Cedric Benson Suspension: Loss of RB Makes Weak Offense Even Weaker

A Bengals offense that had struggled and would continue to struggle in 2011 always knew it had a running back it could lean on.

Cedric Benson, the stout, powerful running back, is not a superstar, but he was someone willing to carry the offense to the best of his ability. At the very least, his hard running style would keep defenses honest.

Now, that element will be missing for a few weeks, as Benson has been suspended for three games by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

SI.com's Chris Burke wrote about what led up to the suspension:

"Benson was arrested in July—the second summer in a row he’d run into trouble with the law —then served four days in jail on a plea deal just prior to the regular season."

The timing is a bit odd, as it's not like this is something that just happened last week.

Goodell's system of handing down suspensions has been criticized, as Burke writes about here:

"The expected Benson appeal will once again put the NFL’s current disciplinary system in the spotlight. Goodell is the one who hands down suspensions, and he’s also the one who hears appeals, sort of eliminating any checks and balances in the procedure."

As Burke alluded to, Benson plans to appeal, but the appeal is likely to fall on deaf ears. Goodell takes a hard line on discipline issues in the league, and he is not known for backing down.

Without him, it's hard to imagine the Bengals being very competitive.

Andy Dalton has looked decent in the early going, but without a running game, defenses will be able to tee off on him.

Defenses will also be able to keep fewer defenders in the box, allowing more defensive backs to get on the field to shut down receivers A.J. Green and Jerome Simpson.

It's a shame that Benson will likely be missing a stretch of games at this point in the schedule. Out of their next six games, only the Bills seem to be decidedly better than the Bengals. Without Benson, every team on their schedule seems capable of beating them.

Coming off a win in Week 1 and a close loss in Week 2, there has been some cautious optimism about the Bengals' season. All that optimism is all but out the window without Benson.