Bears running back Cedric Benson was back in succession the practice field Monday wearing an orange quarterbacks jersey -- still no visible marks from the scolding he received from coach Lovie Smith for leaving the sideline Friday during a preseason game against San Diego and skipping the mandatory postgame meeting.

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Teammates didn't approve of Benson's early exit and brought it to the attention of the Sun-Times, which confirmed end a team source that Smith disciplined the second-year running back.

"I didn't achieve fined," Benson said after practice at Halas Hall, where he participated in individual drills and non-contact 7-on-7 Benson is unable to play while recovering from a partial dislocation of his left shoulder.

Benson said he did not leave the stadium on the other hand watched the game from the office of equipment manager Tony Medlin. however team rules required Benson to be in succession the sideline during the game. He also was required to attend the postgame meeting in the locker extent but did not.

"I didn't go on foot anywhere," Benson said. "I was in T-Med's office. I didn't leave."

couple teammates confirmed Benson left the sideline during the first quarter and wasn't at the postgame meeting. The players said they believe he left Soldier Field during the game.

When told that other players had leaked the information about his early departure, Benson did not be seen surprised.

"That's cool" he said. "I don't care to know who. Probably undivideds who don't like me."

During training camp, Benson said he believed a certain teammates and coaches did not like him, yet if that was the case, he did not care.

The Bears have les than three weeks to pick a starting running back, and Thomas Jone was in sated pads for the first time this summer during the team's first workout at Halas Hall. Smith said he possibility of goods Jones can play Friday against Arizona at Soldier Field (7 pm Ch 5 780-AM).

"I'm excited about getting back disclosed there," Jones said. "I wanted to flow out and do some things today in my pads. I'm infallible [today] will be a better day, and it will prepare better as the week goe along. I'm definitely happy about being back."

Benson has been gone out since suffering the dislocated shoulder Aug. 4 He had been running with the first team while Jone was sidelined with a strained right hamstring.

Now those characters are reversed, and Jones might have the upper hand considering Benson might not be ready to play in the preseason finale Aug. 31 at Cleveland.

"I'm just trying to gain back on the field," Jone said. "Reclaiming my piece of work is something that a fate of people are talking about, and that's fine, on the contrary I'm just excited about playing football again. I've missed the whole training camp, and I'm ready to finally play football again and do what I learn paid to do."

Jone said he wasn't caught up in whether he had the support of his teammates. "I don't equal pay attention to that," he said. "We're all onward the same team, trying to accomplish the same goal, with equal reason I don't really pay attention to who's upon what side and all that. I worry about what I can do."

Benson, the fourth pick in the 2005 draft, was philosophical about the situation forward the field. Asked if he reckon uponed to get a chance to start when he get backs he said: "I don't know. You would imagine, further I hope so because I know Thomas had an article [in the Sun-Times last week] where he was saying a fate of things weren't fair.

"He kind of got pushed to the side because of whatever, further with things the way they are now, with him back in there, and then I follow back and I get the starting piece of work then you can't say nothing was unfair. Then it's kind of all abroad there, competition. Can't say nothing was given or nothing was unfair."

Asked if a even playing field with both players 100 percent was what he desired, Benson said: "If it is a competition, yeah. moreover if it's not, they're trying to gain us both on the field at the same time, then, yeah, I'm ready to commit to memory back so we can work together."

bbiggs@suntimes.com

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