I watched all his games, Pete.
Some points:
- Benson was signed 9/30, and first saw action in game 5. Started slow but heated up.
- Their WR bench was injured throughout the season, and Ocho Dinko was doing his pouting, short-arm, missed route thing.
- OL starters, LT Jones and Adam Whitworth missed the last 6 games, as did their top back-up, Scott Kooistra. C Eric Guiacec was hurt all year long.
- For those that take stock in SOS, CIN played in the top three.
Fitzpatrick certainly was taken to school early on. He did run and scoot out of trouble, but did that well - very quick decisions, and got positive yards.
Were any successes he had, because other teams didn't have the "book" on him? Could be.
I didn't see any real red flags about abilities to make the throws, or lack of decent arm strength. He was decisive, learned as he played, and clearly assumed a QBs' leadership role.
Who knows how he will fare with BUF? But I've no doubt that if CIN's budgeting for positions allowed, they would have been happy to have re-signed him.