DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Bentley expects to return for opener against the Steelers

I know we've seen TONS of articles about Bentley & this seems like it's"beating the dead horse", but I will be amazed if he is ready to go by game 1...

Cleveland Browns center LeCharles Bentley expects to return for opener against Pittsburgh Steelers
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter

Browns center LeCharles Bentley will undergo a physical Monday in New York with Dr. Russell Warren, the next step in his bid to return this season from a torn patella tendon and a severe staph infection.

"I think they're going to pass him," said Bentley's agent, Jonathan Feinsod. "Then, he can start preparing for the Steelers on Sept. 9."

If Bentley passes the physical, he'll most likely then have to pass the Browns' physical by team physician Dr. Tony Miniaci, and perhaps that of a third doctor. If he passes those, he'll report to camp with the rest of the veterans on Friday.

"We're hopeful that LeCharles can make it back," said Browns General Manager Phil Savage. "It's been a long, difficult road for him and we could get excited if he is truly able to return."

Bentley said last month that if he is cleared to practice, he'll most likely be limited at the start of camp and not participate in contact drills for a few weeks. But he has his sights set on the Sept. 9 home opener against Pittsburgh.

Bentley, who has been rehabbing in Phoenix, returned this week to attend the funeral of his father, Charles Milton, 85, who died Sunday after a brief illness. Bentley delivered the eulogy at his father's funeral on Friday.

He also met with coach Romeo Crennel and trainer Marty Lauzon at the Browns' facility on Thursday to discuss his comeback.

Bentley has undergone four surgeries since tearing his patella tendon last July on the first contact drill of the 2006 training camp, one to repair the tendon and three others related to the limb- and life-threatening staph infection that penetrated the joint a month later.

He was scheduled to undergo a fifth surgery on June 3 to have the tendon repaired, but Dr. Warren determined the surgery was unnecessary for Bentley to live a normal life. Monday, Warren will decide if it's strong enough to undergo the rigors of professional football.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/118500733485590.xml&coll=2

Fingers crossed.

Make it through training camp and the preseason games first.

I sure hope he can come back without endangering his future health...

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we've seen TONS of articles about Bentley & this seems like it's"beating the dead horse",

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Beating the dead horse is fine with me.....Sort of like...start beating the Steelers again and again...

man.. RIP Mr. Milton..

Just once, could a reporter ask the question and find out what Bentley's weight is? Way back when DT Jerry Sherk had a very bad staph infection, he lost 30-40 pounds, and he only played at about 260. Bentley was 312 when he got hurt, and I don't see how he can play Center in the NFL if he is not at least in the range of 290-300.

If he can do it, and passes all the physicals then why not. I really do hope he makes the right choice for himself and his future. His health is more important than a game.

nordawg

I don't know what his weight is now Dave, but think about it, He (bentley) has to know that he can't even think about playing Center or Guard in the 260's to 280's and expect to be successful.. So if he were at that weight, I don't think we would even be discussing his return at this point. (well maybe the 280's because it wouldn't take much to add the needed weight from that starting point)

With the possibility of Baxter and Bentley coming back this year I wonder if they could give out two comeback player of the year award because that would be down right amazing.

You're probably right, but it seems like an obvious question that I have yet to hear of being asked or answered.

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I don't see how he can play Center in the NFL if he is not at least in the range of 290-300.

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This is why everyone's moms must make a giant meal for him to eat and take their turn. Giant steaks and milkshakes. Stakes and Shakes for Bentley!

lol, no really. Good point. Didn't Kyle Turley get injured and lose a bunch of weight, he tried to play NFL DE and he sucked and he retired if i'm not correct. I don't want Bentley playing until he's above 300 pounds flexible and healthy. No need to push something too fast. Even if he began the season on the PUP list and then came back mid-season. I don't want the guy if he's not there. Even if it means practicing him in training camp and then letting him ride the bench for awhile, I'd like to see Bentley play the rest of his entire career for this team. If he doesn't get much time this year, that's fine. Better to have him for next year and the next and the next

and toes.....

the passing of his father...

it could make him that much more commited... or it could do the opposite..

Like most have said if it might injure him worse for the long haul I wouldnt do it. Now with that being said I hope he can return and play a big role into getting this franchise back on track.

Don't hurry though LeCharles...Heal fully, then come back..no need to rush yourself, even though, it would be super spectacular if you came back.

Would be really nice if he was back. But honestly, I would only want him if he is close to 100%. He was a beast. Hope he can get back to that.

I like Fraley but man the idea of Joe Thomas- Eric Steinbach- LeCharles Bentley - Ryan Tucker and Kevin Shaffer would be almost to good to pass up.

