Free-agent Benson sends message at Bengals' workout

CINCINNATI -- By carrying the ball in the rain with his former Bengals teammates, running back Cedric Benson sent the front office another reminder that he wants to be the centerpiece of Cincinnati's new offense.

The free agent joined his former teammates for a voluntary workout Wednesday at the University of Cincinnati, acting much more like someone who's ready to lead rather than leave. Benson has topped the team in rushing each of the last three seasons, but didn't receive a contract extension.

During the NFL's lockout, free agents can't negotiate or sign with teams. The 28-year-old running back from Texas not only wants to stay, but he's ready to become one of the leaders in an offense undergoing dramatic change.

"I've been very passive the past three years, maybe just because I had to," said Benson, who revived his career in Cincinnati after tough times in Chicago. "I'm not saying I'm a totally different person or that I'd be crazy vocal or nothing like that, but I'd be a little more expressive on work ethic and passion for the game just because that's how I am."

The Bengals plummeted to 4-12 last season, when reality-show hosts Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco became the faces of an offense that had a lot of self-promotion but not nearly enough production. The defending AFC North champions put the focus on their look-at-me receivers and ended up in last place.

The T.Ocho show has been canceled, and quarterback Carson Palmer -- the face of the franchise since 2004 -- likely isn't coming back. While the NFL and its players try to resolve their labor dispute, Benson is trying to remind the front office that he's ready for a much bigger part in a new-look offense.

"Cedric wants to be more than the guy who gets the ball in the backfield," quarterback Jordan Palmer, Carson's younger brother, said after a morning workout in the rain. "He wants to be a leader. He wants to be the identity of the team and the franchise, and I'm all for that."

He attracted the attention of his former teammates by flying in from Texas to join them for several voluntary workouts.

"To have a guy like Cedric out here -- unsigned, showing his leadership by being here -- that's tremendous," offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said.

Benson was the focal point of the offense when the Bengals won the division in 2009 and then lost to the Jets in the first round of the playoffs. The Bengals decided to emphasize the passing game last season, a move that backfired. Benson thought it was a mistake to de-emphasize the running game.

"The Top 100: Players of 2011" countdown continues on NFL Network on Sunday, June 19 at 8 p.m. ET. Stay tuned for a reaction show after players Nos. 21-30 are revealed.

Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski was fired after the season. Replacement Jay Gruden is bringing in a new scheme, one that's more West Coast-style. The Bengals drafted TCU quarterback Andy Dalton in the second round as Carson Palmer's eventual replacement.

With the quarterback position in flux, the Bengals need a dependable running back to carry the load.

"You have an offensive coordinator who's coming in and saying that we're having a running identity," Jordan Palmer said. "And you have an uncertain quarterback situation, which is going to mean more carries. That's a green light for him. I know he wants to be here. He's close with these guys.

"I think he's one of the best running backs in the league, and he's going to be primed to have the best year of his career. I want him here more than anybody."

Benson likes the changes so far.

"Change can be good," he said. "Considering the way things went a year ago, it's time for change. I think it's going to be a good look."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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NFL's video message to players: 'You are on notice' about hits

The NFL delivered its message about heavier punishment for illegal hits, including suspensions, directly to the 32 teams with a video spelling out what players should avoid.

Ray Anderson, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, tells players "you are on notice" in the video, stressing the league's commitment to enforcing punishment for aggressive hits to the head and neck area.

La Canfora: NFL can't be senseless

"You must know that player safety is our highest priority," Anderson says in the video, which the league released to all teams Wednesday and required coaches to show their players. "We've said publicly, and we will repeat to all of you, we will not apologize for or be defensive about aggressive enforcement to protect players from illegal and potentially life-altering blows to the head and neck."

The NFL's video, along with a letter from Commissioner Roger Goodell, was sent in the wake of three fines totaling $175,000 to players found to have targeted opponents in the head or neck over the weekend. The video replays examples of "flagrant violations," for which the league says it will begin to suspend players without pay.

Players are warned that even first-time offenders will immediately be subject to suspensions for delivering such flagrant hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players.

In the video, Anderson calls New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather's helmet hit on Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap "inexcusable." Meriweather was fined $50,000 for the hit in which he launched himself headfirst into Heap's helmet.

Also on the video is James Harrison's hit on Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi that brought the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker a $75,000 fine, and the collision between Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson and Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson that gave both players concussions. Robinson was fined $50,000 for that tackle.

Anderson says of Robinson's hit, in which the cornerback launched himself toward Jackson but didn't make contact with his helmet: "It's bang-bang but still illegal. The receiver is defenseless and in the act of attempting to catch a pass."

"These hits can have severe consequences for the player delivering the hit as well as for the player taking the blow," adds Anderson, a member of the NFL's competition committee. "Using the head, forearm or shoulder to deliver the initial hit against a defenseless player will draw significant discipline."

Players had seen the 4-minute video by midafternoon Wednesday and had mixed reactions to it.

"We talked about it today," Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "We watched the video that the league sent. There was a lot of comments and observations from the defensive guys, and the offensive guys were mostly quiet. That's just how it is.

"It's a tricky thing. From my perspective, I'm trying to protect the guys that I'm throwing the ball to. I'm trying to put them in a situation where they're not going to get hit like that, but that's about it for me."

Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey wasn't particularly impressed by the video.

"It's nothing that we didn't know," he said. "I think it was good for some people who hadn't been in the league for a while to see that and to kind of refresh your memory for the older guys."

Other illegal tackles shown in the video include Carolina Panthers safety Sherrod Martin's hit on New York Giants tight end Kevin Boss in the season opener (Boss suffered a concussion on the play), and Kansas City Chiefs rookie safety Kendrick Lewis' Week 2 shot on Browns tight end Evan Moore, who received a concussion.

The video also demonstrates the proper way to take down an opponent.

Baltimore Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis is shown using his shoulder to deliver a chest hit in what Anderson terms "a great player making a great play. No launching, no head or neck impact, proper technique that minimizes the risk to the opponent. This is what we are asking."

The crackdown, and subsequent possible suspensions, begins with this weekend's games because the league wanted to give players fair warning. The video explicitly delivers that warning.

"Gentlemen, you must know that player safety is our highest priority," Anderson says. "We have said publicly and we repeat to all of you we will not apologize for or be defensive about aggressive enforcement to protect players from illegal and potentially life-altering blows to the head and neck.

"So please, know the rules and play by the rules. You are on notice, and we will appreciate your compliance."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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