he isn’t a thief, so there’s that.

Meanwhile, Shaun Alexander continues to wait.