If Memory Serves Me Correctly, He Was an All Pro Gaurd and Tackle,

Went To The Pro-Bowl For Both..

Either Way We Cant Lose Because Fraley Is a Good Center.

Bentley was a Pro Bowl C, and an All Pro Guard (or vice versa) He's never played tackle in the NFL

Here's hoping he can return to his former ability.

Good luck, LeChuck.

HaHa Switch Out Tackle For That Matter, I Didnt Even See That I Typed That!

Oh well,

We'll Know In a Few Days Either Way

It'd be a huge emotional boost for the fans and the team if Bentley comes back this year.
KW2 and Bentley, even Bodden, coming back from terrible injuries in a two-season span; sometimes extreme adversity can make you very hungry. I think we'll be better than people think. Maybe not 11-5 and maybe not playoffs, but much improved.

Right now, on paper anyway, the weakest position on the Oline is RG. I'm not sure if Bentley played RG or LG in New Orleans. But I have to believe he'd be the best man (If healthy enough) we have on this team for the RG spot.

Now you have either Tucker or Shaffer at RT, Bentley at RG, Fraley at Center then Stieny and Thomas.. Suddenly you have some depth also..

Personally, I would not mind if Bentley had to sit out this season. Because of his size and weight, I think it might be very difficult at best for him to make a quick return, especially after having had 4 surgeries.

I really do hope he can make it back to start for the Browns, he would be as important as any on the OL. I also feel he would play Guard, as we have Fraley, and he's proven himself more than adequate to handle the Center position.

Heartfelt thoughts and prayers for LCB and the loss of his father.

Here's what I think about where Bentley should play, God love him, if he's cleared to play.

Hank is fully capable of holding down and playing a very good center position. However, he is not a guard. Right now Hank is the center and the RG position is up in the air if not iffy.

Bentley is a probowl center AND a probowl guard. If he steps in at center to take Hank's place then Hank will be on the bench to back him up. He is not a guard. That leaves the RG position still in a situation of being up in the air if not iffy.


However, if we leave Hank in at center and put Bentley at RG then both the center position AND the RG position will be manned by two highly capable players and there's nothing up in the air or iffy about any of the positions along the line.

Putting Bentley at center is an upgrade at the center position (in this division) but still leaves the right side in question.

Putting Bentley at RG upgrades the whole right side.

That's what I would do anyway. Hank will be fine at center. It's the right side that needs solidified.

Let's say LCB comes back at 100%. Then I think the question comes down to who is better - Fraley at C, or McKinney, Tucker, Shaffer, Sowells, matua at RG.

That would decide where LCB plays. Of course LCB still has to show that he has come back enough to be better than Fraley at C, or McKinney, Tucker, Shaffer, Sowells, Matua at RG. Pre-injury he was but as of now we really don't know how good he will be.

He was scheduled to undergo a fifth surgery on June 3 to have the tendon repaired, but Dr. Warren determined the surgery was unnecessary for Bentley to live a normal life. Monday, Warren will decide if it's strong enough to undergo the rigors of professional football.


Since no one else commented on this:

A normal life and the rigors of pro football are two different animals. Warren already told Bentley to retire . If Warren gives the OK tomorrow then Miniaci and a third doctor will give their opinions. I don't see any reason for optimism concerning Bentley's chances to ever return to football much less for the season opener.

He has also previously told him how impressed he was with his rehabilitative efforts and also told him weeks ago that he would pass him on a football physical.

There is plenty of room for optimism if you have been following along.....

From today's "Hey Tony" in the PD:

Hey, Tony!
Sunday, July 22, 2007

Q: Hey, Tony: Assuming LeCharles Bentley can make it back, how does that impact the line? Do you think he'll actually play? If he does make it back, is it realistic to think he'll be the center we expected? - Mark Lasher, Bangor, Pa.

A: Hey, Mark: If Bentley does make it back, I think it's more realistic that he would compete at guard than center. Phil Savage said in June he didn't know if Bentley even had a copy of the team's new playbook. The center makes all the line calls and adjustments and has to be on top of everything in the playbook.

I agree with that.

Not to mention I think in the grand scheme of the unit, we would be stronger with Fraley at center and Bentley at guard than Bentley at center and someone else at guard.

I missed it altogether. But he has been gone for a year, and in that year we hired a new OC. So I guess it makes sense that he will need time to learn the playbook and line calls. I have no doubt he will do that pretty quickly. Then the question becomes whether Fraley is a better C than McKinney (or Tucker) is a RG. Time will tell, but I still think that Bentley is a better C than RG.

I'd have to say if LB gets back, it'd be better to have Fraley at centre, and Bents at RG.