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It's still not clear what the long-term prognosis is for Bears running back Cedric Benson, who suffered a broken leg in last week's loss win to the Broncos. But the Chicago Sun-Times' Brad Briggs says one thing is certain: the injury is going to cost Benson some dough.

Benson ... could miss out on nearly $4 million in bonuses and escalators in his contract. Had he been more productive earlier in the season, or had he been injured a week later, he likely would have earned a sizable windfall. But by finishing the season with 674 rushing yards, Benson fell 27 shy of triggering a conditional roster bonus worth $1.73 million.

Ouch. And as Briggs writes, even though we're eager to label Benson a bust, he'll never approach the almost $30 million value of his rookie five-year deal.

Of course, it doesn't matter what you call him, Benson has been inconsistent in his first full season as the starter. And the fact that he didn't start sooner is a testament to how well Thomas Jones played. Huh, you think the Bears miss Jones? Yeah, me too.

Whatever, Jones ain't walkin' through that door. In Benson's absence, Adrian Peterson will carry most of the load with rookie Garrett Wolfe also helping out. Meanwhile, Benson will face rehabbing the same injury that befell Rex Grossman during the 2005 preseason.

Grossman played 4.5 months later, but he wasn't completely healthy, something that might be more difficult for Benson, a player who relies on making people miss (which, quite frankly, wasn't working out so well before the injury). However this ends up, the Bears will have plenty of off-season issues to address, starting with the offensive backfield.