DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns release LeCharles Bentley

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I don't care where he goes or what he does, I wish him luck, but we have bigger fish to fry and I couldn't care less if we see him twice a year or not.

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BINGO...Done Done...

Why and How?...Who cares now...

Classic case of why u love the TEAM and NOT THE PLAYER...

Staff infections are up all over the country. It's not a local problem.

http://www.staphaseptic.com/news.cfm?id=8483EFA3-BED5-62AA-107A47CA2730BC01

I got a lot of flack over on the other thread for my opinion on LCB's return,now here comes two more opinions that may be as equally unpopular. Bentley has been an albatross around the neck of the Browns for two years. Nothing personal,but I'm glad to see the end of this sad saga. Also,the Browns could not legally cut Bentley while he was on IR. The first day he steps on the field "he asks to be cut"? I don't believe that for one second. This is not based on any inside information,but logic dictates that it is more likely that the Browns cut HIM.

BTW, Assassin, I have probably been a Browns fan longer than you have been alive.

Braylon, Ben Taylor, and Brian Russell as well, I believe, contracted theirs through abrasions on the skin on their arms sustained while playing football. Jurevicius got his while traveling on the west coast, as has been reported many times. None of those are "rehabbing at Browns faciliities".

It all seems so surreal to go thru 2 seasons hoping and praying that LCB would once again find his way to the football field.

Then it finally happens, he passes the team physical and all seems right with the world again. The stage is set hometown hero returns to lead his hometown team to the Promised Land. And then suddenly, and without real explanation the rug is pulled out from everyone, as the hometown hero asked to be allowed to ply his trade elsewhere. Truly strange.

After giving it quite a bit of thought, here is what I think.

#1 there is no real bad guy in all of this. LCB and the Browns did what they thought they should do to protect their own best interests.

#2 The Browns, never could get over the fact that LCB decided to re-hab anyplace else other then in Berea. It truly was a strange set of circumstances that sent LCB, elsewhere to re-hab. I’m pretty sure that fact truly left a bad taste in the Browns mouth.

#3 Because LCB choose to re-hab outside the eye of the Browns, they felt that LCB was being less then a team player. I agree, then again LCB followed team protocol for an injury, and it nearly cost him his leg, and life. The trust just wasn’t there?

#4 I honestly believe that, had it not been for the fact that LCB was a hometown boy, and had he not insisted on re-habing in Zona, the Browns would have parted ways with him long ago. It unheard of for a player to re-hab outside of team facilities, on an extended bases.

#5 LCB was clearly hurt on a personal level, by something the Browns did or didn’t do.

#6 LCB felt that he should have been allowed to play last season. I remember as I am certain a lot of other people do the Shaun Smith Browns Backers interview he gave. According to SS, LCB could do everything but cut in a certain direction last fall. He implied that this was a business, and that LCB was somewhat shafted by the Browns.

From there the gap between the Browns and LCB widened and LCB never got over it. He felt that he gave his all in his re-hab, and that if he said he was good to go then the Browns should take him at his word. But the Browns having been burned by hanging their hat on LCB weren’t about to do a repeat performance. The team had simply moved on. They had too. I think LCB got that part.

I think the Browns were blown away by how well LCB did in his physical, but still the Browns didn’t reach out to LCB in a way that he felt they should have. There were no open arms, there were no welcome home, welcome backs. In fact PS said that they never talked to LCB prior to his physical. The Browns only knew leading up to the physical that LCB would be there on a certain day at a certain time.

To compound things after missing 2 full season LCB, never showed for OTA’s something that in hind sight, I think I would have expected from him from a team perspective. He had collected 16 plus mill from the Browns in pay. He had re-habbed outside the eye of the Browns in spite of their considerable investment. And other players nearly to the last man had participated in OTA’s. Throw in that LCB hadn’t been in Berea since last fall, and well the gap just gets wider.

I think that when LCB left last fall he had one goal in mind, to complete his re-hab (good for him). Prove to the Browns he was fit, and to pack his things and get the hell out of town. He felt that he had nearly given up his leg and his life to get back on the field. He felt he had given his all in re-habbing, and was able to play last fall, and that he wasn’t give that chance, and that festered and became something that so angered LCB he never intended on returning to the Browns, that much should be clear to everyone.

It wasn’t about whether he would be afforded the chance to compete for a starters roll. Just the fact that at least thru training camp he was on the team would have guaranteed that much. I think if he had established he was the better player, he would have been given the starters roll. That isn’t even a question in my mind anyway.

