DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Bentley Still Waiting

Bentley still waiting for an NFL suitor
Posted by Tony Grossi July 12, 2008 23:18PM

LeCharles Bentley has yet to find a new home where he can continue his comeback.
More than four weeks since being granted his release from the Browns, LeCharles Bentley has not found a new team.

The timing of Bentley's release is somewhat to blame. Most GMs and coaches fall in love with their teams during "no contact" spring practices and minicamps and don't want to mess with their rosters. Then they all go on vacation for a month or so.

Also, the strict 80-player roster limit this season -- no exemptions for players participating in now-defunct NFL Europe -- has restricted teams from adding players to the roster for early "look-see" tryouts.

Nevertheless, Jonathan Feinsod, Bentley's agent, said there is "a lot of interest" in the former Pro Bowl offensive lineman.

"We're sifting through different offers, taking our time and going from there," Feinsod said.
Feinsod wouldn't speculate on the odds of Bentley joining a team for the opening of training camp. He declined to comment when asked if Bentley has visited any team.

Although Bentley passed the Browns' arduous physical exam to be cleared to practice before his release, any interested team would want Bentley to undergo a new battery of tests before their eyes.

At least one team executive believes that Bentley will attract interest once teams return from vacation next week.

"He's among a lot of guys who are one injury away from being in big demand," the NFL personnel chief said.

A list of recognizable NFL veterans still unsigned includes:

Quarterbacks Byron Leftwich and Daunte Culpepper; running backs Shaun Alexander, Kevin Jones and Ron Dayne; linebackers Takeo Spikes, Junior Seau and Jeremiah Trotter; defensive linemen Rod Coleman and Orpheus Roye; and defensive backs Chad Scott, Duane Starks and Mike Doss.

Joe Jurevicius still believes he'll return to the field this season after his latest surgery to deal with a staph infection.

Not retiring: A source said Browns receiver Joe Jurevicius intends to honor his commitment to come back and play despite recently undergoing a fourth procedure on his right knee since January.
The latest procedure, acknowledged by the Browns on July 1, was the third one to clean out a staph infection that was contracted a few weeks after Jurevicius' "routine" arthroscopic knee surgery in January. The source said there is no truth to rumors that Jurevicius may need the radical microfracture surgery to restore cartilage.

Jurevicius will open training camp on the club's physically unable to return (PUP) list. His roster status for the opening of the season depends on his recovery. It's possible he could begin the season on PUP, which would cause him to miss at least the first six weeks of the season.

The Browns do not plan to add a veteran receiver for camp.

Brownie bits: No Browns draft picks are signed, but negotiations for all should be completed before the opening of camp on July 23. ... The Browns have maintained communication with Roye's agent in case of injury to one of their defensive ends. At 35, they see him as a capable emergency fill-in during the season but not a player who could be effective for 16 games. ... GM Phil Savage's search for a veteran cornerback through trade will resume when he returns from vacation next week. There has been some groundwork laid, but the few teams involved want to gauge other positions on their rosters in the first week or two of camp before trading a cornerback. ... Diane Downing, Browns vice president/government affairs, has left the Browns. Downing managed the Browns Stadium project while working in the office of Mayor Michael R. White and joined the Browns in 2000.

Dreams of a Browns backfield with Jim Brown and Ernie Davis never came any closer to realization that in this photo, taken during the team's training camp in 1962. Davis died from leukemia less than 10 months later.

Remembering Ernie Davis: "The Express," a biopic of former Browns running back Ernie Davis, will premiere on the campus of Syracuse University on Sept. 12.
The Universal Pictures movie traces the inspirational life of Davis, who broke Jim Brown's rushing records at Syracuse and became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.

Davis, of course, played an extraordinary role in Browns history. In 1961, Paul Brown traded Bobby Mitchell to the Washington Redskins for the draft rights to Davis. New team owner Art Modell was irate about not being informed of the trade -- a sign of things to come.

