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

You still have to make decisions based on the entire unit. Playing him at guard might make us a better unit despite the fact he was a better center.

Plus...I would say there is a very good chance that "IF" he comes back, he isn't going to be nearly the player he was before.

I'd rather have Bentley under center...

move Tucker to RG.. and Shaffer starts as a Right Tackle...

He doesnt need to be on the bench... I'd rather have Fraley on the bench than Shaffer...

I agree its possible he plays RG because of issues we might have at G with McKinney, but I think its also possible that we're a better line if a healthy Bentley plays C while Tucker plays RG and Schaffer plays RT, like Turk said. My only point to GM was that I think Bentley is a better Center than he is a Guard, which is not to say I think he's a bad G. I just think he is a HOF Center and - in my book - if you have one of those, you use him at Center.

Nope, just another know-it-all nobody - me.

*credit to Boisebanger

Sigh... Not participate in contract drills for a few weeks of training camp but wants to start September 9th?

I really don't have a good feeling about this.

He isnt a rookie. He understands where he needs to be by the opener, and if staying away from contact for a few weeks keep him moving forward then so be it.

He is an experiment at this point, nothing more.

I really hope LB comes back....I would hate to see him go out the way he did.....but limited contact in the preseason...and then getting Casey Hampton week 1...seems like a lot for a guy that has this many question marks on playing again.

HACK

I have my doubts that Bentley can come back and play at a pre-injury, or close to it level, but guys, Fraley is replaceable in the starting lineup. Don't rule it out.

If LCB does make it back, I see a few games where he is not a full time starter on every series.

The Browns appear to have some depth on OL. If this perception is true, then we could see some rotation in the entire OL to keep players fresh.

you keep saying that,what do you know of MCkinney?
He become available because of a neck injury,and new management in Miami,not performance.
Fraley become available because of injury,he lost his staring job to a younger,stronger,cheaper player.
If LCB at 90% is a better guard than Mckinney,than LCB at 90% is a better center than Fraley.
If the neck injury Mckinney sustained has you worried.Than we should lookat the dumbass doctor that cleared him,and the fool that signed him.I don't think Savage is a fool,and if you feel the same way,than the injury shouldn't be a concern.

I know this is dumb but I'm getting excited like a little school girl. If Bentley can pull a Winslow and get back to 90% we have a top OL in this league on paper.

Which got me thinking....could Frye be the Brees of the 2004 Chargers. Pushed by pressure from a hot rookie prospect Frye steps up to have his first big season after having a QB rating of 69.8 and 72.2 the previous 2 seasons. Brees had years of 76.9 and 67.5 the 2 years prior to '04. In which he posted a 104.8 QB rating. Brees, however, did have 8 more games and one more year under his belt then Charlie will.

We have a receiver, in Joe Jurevicius, who's been a key part of playoff runs on previous teams Tampa Bay and Seattle. Which should help Frye's progression.

Braylon Edwards seems poised to take off. If he can stay healthy and keep his diva impressions in check then I see him doing just that.

Winslow, mentioned above, coming off micro-fracture surgery that is supposed to help strengthen and stabilize his knee should have an even bigger year then his essentially rookie season of 89 catches for 875 yards and 3 TD's. Especially in the TD column.

Full circle back to Bentley. If he steps in and can even be a shadow of the #1 center in the league that he was before our line is looking sexy. At the OT position we have top flight rookie Joe Thomas, a serviceable Kevin Shaffer, and an above average but aging veteran in Ryan Tucker. At the C position we've got another solid veteran in Hank Fraley or LeCharles. Depending on who plays C we have a mix of guards composed of the following: Pro Bowl caliber Eric Steinbach, young up and comer Isaac Sowells, Seth McKinney who showed some ability before a career threatening neck injury, the loser of the OT battle save maybe Thomas, and Fraley or Bentley.

Point is with a healthy Bentley we finally have a dominant starting OL that can take over games in the trenches. Plus we have depth for if and when somebody goes down. Add in the fact that this is only going to help Jamal Lewis, who I still think has one or two more GOOD seasons left in the tank, and that's only going to help take pressure off of Frye. It'll also keep the defense honest and open more holes in coverage for Frye to drop balls in.

