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Alleged victim says Benson attack was 'violent'

Posted on: July 22, 2011 9:12 am
Edited on: July 22, 2011 9:43 am
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Posted by Ryan Wilson

Bengals running back Cedric Benson was arrested last weekend on assault charges after a former roommate accused Benson of roughing him up on an Austin, Texas, street corner. It wasn't Benson's first run-in with the law, and if nothing else, allowed for another "The Bengals lead the league in arrests" posts.

But according to Benson's attorneys, the alleged victim was trying to extort money from their client.

"Thomas Crosley, the attorney for Clavens 'Miami' Charles, the individual involved in the incident with Cedric Benson this weekend, contacted us yesterday to demand a 'settlement' meeting," Benson's attorneys said in a statement released Thursday. "This attorney stated that if we did not respond within a short period, Mr. Charles would respond to media requests, including a request for an interview from TMZ. We have learned that Mr. Charles’ representatives have contacted at least one public relations firm to assist them with publicity."

Benson's attorneys said that not only is there "nothing to settle with Charles," but that they "intend to confront Charles in defending the misdemeanor charges against Cedric. Cedric did not act without provocation."

By Friday morning, PFT had received a statement from Charles' attorney which, surprisingly, denied the extortion charges leveled by Benson's attorneys (if we've learned anything it's this: lawyers are remarkably proficient at gumming things up):

“Earlier this week Clavens Charles was the victim of an unprovoked violent assault by Cedric Benson that resulted in his hospitalization,” the attorney’s statement said. “Today Clavens Charles has been the victim of an equally violent media smear campaign by the attorneys representing Cedric Benson. . . . No money demand was ever made to Cedric Benson or his legal counsel. Money was never mentioned by us at any time.”

We have no idea where the truth lies, but as PFT's Michael David Smith notes, this photo of Charles in the hospital sure makes it look as if he was the victim of a violent crime.

Whatever happens, Benson will be a free agent once the lockout ends, and his latest arrest could affect his NFL future.

(Which again raises the philosophical question: Do the Bengals attract players who struggle to work within the confines of the law or are those players corrupted once they're Bengals?)

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Category: NFL
Tags: Cedric Benson, Cedric Benson Arrested, Cincinnati Bengals, Ryan Wilson
 
Comments
fghdfre
Since: Dec 2, 2011
Posted on: January 1, 2012 11:31 pm
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hgtrerte
Since: Dec 2, 2011
Posted on: December 27, 2011 3:04 am
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tomlye
Since: Nov 28, 2011
Posted on: November 30, 2011 1:26 am
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Since: Oct 6, 2010
Posted on: July 24, 2011 5:09 pm
 

Alleged victim says Benson attack was 'violent'

Why cant these guys stay out of trouble?  Its often the same guys too.  They either beating someone up, raping someone, getting DWI's, using drugs.  Its unfortunate that they dont know how good they have it, and they complain that they dont get paid enough money.  What a joke.  I hope Benson spends the year on the bench, and eventually fades away into the night.

Since: Jul 28, 2007
Posted on: July 23, 2011 5:34 pm
 

Alleged victim says Benson attack was 'violent'

Dead or in jail within 5 years out of the game.  Who cares, F this guy

Since: Jul 23, 2011
Posted on: July 23, 2011 8:20 am
 

Alleged victim says Benson attack was 'violent'

The more important point, I believe, is that gay domestic abuse is terribly under-reported because of the stigma associated with being gay (as evidenced by the fact that few of us dare to read between the lines of this story). It’s too bad we live in a society where this victim isn’t being properly heard or protected, because no one wants to acknowledge the big black gay elephant in the room.

Mark S. King
http://www.bilerico.com/2011/07/is_

nfl_star_cedric_bensen_an_angry_gay

_man.php

Since: Sep 11, 2006
Posted on: July 22, 2011 11:21 pm
 

Alleged victim says Benson attack was 'violent'

Hospitalized for a bloody lip and a cut to an eye?  Looks like 3 hits to me and each one landed, there was no real dammage done.

______________________________

Fool> Hopefully someone will hit you just three times today and no real DAMMAGE-LOL_done. 

Since: Sep 20, 2009
Posted on: July 22, 2011 7:20 pm
 

Alleged victim says Benson attack was 'violent'

WHO DEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gonna Arrest Next??????

Since: Jan 13, 2009
Posted on: July 22, 2011 5:13 pm
 

Alleged victim says Benson attack was 'violent'

WHO DEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since: Jul 12, 2011
Posted on: July 22, 2011 4:03 pm
 

Alleged victim says Benson attack was 'violent'

If this victim was trying to extort money from Benson you go to the law and report it. You don't have the right to go and assault someone.  I don't think Benson will play much football this year.
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