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Jones, backups gaining yards at impressive clip

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Even though starting tailback Thomas Jones didn't play Saturday night in Indianapolis, the Bears' running game continued to thrive without unsigned first-round draft pick Cedric Benson.
Adrian Peterson (14 carries for 60 yards), Zack Abron (11-50) and Antoineo Harris (12-42) combined to rush for 152 yards and 2 TDs on 37 carries in a 24-17 preseason win over the Colts.

The Bears have topped the century mark on the ground in all three of their preseason games while increasing their total each week. They rushed for 102 yards on 24 carries in the Hall of Fame Game against the Dolphins and 131 yards on 29 attempts versus the Rams.

The Bears have outrushed their preseason opponents 385-150, an average of 128-50 per game.

Jones was rested Saturday night in Indianapolis but is expected to see extended action along with the rest of the starters Friday when the Bears host the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field in the fourth of Chicago's five preseason games.

"Thomas hasn't missed a rep all camp," said coach Lovie Smith. "We just felt that this was a perfect time to keep him out. Next week is our game plan week as far as playing our starters the majority of the game, so we wanted to put ourselves in the best position for that."

Taking advantage of a rare start, Peterson rushed for 33 yards on eight first-quarter carries before scoring on a 4-yard run that put the Bears ahead 14-0 with 12:42 left in the first half.

Harris, a 5-10, 220-pounder who played for Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner at Illinois, rushed for 17 yards on four straight carries capped by the game-winning 1-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter.

Abron, a 5-8, 229-pounder who's built like a fireplug and hits like a bowling ball, picked up first downs on runs of 15 and 5 yards on the Bears' final drives to help protect the lead.

Benson's holdout, meanwhile, reached its 29th day Sunday, still with no end to the impasse in sight. On Thursday, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo issued a statement indicating that the team had made its "best and final offer" to the rookie running back.

"No dollars are left on the bargaining table," Angelo said, "and at this point the only contract discussions that will be entertained will be reflective of the considerable loss of value to the club created by the player's extended absence."

Even if Benson, the NFL's last remaining unsigned first-round pick, ends his holdout in the near future, his chances of contributing let alone playing in the Sept. 11 season opener in Washington are shrinking by the minute.

"Every day that Cedric is away it's harder to get him ready for the opener," said Smith, who's grown weary of discussing stalemate. "Each day puts him farther in the hole.

"I'm behind our organization 100 percent with the stand that we've taken with them. We're trying to put the best possible team on the field. Cedric was a part of that and he's not here, so I'm going to answer those questions the same way. He needs to be in camp and he's not here."