Browns defensive end Marcus Benard had not been heard from in a long time when he met with reporters on Wednesday afternoon.
Benard didn’t speak to the media after his 2011 season ended in an October motorcycle crash that left him with a broken hand and other injuries, which made Wednesday the first chance anyone had to ask him about the accident. Benard wasn’t too forthcoming with details about what happened when his three-wheel motorcycle hit a guard rail and threw him a great distance, but he did offer some thoughts about the impact the ordeal had on him.
“You learn more about life,” Benard said, via Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “You learn more about yourself. Sitting out and going through what I went through, rehab and everything, you always sit back and evaluate yourself and evaluate your position in life and definitely a little bit of insight.”
One piece of that insight is gratitude to the Browns for continuing to pay his salary last season and another is the realization that a motorcycle isn’t necessarily the best form of transportation for him to use. The Browns, who also lost Kellen Winslow for a season to a motorcycle accident, are likely happy to hear that.
Benard is currently working as a reserve on the defensive line in hopes of recovering the form that got him 7.5 sacks in 2010. The Browns could use that kind of pass rushing touch in the front seven this season, so any insight Benard gleaned on that front will be appreciated in Cleveland.