In all of this there truly are 2 sides, while I understand the Browns perspective, I also understand LCB’s as well. There is no way as I see it that the Browns would have placed LCB on the PUP list last season had he not been close in terms of his return to the field. He had his thoughts about where he was, and he felt the Browns were being unfair with him, by not allowing him to return, and to earn his money. In fact to compound it all I think LCB thought that the Browns not only didn’t give him a chance to earn his money, but that they insisted that he re-do his contract, and thus the business side took president over LCB the person. And it did to a degree, no question there. That really hurt LCB, he took less money to come to the Browns, he nearly lost his life, and in the end that didn’t matter, it was all about the money, as he saw it.

I also think that the insurance thing came about as a result of being placed on the PUP last season, had the injury bug bit last season, or had the line not been up to snuff, perhaps the Browns would have activated LCB. But when all the pieces began to fall into place, the insurance policy was canceled, and that was another thing that ate away at LCB.

At the end of the day I wish nothing but the best for LCB. I hope you find what your looking for brother. I am truly saddened by the course of events, I understand all sides (or I think I do). Good luck, and Gods speed. That’s should always be the fan stance IMHO best wishes and Gods Speed, to former players board, it shows CLASS

JMHO

Brown to the Bone

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Thats just it. We hear about the famous people who get staff infections, but you never and I mean NEVER hear about the average Joe's who get it. Believe me with my wife being a nurse, my daughter being a tech in a hospital, and my son doing IT for hospitals all over the country, I hear all about it

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Bingo....GM said it all....buy that man a beer....We'd still buy ya one even if ya just stood there....Really GM right, My girlfriend is a nurse and she is always telling me about Staff infections there constently cleaning, scrubbing everything at the hospital she works at, She was saying they were going thru trainng and they say staff infections change & adapt to thier enviorment more & quicker than we can keep up, just when we find a cure it changes. So GM's right it's not just players it's everybody

in reply to # 3, there is no direct team protocol after an injury. It is up to the AGENT and PLAYER as to where to get surgery and who is going to do it.
It was his choice to have the surgery done here by the Dr's at the Clinic.

in reply to # 6, being able to cut in 2 directions is something you need to be able to do. Should all of our plays go to one side because LCB can't move in the other?? You wouldn't field a player who wasn't able to play at a 100% level and that is why he went on PUP. For anyone to say its a business decision, yeah, they want to win games and having someone on the line who can't move in one direction wouldn't have been good for business.

I really don't know what all went on, like all the reports say he was never here with the team. Once players are re-habbing during the season after an injury they are doing it with the team staff. They are on the sidelines with their team in sweats playing their part. Wether it be pumping the guys up, or giving their knowledge about the opponent or just showing support.......... you are getting paid. You should be there. At that point, I don't think its about Staff, because it is everywhere. It could be on your skin right now.

When Hank tore his shoulder it killed him when they said he couldn't be on the field with his arm in a sling. So we sat in a box and watched the games until they let him on the field.

Anyhow, its unfortunate that the fans here didn't get their wish of seeing him in a browns jersey. I know how much everyone here wanted that, but hey....... you guys have earned yourselves a great team, made up of great team players and it shows. I think the coaches built the team strategically with the players and personalities they chose! I am glad to be in cleveland! We are surrounded with great teammates, and great fans!

Can't wait for the season!!

NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports free agent OL LeCharles Bentley would prefer to play guard for his next team.

Not quite what he said Tuesday....


It's surprising Bentley is already being choosy. He's coming off a bunch of knee surgeries and was apparently timed in the 7s when the Browns asked him to run forties for his physical



If anyone really thinks this guy is ready to go..I don't buy it..
He'll have to work all TC to get his running and probably range of motion to acceptable limits..
And let me say ONCE MORE ..it'll be next year before Bentley will really be able to do anything..
But I agree with something Tab said..dude felt he was on the outside..the team is rebuilt but he still COULD HAVE BEEN A PART of it if he accepted his role..

None of us know if the guy will be able to return to form..the Browns felt what they had was as good or better than what he could have showed this year.

"Now I know that you're smarter than this. If he doesn't pass the physical Bentley can seek an injury settlement. If they allow him to pass the physical they can part ways without a grievance."

Don't bother to debate me with the remarks about how smart I am. Fact is you are the one with the blinders on. The guy could not RUN...even by his own accord he stated he couldn't run and said that he still was strong enough to play the position. What/Where in a 3 foot booth in a system that we are now running that is a Zone blocking scheme requiring all especially interior OLmen to move and move fast! Open your eyes.

And if he was given an exception of WELL HE CAN'T RUN BUT LET US LET HIM PRACTICE ANYWAYS. And then he re-injures himself - talk about law suits and neglect - how in the world can you argue that the Browns were in the wrong. It is not I who need to wake up here and not I who is naive.

As far as Staph Infection...we have disinfected our facilities more than once. Ummm maybe the sum of all this is that its not the facilities that is the cause but simply the hard work these Players are doing that normal John Does like you and I simply cannot do (cause we were not in great shape going into the surgeries) and because we don't need to push ourselves to get to a level over and beyond normal rehab procedures.

