Posted: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:27 AM - 15,365 Readers

By: The Boston Globe

Running back Cedric Benson was released from jail yesterday following an arrest on an assault charge in Austin, Texas, the second year in a row he has gotten into trouble in his home state.

Benson, a free agent after leading the Bengals in rushing each of the last three seasons, hoped to stay with the team and worked out with players in Cincinnati during the lockout.

Travis County sheriff’s spokesman Roger Wade said Benson was arrested in downtown Austin on a misdemeanor count of assault with bodily injury with family violence. Benson’s attorney Sam Bassett said in a statement that the arrest followed “a conflict’’ between Benson and a male former roommate.

Last summer, Benson was arrested for allegedly punching an Austin bar employee in the face. That case is pending.