Davis contracted leukemia and never played for the Browns. A widening rift between Modell and Brown deepened when Brown refused Modell's wish for Davis to be activated for one shining moment in a game. The relationship between Modell and Brown became irreparable and the founding coach was fired two years later.

Davis died on May 18, 1963 at the age of 23. His name does not appear on the Browns' all-time roster, yet his jersey No. 45 is among five retired by the franchise. Mitchell went on to a Hall of Fame career as a flanker for the Redskins.

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I have a feeling one of those offers on the table is ours. I think he will see that the offers arent starting money and he will come back were he belongs

That was a thought of mine as well.

He's got to realize that at this point of his comeback, every team will see him as an insurance policy until he proves otherwise

I suppose anything is possible, but it really SOUNDS like the relationship between LCB and the Browns was/is beyond repair. Perhaps that was more posturing than anything else, but I'd be very surprised (pleasantly so, mind you) if Bentley ended up back with us.

I agree, while it's possible, I'm betting that the Browns are not on his radar at all. I still wish him well.. I want to see him succeed..

I'll always hold out hope for him.

But when he wanted out, I forgot him.

I kind of agree with you. If we weren't good enough for him a few weeks back and he demanded to be released - well, we aren't good enough for him now. Time to put the college degree to work for you. Apparently no one else wants him, why should the Browns?

Bentley is going to find out fast not a lot of teams are going to shower him with money after what he went thru. The thing that bothers me about him is he didn't want to work and prove he deserved the roster spot he should have had if he didn't get hurt. He just wanted it handed to him when he didn't play one down for us.

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Not retiring: A source said Browns receiver Joe Jurevicius intends to honor his commitment to come back and play despite recently undergoing a fourth procedure on his right knee since January.
The latest procedure, acknowledged by the Browns on July 1, was the third one to clean out a staph infection that was contracted a few weeks after Jurevicius' "routine" arthroscopic knee surgery in January. The source said there is no truth to rumors that Jurevicius may need the radical microfracture surgery to restore cartilage.

Jurevicius will open training camp on the club's physically unable to return (PUP) list. His roster status for the opening of the season depends on his recovery. It's possible he could begin the season on PUP, which would cause him to miss at least the first six weeks of the season.

The Browns do not plan to add a veteran receiver for camp.

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I feel so bad for Joey J. He was instantly one of my favorite players b/c he is from the area. Secondly he is very unselfish and is truly a team first guy. You have to love that and I hate to see bad things happen to good people. Hopefully he gets back by the opener.

LCB was extremely well compensated by the Browns while he rehabbed his injury. To come back to the team, pass their battery of tests, then bolt because he didn't want to compete for a position on the OL...well, I must admit that I lost a great deal of respect for him at that point. The team is moving forward. LeCharles will have to do his whining elsewhere.

I wish him the best, just not with the Browns.

I suspect he wants to snap for Brett Favre! No really. If after all this surgery and waiting, he feels he is aoto-starter material, then he is delusional and needs to seek treatment further. I would love to have him; but we have been patient. If he needs this, go elsewhere. Ego is optional, always. If he walks on us, then he is just somebody else needs to be beaten on the field. I suspect that he is doable if there wasn't too much damage between the FO and LCB for sensible money. Pretty sure agents become more hindrance than help in that reduced money slot. JMOpine, y'all

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The latest procedure, acknowledged by the Browns on July 1, was the third one to clean out a staph infection that was contracted a few weeks after Jurevicius' "routine" arthroscopic knee surgery in January.

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JJ has the dreaded staff infection?

First I have heard that...it will be surprising if he's in camp.

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I feel so bad for Joey J. He was instantly one of my favorite players b/c he is from the area. Secondly he is very unselfish and is truly a team first guy. You have to love that and I hate to see bad things happen to good people. Hopefully he gets back by the opener.

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I hope that Joe J. gets healed quickly too. He seemed like a good guy when he was with the Seahawks, and also with the Browns.

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JJ has the dreaded staff infection?

