It seems like everyone and their mother is piling on Cedric Benson these days, saying that even if he were doing nothing wrong, it is his fault anyway. I understand that high profile athletes being in a strip club at 3 AM is a recipe for disaster, but Benson isn't allowed to do what any other person can do in the middle of the day? But I digress.

Anyway, the latest to blame Benson for being on a boat in a lake with hundreds of other boaters is Earl Campbell, but that isn't what is newsworthy about this piece from the Chicago_Tribune. What really caught my eye is this quote from Ricky Williams, whom Benson had invited on the excusion...

"I think if I had come down, things might have worked out a little bit differently," Williams said. "I find I have a calming influence on people I'm around. As a high-level athlete, it's just something that's ingrained in me. I always think that if I'm there, things would be different. I can't say how."

There are few things a professional athlete can say that leaves me speechless, but this is certainly one of them. Yes, Ricky, I'm certain things would have gone down a wee bit differently. For instance, in addition to the charges Benson currently faces, he'd have some sort of drug related offense to contend with. And if you do have some sort of calming effect on people, it is likely the contact high people get from being around you. Unfortunately, the serene feelings the experience are soon replaced by the maddening need to eat Funyuns and Suzy-Q's.