We have had many surgeries...many and they were at the same facilities and no staph infections. 5 is not a great number for a common denominator. And Staph infections are rampant all over the NFL not just here.

"Here's where he was cheated. He claims that he was ready to go for training camp in 07. They tell him no. He claims he was ready to go for Game 1. They put him on PUP."

this actually would mean something if the entire team is about "HE"

But its about the Browns. He couldn't run a sub 7 40...and you think he could have played for us and played without sustaining another injury?

Also now we here some smoke...plenty of smoke about LCB's basketball injury that was concealed just day/s before TC began...now we are going to trust his plea to be ready to play again...and he can't even pass a very lenient running physical?

He, he, he - sorry the team isn't about "HE" - he earned NO RIGHT to dictate to anyone.

He was not cheated...the Browns were cheated...us fans were cheated.

"That's fair. When more facts are revealed I'm confident that they'll continue to support my conclusion"

Unfortunately it seems to be the opposite as things are coming out now. Almost to the worst degree.

I'm at the point where I don't care about his NFL career just that I hope he remains a healthy individual physically. All I know is we did not stand still in our quest to build a dominant OL - the fact that Bentley isn't part of it really doesn't change a thing. The team moved on and we are the benefit of that attitude.

JMHO

This may have already been posted but the Vikings have already expressed interest in him.
Heard that also..but it wasn't long afterward when he said there teams intested already..which makes me think that his agent was sending out feelers when bentley said he THOUGHT about the release..
Sooo, just maybe he was setting this up for his benefit when he felt he could start here.

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Also now we here some smoke...plenty of smoke about LCB's basketball injury that was concealed just day/s before TC began...now we are going to trust his plea to be ready to play again

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Sorry Eo, I guess maybe I missed something in all of this...........What Basketball injury?

Did I miss something as important as that?

Could you please fill me in if I am a little behind the curve here.

Thanks, ahead of time.

From Passan at OBR, a blurb from the article:

A nasty rumor has made the rounds lately that Bentley deceived the Browns by faking the injury. According to the rumor, he actually tore up the knee playing basketball shortly before the start of training camp two years ago and then pretended to blow out the knee on the first full-contact play of practice.

That would be hard to believe unless Bentley’s pain threshold is so ridiculously high, he could have withstood pre-workout stretching and running in spite of the injury.

It’s also possible – but not proven – the club found out that the rumor was true and decided to cover it up to save Bentley any embarrassment. There were some suspicions to why the Browns tore up the original contract and replaced it with a two-year deal.

For the better part of two years, Bentley rehabbed in an effort to fulfill his part of the contract. And for most of those two years, the Browns insisted he wasn’t ready to play. Even though he had passed physicals elsewhere, he failed to pass the Browns’ test.

Kind of makes one wonder.



http://cle.scout.com/2/761692.html

Wow,

Thanks Jules. I really don't want to beleive that, but if it's true......WOW.

Vers said on another message board that Bentley never ran before training camp. He lifted and stretched but never ran. He also said that the Browns did find out about it and kept silent.

Thanks Jules..if anyone remembers the same week he got hurt there were rumors his knee was already damaged..
I read a similar burp about the pickup game..but I also read his knee was hurt when he was with the Saints..
There might be truth to it..if sooooo...

Where is Vers anyway?

He posted that on the Browns board.

If that is true then props to the Browns. And Bentley would have no reason to be mad at them...

Now that is simply amazing and, frankly, seems too far fetched to be true, IMO. I have to think the media (outside of the OBR) would have been all over that, similar to the Winslow thing. I can't think they would have treated it differently just because he was a Cleveland kid.

Now, if he was hiding it because it was actually hurt from New Orleans, that may be a little more believable. But, still, that's out there.

But, the whole "took less money to come to Cleveland" thing calls everything into question if he felt that whole festival would overshadow the fact that he'd be able to gloss over a flaw in a physical that he may not have been able to in Philly.

Who knows. It's all speculation, and that's probably all it'll ever be.

It isn't that far fetched at all.... Jerome Bettis has openly, on the air even, admitted to having done the same thing during the one season he was injured.

I want to say it was like 2002... He got hurt off the field and toughed it out and sucked it up until he could fake it on the first day of practice so that they couldn't cut him.


[Edit: Correction, it was in 2000 link ]

Yeah, but he played for the Steelers, and we expect that kind of wussy crap out of them.

You're right, though, PPE. I had forgotten about that. I guess I just don't WANT to believe it happened here.

Wow, if that story is true.... that changes my whole thoughts of LCB. I really hope that's not the case.

If it is, I hope he doesn't play another down.

