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

That 23 yr old that he was bragging about must have gotten the best of him.

Vers is serving his exile time over in Browns chat. He called Pit a name and got suspended again. He never learns.

2119 isn't on much lately, either.

Browns' Bentley cleared to return to football
Associated Press

Updated: July 23, 2007, 11:29 PM ET
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CLEVELAND -- Browns center LeCharles Bentley was cleared by his surgeon to return to the playing field on Monday, another major step in his unexpected comeback from a career-threatening knee injury.

"I passed it," Bentley said excitedly on the phone from New York. "I'm good to go."

Bentley had a physical with Dr. Russell Warren, the New York Giants' team physician who performed two operations on the two-time Pro Bowler, whose injury was complicated by a staph infection.

Bentley's first season with the Browns ended on the first play of contact in training camp last summer when he tore the patellar tendon in his left knee.

Later, his injury became infected so severely that Bentley said it nearly killed him and doctors had considered amputation of his leg.

Bentley will return to Arizona, where he has spent the past several months rehabbing his injury. He plans to be back in Cleveland on Thursday to report for training camp.

Bentley will likely have to pass a team physical before the Browns allow him back on the field.

"That really doesn't matter to me," said Bentley, who signed a six-year, $36 million contract with the Browns in March 2006. "The top doctor in the field has told me that I'm OK. I've just got to keep making progress.

"The last person to go into my knee says I'm OK, and that's good enough for me."

Team spokesman Bill Bonsiewicz said the Browns will put Bentley through an exam when he arrives at camp.

"We are aware of Dr. Warren's report and hope to get LeCharles to Cleveland as soon as possible so that our medical staff can conduct an examination and recommend the next steps for his rehab and intended return," Bonsiewicz said.

Bentley underwent four operations after injuring his knee. The first was to repair the torn tendon and the other three were to fix damage caused by the staph infection, which led to two long hospital stays for the 27-year-old.

He was scheduled to have a fifth procedure on the knee in June, but Bentley said Warren decided against it because of how much progress the 6-foot-2, 310-pounder was making.

Before Bentley called coach Romeo Crennel late last month and told him he planned to report to training camp, the Browns weren't sure if he would ever play for them again. The club has handled Bentley's situation delicately in the past few months, often deferring questions to the player and his representatives.

Well, I sure hope he makes it all the way back, he would be a force on the OL.


http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=2946344

You know what...I am usually reserved in things like this...usually am more pessemistic in alot of team matters...I mean we are Cursed Browns Fans...LOL we have all gone through so much heartbreak with our team...

But you know what...I am going to take complete and utter joy in this step that has been taken today....This is not just great news..It is AWESOME news...and if LeCharles Bentley never plays another snap of football in his entire life....It won't change the fact that this news today is Fantastic. I am incredibly happy for Bentley and I will be pulling for him in every way.

This team NEEDS Good News like this. We can't fall all to pieces anymore expecting the worst anytime something goes bad. Be glad in this moment with no reservations or expectations. This has been an amazing offseason for this team...and today I will bask in the wonderful news we have received.

WAY TO GO LCB!!!!!!!!

I'm going to camp on Friday and I'm really excited about seeing Bentley. I doubt he'll play much this year but wouldn't it be great if he can at least run out onto the field at CBS as a starter for one game.

That's my hope, anyway.

No Doubt, good stuff.. He's like the Browns SuperHero right now.. Hope the best for the beast.. LETS GET THIS SHOW STARTED,

WOOFWOOFWOOFWOOFWOOF

Dont Know If Its Been Posted!!

BROWNS
Cleveland Browns center LeCharles Bentley cleared to play football
Tuesday, July 24, 2007Mary Kay Cabot

Browns center LeCharles Bentley passed his physical in New York on Monday morning and has been cleared by his surgeon to return to football .

"I'm excited," said Bentley, who's returning from a torn patella tendon and complications from a staph infection that were limb and life threatening. "He said I can resume football activity. It's the next step toward getting back on the field."

Bentley, 27, passed the physical of New York Giants team doctor Dr. Russell Warren, who operated on Bentley's left knee in November. It was the fourth surgery on his knee -- the first was to repair the tendon and the last three primarily to deal with the infection and its aftermath.

Browns General Manager Phil Savage said last week that Bentley must also pass the Browns' physical and perhaps that of a third doctor before being cleared to practice.

Savage was not immediately available for comment on Monday, but Browns spokesman Bill Bonsiewicz said "We are aware of Dr. Warren's report and hope to get LeCharles to Cleveland as soon as possible so that our medical staff can conduct an examination and recommend the next steps for his rehab and intended return."