I know pretty much everyone and their grandma has given up hope on Charlie. But I saw some good things from him these past two seasons. He's crafty. He can be a threat in the running game with his legs. He has good accuracy on the short to mid-range passes with nice touch. His deep ball is very catchable because of that same touch. He doesn't get rattled or tighten up when the pressure is on. Bottom line.....he's a gamer. He makes stuff happen when it shouldn't. Hopefully with the new and improved protection he'll be getting he'll be making things happen more often when they're supposed to rather then when they're not. The '07 season for Charlie Frye could be the day when Charlie finally gets his chocolate factory and lives happily ever after.

And by happily ever after I mean getting traded and leading another team to a Super Bowl or two. Probably the Ravens.

Word of caution: there are gonna be some normal set backs for Charles, if he practices, He's gonna miss a few due to stiffness, soreness, he's gonna be held out of some drills, dont expect him to just in from day one and start back to his old form, he might not even practice much, dont read into what you see on the pracrice field,

Well I think the bestóway to handle it is not get excited till we hear he can actually play.

After that I wouldn't force him out there in a starting capacity either...but gradually let him get some reps and see how he holds up..I would take this as cautiously as possible.
And if at some point he can handle the contact and the cutting/planting/pushing off..I may put him at RG..for the time being..

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Well I think the best way to handle it is not get excited till we hear he can actually play

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I agree, Just wanted to give people a heads up, We have plently of people that if he dosent practice will be yelling the FO isnt telling us everything, if they ok'd him for practice why dosent he practice, whats are they not telling us, Just didnt want people painting a rosey everything is fine & dandy now or when he get his ok

Clay, agree with you whole heartily; too much unwarranted optimism is just going to lead to some big emotional letdowns on some fans.

Just the fact, that Bentley has made it this far is a wonder to behold and I hope they go very slow with him if he does manage to pass his examination and team physical.

I can't see him on the field until maybe sometime around the 4th game if all goes well and his improvement, strength and weight are up to standards. JMHO

Did he pass? Did he pass? Did he pass? I'm pulling for the guy. Even if he doesn't play the first game or start, for his sake and his dream of playing for the Browns, I hope for his sake everything goes well from here on out.

Didn't see this posted anywhere.


Cleveland Browns center LeCharles Bentley passes physical
Posted by Mary Kay Cabot July 23, 2007 12:25PM
Categories: Breaking News, Browns

Browns center LeCharles Bentley passed his physical in New York Monday morning and has been cleared by his surgeon to resume football activity, Bentley said Monday.

"I'm excited," said Bentley, who's returning from a torn patella tendon and complications from a staph infection. "It's the next step toward getting back on the field."

Browns general manager Phil Savage said last week that Bentley must also pass the Browns' physical by team physician Dr. Anthony Miniaci and perhaps that of a third doctor before being cleared to practice. But Bentley feels that Dr. Warren's blessing should be sufficient and that he'll report to training camp with the veterans on July 27th.

"Dr. Warren is the expert in his field, he's the last person who operated on me and he's told me I'm fine," said Bentley. "It doesn't really matter to me what another doctor says at this point."

Bentley said he will begin working out individually and probably won't be ready for contact for about five weeks. He said he hopes to play in the final preseason game and if all goes as planned, be ready for the opener.

http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2007/07/

He passed.

The Plain Dealer is reporting that he passed.

Sweeet!

Great news!

Browns general manager Phil Savage said last week that Bentley must also pass the Browns' physical by team physician Dr. Anthony Miniaci and perhaps that of a third doctor before being cleared to practice.

Hmmm lets see....

"Dr. Warren is the expert in his field, he's the last person who operated on me and he's told me I'm fine," said Bentley. "It doesn't really matter to me what another doctor says at this point."


Wondeer what will happen if Dr.Miniaci says he's not ready?

It's only step 1, but it's a big step. Wow. We need some good news for a change.

If he passes a physical, does that mean they figure he can stand the rigours of pro football?

I really, really, really hope he doesn't get hurt again. It would just be too much to watch.

Nice! That's a positive. Just take it slow and get out there when you're ready.

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If he passes a physical, does that mean they figure he can stand the rigours of pro football?

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It probebly means he can start preparing or getting ready for the rigours of football practice, with in limits, I think lineing up and going one on one is a ways away, but the doctors are giving him controled clearance to take steps to get thier one day, which might be September, November, or 2008 but he can begin

And just because he passes a physical, doesn't mean he's in playing shape.

this is great news anyway you look at it. I would imagine bentley would probably pass any physical but lets keep him out of the Cleveland Deaht Clinic.

Woooohooo!!

Well, we'll just have to watch that final preseason game very closely..