If it's not, then I want to know why someone wojuld start something like that.

Wow, first I've heard of this... Very, very disappointing if it's true. Now that could cause a two year rift.

He's in ban camp. About Bentley; I am losing respect for Bentley by the day. If this is true I will be of the opinion that he is a complete liar. It amazes me that he would be able to hide this until training camp though.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks

Bentley receives calls

June 12, 2008 6:34 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

Teams are showing interest in new free-agent center LeCharles Bentley.

One of his agents, Jonathan Feinsod, said today he has received phone calls from eight teams interested in Bentley, who was cut by Cleveland on Wednesday at his request after two injury-filled years with the Browns. Bentley never played for Cleveland.

Feinsod would not disclose the teams that have expressed interest. He characterized the interest as preliminary.

"There is interest and a lot of it is fact checking," Feinsod said. "We are intrigued by several situations and we'll see where this thing takes us."

Feinsod said he has no timetable for getting his client a new job and that he will continue to monitor interest in the coming days.

Yeah moniter interest..not high paying interest...just cautious interest..

I believe it...as it fits to a tee into many things that puzzled me. But lets get one thing straight - in no way do I believe it was as sinisterly portrayed by that article either. No way do I believe Bentley Ruptured the Patella tendon playing basketball. Here is what I do believe.

1. He hurt the knee playing basketball...there was pain and not much swelling - he figured ok...let me ice it stay off of it as much as possible and then in TC after taking some reps complain about hurting it.

2. He did not run that day and this was reported by several accounts funny thing is the Browns site archives show NO ARTICLES between the day before TC starts and 9/1...the missing files...lol

3. But it always confused me how the heck he popped that Patella and ruptured it as a thousand (more like 50) cameras were trained on him for that first play. I saw snap shot after snap shot of that play...including a video...over n over. There was no catching of the cleat - just a simple slide to the right. No way in LCB's mind did he know that his injury was that bad. He had to think he must have had a slight knee sprain. But now it makes sense that he tore the Patella Tendon...not ruptured but slight tear - In his first lateral move it tore all the way (rupture) and the rest is history.

4. Immediately afterwards I did hear about a pre-existing injury regarding the Patella...actually had an argument with Vers on it as he was claiming Savage to be incompetent signing Bentley. My argument was NO WAY we sign a FA of that magnitude without giving him the once over - head to foot. Heck guys traded for a 7th round pick get the once over!

5. What I found curious was how cold Savage and the FO seemed towards Bentley all along I'm wondering WHY cause this was so Un-Savage like. But throughout the process there seemed to be a coldness with that relationship. I must say it made Savage look worse than Bentley at the time.

6. Last year when Bentley was on the pup we refused to reinstate him as Active until he passed our running physical...required by all not just Bentley. He maintains he could have played. But the guy could not run...even by his own accord he stated he couldn't run but he could play football was his argument.

But up to this point he collected every dime he was schedules to. It was this past offseason that we changed the contract and got it to end after this season. All the bonus money was paid up in the cap and his salary if not starting was league minimum.

But the basketball scenario ties everything up into a nice neat little bundle now. There was no pre-existing injury from the Saints. It was just a couple of days before TC.

And the travesty is - probably just a simple surgery with no big rehab program involved for the tear he sustained originally. If only he had fessed up instead of making it look right...he had no idea of the magnitude of the injury.

JMHO and this is how the pieces seem to fall now and it makes sense. If more info comes about that changes things...so be it then my opinion will probably also change with it. Until then. This is what I believe.

So, EO, what I'm getting is that Savage and the Browns took the tack this second time that, look, you got one past us (or we looked past it this) last time, and we're not gonna let it slide this time, so we're going to be extremely cautious with it.

Or was it a little more like "we're going to really take you along slow as almost a type of 'punishment'"?

But if the Browns can prove that isn't it fraud?

Best to just move on.

i think your scenario makes sense EO. There is no way someone could walk with a ruptured patellar tendon- no matter how tough or high a pain tolerance, biomechanically one needs the patellar tendon to extend the leg. But if the tendon was partially torn the leg would still function. Could probably fake that a bit. Now, it sure makes alot more sense as to how a low contact drill could blow the tendon. That would be reason for some bad feelings between the FO and the player.

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But LCB is not a MeMe personality - once established as healthy he could become part of the team easily and also part of that chemistry spoken of. The OL bonded easily and quickly...faster than most I have seen.

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Just read what you posted from somewhere else. All I can say is....

I'm not slamming you, there was no reason for us to think differently. It's just that now things are coming out, this statement seems completely false.

I have been hoping and praying for this day for almost a year. Why everyone has held on to the LCB dream is waaay beyond my comprehension.
We have 9 competent offensive linemen at this point. That's good. Very good.