When his Cincinnati Bengals teammates are relaxing during the bye week, Cedric Benson will be behind bars.
The Austin American-Statesman reports that Benson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge and was sentenced to 20 days in jail today. But with time off for good behavior, Benson will only have to serve about a week in jail (assuming he behaves himself), and the plea agreement allows Benson to report to jail on October 17, the start of the Bengals’ bye week.
“We are pleased that Mr. Benson took responsibility for his actions today,” Assistant Travis County Attorney Corby Holcomb said.
Today’s no contest plea is in connection with a 2010 attack on an employee of a downtown Austin bar. Benson also resolved an assault charge related to a fight with a former roommate by agreeing to a deferred prosecution agreement which says the charge will be dropped if he stays out of trouble for a year.