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Actually, no.
JJ had a STAPH infection. (staphylococcus aureas)


A "staff" infection is what the Browns suffered from 1999 to 2004.


but, what's in a name?

That's good stuff I don't care who ya are!!!

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At least one team executive believes that Bentley will attract interest once teams return from vacation next week.

"He's among a lot of guys who are one injury away from being in big demand," the NFL personnel chief said.

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which is basically why the browns and bentley parted ways...

bentley thought he should have been given a starting position, and the browns think differently...

Actually, no.
JJ had a STAPH infection. (staphylococcus aureas)


A "staff" infection is what the Browns suffered from 1999 to 2004.





Once TC begins we'll see what happens..but I heard that many a team is wary of LaCharles..they are more afraid of if that knee can hold up for a entire season.

You gotta wonder if he's starting to second guess his decision to leave.

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Actually, no.
JJ had a STAPH infection. (staphylococcus aureas)


A "staff" infection is what the Browns suffered from 1999 to 2004.

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Great Googly Boogly

That one, I liked....

You are so right on that one. No team wants to sign a lineman with bad knees. For him to leave before training camp make some to believe that the knee will not hold up. Hell, its a good strategy to use if your hiding a knee problem! Leave before anyone sees how bad it really is.

I still think Bentley has time, once camp starts he'll have a few weeks before he should really start being concerned.

I do think Cleveland still has an offer, but its not a "we want you to come back" offer. I think its more of a "if no one wants you, you can come back" offer.

You know, I think you are correct.. you have to wonder,, would the Browns have let him go for nothing if they thought his knees were fine? I don't think so. That's a lot of money they have invested in him. If they thought he could be of value, I have to believe they would not have given up so easily.

So, maybe that's been a detriment to him hooking up with another team.

He's a former pro bowler at two seperate Oline position. That kinda talent at his age doesn't get passed over because of the time of year unless there is more to the story..

I hope I'm wrong here, but you do have to wonder...

j/c....

Once you leave Cleveland... AIN'T no coming back...

You gotta wonder if he's starting to second guess his decision to leave.
I doubt it but his opportunities were better here...the Browns I believe would have given him a chance..

i whole-heartedly believe we would have given him fair chance at RG. if he was so confident, for the life of me, i can't understand why he didn't stay and compete. just another in a long line of Brownie-related heartbreaks for me.

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i can't understand why he didn't stay and compete

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$$$$$$$$$$.........He was due to make $600,000 this year or something like that, I dont know exact figures, but he wanted to make money comparable to Stienbach & Thomas or the other starting linemen on the team, if he started, He figured he earned that from all the work of rehab he did to get back on the field for the Browns.

Thats my take on the situation.

but the contract was very incentive laden. if he was so confident that he could win the start, then in doing so, he could have cashed in, correct? i guess it's all about the guaranteed money. like the money he got while he was out in AZ, the buster.

I dont know about the contact enough to comment of the incentives, I've heard but thats only speculation and I'm not gonna comment on that stuff,

My personnel feeling on the situation is two years ago he was the toast of the town, brought in to anchor, be the focal point of our O-Line, and after the injury he came back and wasnt the anchor or focal point, he would now have to earn a spot not only on the starting O-line but a starting spot on one of the best O-line in football..and to add to that he would have to earn a spot on the roster, which I do believe he would have had one. LB didnt recieve the warm fuzzy feeling from the Browns upon his return, I dont know if he expected bands playing & a parade but instead of being the focal point he was now just one of the boys and was a under paid one at that, while JT was going into his 2nd year and making alot more than LB, which I do believe hurt his ego, so with that LB asked for his release to go elsewhere, and hopefully earn more and start, Giving up a Super Bowl Championship ring in the process.

