"He denies that he was intoxicated," attorney Brian Carney said yesterday. "He denies that he resisted arrest."

Benson is scheduled to appear in Travis County Court on May 19 to face charges stemming from Saturday night's incident.

Benson failed a sobriety test while operating a 30-foot boat on Lake Travis near Austin and resisted arrest before being hit with pepper spray, a Travis County Sheriff's Department spokesman said.

He was released from jail early Sunday on a $14,500 bond. The charges are class B misdemeanors, each punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Benson's version is much different from the police description.

"There was no resistance on my part," Benson told the Chicago Tribune. "Was I drunk? No."

Noteworthy

* Atlanta Falcons linebacker Michael Boley was charged with battery after his wife accused him of becoming "physical" after an argument. Boley, 25, was arrested Saturday at his Dacula, Ga., home and released on $1,200 bond for the misdemeanor.

* Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall was robbed at gunpoint along the Chicago lakefront early yesterday, his mother and agent said. The running back was not hurt in the robbery, during which two people stole Mendenhall's wallet and cell phone. *