Bengals RB Cedric Benson arrested for allegedly punching bar employee

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson was arrested Tuesday and charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly punching a bar employee in the face nearly a month ago.

Benson was booked into the Travis County jail where he later posted bail and was released, authorities said.

According to the Austin police arrest affidavit, Benson was at Annie's West bar in the Sixth Street entertainment district on May 30 when he got into an altercation with another patron that left him spitting blood from a cut lip. After staff intervened, witnesses told police Benson shoved a bar worker and was verbally abusive. After being asked to leave, Benson was escorted to the door.

Bar employee Bryan White told police that once outside, Benson complained that "all these white boys are ganging up on me and kicking me out," then punched White in the face.

Benson attorney Sam Bassett's office said Bassett would release a statement later.

The arrest is just the latest brush with the law for Benson.

In 2008, he was arrested twice in a month on alcohol charges that were later dropped. While in college at the University of Texas, he was suspended for a game and pleaded no contest to a charge of criminal trespassing for forcing his way into an apartment to find a television he said was stolen from him.

Drafted in the first round by the Bears in 2005, Benson's legal troubles prompted Chicago to cut him in 2008. He signed as a free agent with the Bengals and led the team with a career-high 1,251 yards and six touchdowns in 2009.

What disciplinary action, if any, Benson will face remains to be seen. The National Football League requires a player to promptly notify them when a violation has been committed. Teams are also ordered to report incidents.

The Bengals released the following statement on Tuesday:

"The Bengals are aware of the incident. It is not appropriate to comment until

Benson played for the Texas Longhorns in Austin from 2001-04.