I'm not down on Bently, man I danced around the house the night we signed him an got i'll the day he got hurt, but to me what he said and what he did dosent match up.

i agree. it was his "dream" to play here, but then he bails in the face of (more) adversity. i totally empathize with him, how he could have expected a hero's welcome and didn't get it. that'd get to me, too. i get that. but, though he may not have gotten it from the organization, the fans were still here, with baited breath. but i think he forgot that there were those of us--fans--that jumped for joy and proclaimed it the best day of their lives as a fan when we picked him up.

i saw him in the Shoe many times, and i can't quantify how much i was looking forward to finally seeing him in pads on the field, whether starting or no. i thought he was a stand-up, hometown boy, confident in his abilities to win a starting job. after all, isn't there more of which to be proud by winning the start coming off a life-and-limb-threatening injury than to have it given you? no disrepect to LeCharles; i've been a fan, even when he was a Saint, but methinks it shows him to be lacking in character to have not stayed for the challenge.

if he'd have stayed and won the start, well, that's the thing legend is made of.

sorry for waxing philosophical. anywho, good luck Chuck; wherever you end up.

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$$$$$$$$$$.........He was due to make $600,000 this year or something like that, I dont know exact figures, but he wanted to make money comparable to Stienbach & Thomas or the other starting linemen on the team, if he started, He figured he earned that from all the work of rehab he did to get back on the field for the Browns.

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I dont think he Thomas money but he certainly wanted more than 600k.
So he is testing the market. Its just the business of football

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I dont think he Thomas money but he certainly wanted more than 600k.
So he is testing the market. Its just the business of football

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And I 100% agree, buisness is buisness, I dont blame him or dislike him for doing what he did, All I said to wrap up my thoughs was things he said and than what he did really didnt add up. But I do also believe he kept his mouth shut and so did Savage out of respect for each other and for the Browns.

If not we might have had a media bonaza like the Frave thing exploded into he saids she said thing,

I wish LB only the best and health and happiness, I wish he was here, but we cant dwell on things we cant control.

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two years ago he was the toast of the town, brought in to anchor, be the focal point of our O-Line, and after the injury he came back and wasn't the anchor or focal point, he would now have to earn a spot not only on the starting O-line but a starting spot on one of the best O-line in football..and to add to that he would have to earn a spot on the roster, which I do believe he would have had one.

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I hear what you're saying, Clay.

Along those lines, LeChuck may have let his heart rule his head. Any player in the modern NFL should already know what the score is, biz-wise... so it shouldn't have been a surprise to LCB that the "starter's scenery" in Berea had changed since the day he inked his contract.

If what we ALL think is true- that LeChaz wanted a guarantee to start, then that was just plain silly on his part. It might have been understandable if we hadn't made such improvements since his injury, but he HAD to see what we all saw last season... and that should have been his reality check. Common sense should have told him that he would have to earn a spot on the field... if for no other reasons than:

1. his injury (and subsequent staph infection issues) would cause any team to be cautious, and
2. he's been out of the game for two whole freakkin' years.



Bentley seems to have missed something very basic in all of this: These aren't the same sad-sack Browns he signed onto. He had a choice to earn a spot on a strong team, or whore himself out to weakass wanna-be who'd give him everything he wants.

Looks like option #1 might be the only option he gets... no matter where he goes. Welcome to the Real World.

Reality check, LeCharles: The only team that might give you what you want won't be a SB contender until after years after you've retired.



If he's the kind of guy who would put his own personal issues ahead of the Cleveland Browns AND common sense, I have only one thing to say to him:

"Good luck and good riddance."




...and yes- I DO believe he could have won a starting spot... without ever seeing him play in O&B. He just chose to "punk out," and look for an easier route somewhere else.
We Cleve fans would have loved him all the way into the H.O.F..... if he'd just tried for us, and himself....

LCB blew it. From what level and to what extent, we may never know, but he blew it and blew it big time. I wish him well, but as you said, good luck and good riddance.

Until he proves otherwise, he's damaged goods. I don't blame him for testing the market, but 600k for an unproven entity with more downside than upside potential is about the most he's worth right now. I know I could live on that paltry salary. I've been saving over a year for a 6G vacation.