But Bentley feels that Dr. Warren's blessing should be sufficient and that he'll report to training camp with the veterans on July 27.

"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.

He said he'll spend the next few days in Arizona, where he's been rehabbing, and then return to Cleveland on Thursday. Veterans report Friday morning and take the field at 3:30 p.m. in the first of 29 practices open to the public.

So what happens if Bentley fails the Browns' physical? That's probably when the Browns will seek a third opinion. Even if he passes their physical, a third doctor might also conduct a follow-up, Savage said. Savage described the situation as complicated because Bentley has been under the care of Dr. Warren since November and not the Browns' medical staff.

But Bentley feels strongly that since he passed Dr. Warren's physical, he'll pass the Browns' also.

"I'm planning on being there with the team on Friday," said Bentley. "In my mind, it will take about five weeks before I'm really ready for contact," said Bentley. "I'm not coming to camp to wrestle [nosetackle] Ted Washington right away."

Bentley said Dr. Warren told him his recovery was remarkable, especially considering that another surgery was planned for June 3. But by that time, the knee had healed sufficiently and the procedure was canceled.

Friday will mark one year from the date Bentley suffered the torn patella tendon on the first contact drill of training camp.

Rookie update:

Negotiations continued for the Browns' top three draft picks Monday, but none agreed to terms.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670



http://www.cleveland.com/browns/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1185266163130890.xml&coll=2

Thanks DPD. I just read that in my hometown's paper. What great news. I didn't realize that his staph infection was so serious.

Good free agency, great draft and now LeCharles. The season can't start early enough for me.

GO BROWNIES

hey 2119, glad you're still around, sorry about work being so busy, but maybe that's good? Now, where's Toad?

I will say this, I'm not sure how much Bentley will be able to play this season but I certainly get the feeling that he's going to give it a solid effort. I just hope he does not come back to soon and end up injured again.

It would be a definite BIG boost to have him back on the OL.

Even if he isn't back in strong enough form to re-take his starting role, our roster is improved by the return of Bentley. I cannot think of a better swing-man type backup than him.

Toad ticked me off so I drove over to his moms house. No more toad.









I haven't heard from him since right after he was on vacation. I know he is trying to get certified to be a club pro in golf so maybe that's where he has been. He hasn't had any recent blogs posted either.

I think a Princess kissed him, he turned into a handsome Prince, and is now living happily ever after.

Is Toad trying to be the next Tiger, LOL

No just a club pro. He had health problems and it had stopped his pursuit for a while. I think another poster on here got it right when he said his 23 year old girlfriend did him in.

Hope he does well with that, and I'm sure he'll find his way back to DT.

I don't understand how some posters say that LeCharles would only play this or only play that, first and foremost he made the pro-bowl as a Guard and a Center, here's proof:

Quote:

---

He began his career at guard and then moved to center in 2004. He earned one Pro Bowl berth at each position

---

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2364025

Besides look at the way this man has come back from an injury. There is no way a player who is selfish enough to say that they only want to play 1 spot, would try to come back and show such a hunger to be on the field like LCB has. I honestly think he would play QB, WR, FB or whatever was asked of him.

In my opinion I think he should be a rotational player at first and ease him into a starting role. I think he should start at RG if he can return to form ( or even a little less than his old self)

Assuming contracts get done our line would look better like this:
Thomas
Steinbach
Fraley
Bentley
????? (Tucker/Shaffer)

Than this:
Thomas
Steinbach
Bentley
????? (McKinny, Sowells, Tucker, Shaffer)
????? (Tucker, Shaffer)

I am so grateful that he is trying to come back and I think it is nothing short of amazing. I just hope he is ready...

I don't think this was posted yet, seems to have some new info'

Desire Brings Bentley Full Circle

By Vinny the Fly

Posted Jul 23, 2007

The Browns center is headed to Berea, but still faces some hurdles before taking the field for the Browns. After a patellar tear and a staph infection, though, the 2006 free agent signee is still entirely focused on playing football again...


Many Mondays turn out to be a slow moving, rather blah type of day.

But this is not like any given Monday in the life of LeCharles Bentley... the possibility of stepping onto a football field is much more promising today.

Dr. Russell Warren, the surgeon who repaired Bentley’s knee, has cleared the player to resume his career with the Cleveland Browns.

Despite Bentley receiving clearance to play again, the Browns will administer a team physical, just like they do with every player prior to taking the field. Additionally, the team may opt to have Bentley evaluated by an independent doctor to assure all involved are in agreement with the prognosis.

"With the news from Dr. Warren, I am that much closer to being able to play again,” Bentley said. "He (Dr. Warren) is the finest in his field, he is the expert, and he is the doctor that has gotten me to this point and he believes I am fine, which is all that really matters to me.”

