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Bye to the Bears Chicago releases veteran running back Bennett
Posted: Monday February 07, 2000 08:14 PM
LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Edgar Bennett, who was the Chicago Bears' leading rusher two seasons ago, was released by the team Monday. Bennett was signed as an unrestricted free agent from the Green Bay Packers on Feb. 19, 1998. The Florida State product gained a team-high 611 yards on 173 carries and caught 28 passes for 209 yards while playing in all 16 games for Chicago in 1998. Only weeks after signing Bennett, the Bears surprisingly picked Penn State runner Curtis Enis as their first-round draft pick. But Enis was injured most of his rookie season. Bennett, whose 31st birthday is next Tuesday, underwent knee surgery in the offseason and Enis returned to his starter role in 1999. Bennett played in all 16 games in 1999, including two starts, but the 6-foot, 218-pounder was primarily used as a blocker. He ran the ball only six times for 28 yards. Bennett sat out the 1997 season with a torn left Achilles tendon, then left the Packers ranked among the team's top ten in both rushing and receiving. He still ranks first in Green Bay books for postseason carries (163), rushing yards (561) and rushing touchdowns (5). He was drafted in the fourth round by Green Bay in 1992, became a starter the next year and went over 1,000 yard rushing in 1995. He had a touchdown in the Packers' Super Bowl XXXI victory over New England.
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