Fantasy Football Rookie Watch: Cedric Benson

Fantasy Football Rookie Watch: Add Cedric Benson to this year's list of Chicago Bear disappointments.

Benson has the distinction of being the only #1 pick not even close to signing. The Bears took Benson with the 4th overall pick in this year's NFL draft.

Benson has missed 25 days and 24 practices and will not play Saturday night in the Bears' third exhibition, even if he signs by then. With little or no communication between Bears brass and Benson's agent, Eugene Parker, that seems unlikely.

"It's disappointing," coach Lovie Smith said. "Training camp is over. A high draft pick is not here. He's a good football player. We got a chance to see some of what he can do during off-season workouts. But we need to see what he can do in pads."

"We're to the point of when he gets here, we'll just start coaching from there. We'll coach him as much as we possibly can, try to catch him up as much as we possibly can before that first game."