Bentley, a Cleveland native signed a long-term deal with the Browns prior to the 2006 season. For Bentley, the dream of playing for the Browns became a long-shot. Immediately injured in a contact drill as last year's training camp started, Bentley has endured four procedures to correct a torn patella tendon and staph infection, which ravaged his knee and surgical work done on the patella tendon.

Following numerous months of inactivity between the third and fourth procedures for the infection, which became life-threatening, life without football had crossed his mind, but he was determined to play the game again.

There was a time they (doctors) thought I wasn’t going to make it. It (infection) was bad, we weren’t just talking about my knee, they were talking about my life,” Bentley said.

After extensive therapy in Arizona and at the Ohio State University medical center, Bentley began to regain strength in the leg, but the knee was improving slowly, which was a cause of some concern for Bentley’s surgeon, Dr. Russell Warren. An additional surgery was scheduled for early June to further clean-up the knee, which would be the next step for Bentley to resume a normal life outside of the game of football.

I wasn’t going to just accept not being able to play again, that isn’t me. My dream was to play for the Browns and I was determined to do that,” Bentley said. “When I was examined before the surgery, Dr. Warren was surprised how well the knee had healed and how the therapy had gone.”

For the past six-weeks, Bentley has gone through rigorous physical therapy and training, all with the intent on regaining his strength and being in a position to get back on the field, with the Browns July 27th training camp date in mind.

Dr. Warren’s office would not speak specifically about Bentley when contacted, but noted delight of hearing the news report that he (Bentley) had gained clearance to resume his career.

As explained to the Orange and Brown Report this afternoon, if Bentley passes the team physical, he is expected to be held out of contact drills for four-to-six weeks, at a minimum. In addition to the restrictions, Dr. Warren has approved for Bentley to continue heavy physical conditioning under the guidance of the Browns medical and training staff.

Quote:

---

Dr. Warren’s office would not speak specifically about Bentley when contacted, but noted delight of hearing the news report that he (Bentley) had gained clearance to resume his career.

---

i'm a bit confused...wasn't it Warren who cleared him?...so he was delighted at hearing the news report that he made?! ...

Didnt make much sense to me either lol

It does say his OFFICE, and not him specifically. Most likely I see it as being whoever answers the phones or something along those lines. I could see how someone like that would be happy to hear he got cleared since they most likely saw Bentley all the time when he came in.

Quote:

---

Dr. Warren’s office would not speak specifically about Bentley when contacted, but noted delight of hearing the news report that he (Bentley) had gained clearance to resume his career.

---

Please clarify. These are the people who were involved in his examination in New York. Thank you.

Remember.... Medical records are confidential. Only the patient is allowed to comment on his medical condition.... The doctor or office is only allowed to comment with a signed release by the patient...

I doubt if anyone in the office ( receptionist or office manager ), people who are not allowed to comment on ANY patient's condition, would say anything except that they are pleased to hear (from the reporter) that Bentley is in good condition.

HALFBACK...

perhaps you could clarify on HIPAA...i understand the office couldn't give out specific info about the patient, but is a doctor simply sharing with his office that Bentley is OK/might play football considered a violation?...

Perhaps "Vinny the Fly" has some credibility issues as a journalist.

thanks 531...

seems extreme, but when potential lawsuits are at stake, i guess common sense goes out the window...

A small piece in CNNSI about Bentley; nothing new, but optimistic.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/don_banks/07/25/burning.questions/2.html

8. What's the feel-good comeback story of the year in the making?

Browns center LeCharles Bentley plans to report Thursday for training camp, with hopes the team will clear him medically to return to practice on at least a limited basis. For a guy whose first season in Cleveland ended on the first play of contract drills at last year's training camp, when he tore his left patellar tendon, that's a long way toward returning from what appeared to be a career-ending injury.

Bentley endured two long hospital stays and underwent four operations on the knee in the past year, three of which were the result of a staph infection that he said became life-threatening and prompted doctors to consider amputating his leg. This week, the doctor who performed two of the operations -- Giants team physician Dr. Russell Warren -- examined Bentley and gave him the go-ahead to resume his career. The Browns medical staff will have to do likewise in order for Bentley to begin practicing.

Cleveland had all but written Bentley out of its plans, even though the two-time Pro Bowl pick was the centerpiece of the Browns' 2006 free-agent class, signing a six-year, $36 million deal. If he's able to come back as anything close to the player he was in New Orleans, it could be a sign that the Browns' mind-boggling streak of misfortune has finally ended.

We need him BAD!