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LeCharles Bentley: Waiting and Watching

By Site Staff

Posted May 12, 2007

The injured center is pondering a quicker comeback... plus, some final thoughts on mini-camp...

Back in February it seemed certain Browns center LeCharles Bentley would have another surgery on his damaged left patellar tendon and miss all of 2007.

Now, however, Bentley is telling friends he might wait until the end of summer and then decide whether to have surgery. He is determined to play again and might want to make his comeback this year.

Coach Romeo Crennel said Bentley is not participating in the organized team activities. Nor will Bentley participate in the full-team minicamp June 11-13.

Bentley's left patellar tendon was torn on the first play of training camp last summer. The two-time Pro Bowl player -- who played four years with the Saints before signing a six-year, $36 million contract with the Browns in March of '06 -- had surgery the next day. A staph infection developed and it had to be cleaned out, setting back his rehab.

Bentley has been training in Arizona. In February, general manager Savage said the leg had to get stronger before surgery could be performed. If there is another surgery Bentley won't play until 2008 and might never play again.

"He has to make that decision," Crennel said. "Nobody can make it for him. Our doctors and medical people have talked to him. He also got a second opinion. He'll take all that information and do what's best for him."

Bentley could start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list if he does not have surgery. The Browns would then put off until mid-October a decision on whether to carry him on the active roster or put him on injured reserve.

If Bentley does surprise everyone and plays, he would be the center, Eric Steinbach the left guard and Joe Thomas the left tackle on a revamped offensive line.

MINI-CAMP WRAP: Browns coach Romeo Crennel is trying to break in a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback. In other words, a lot of work remains before training camp begins at the end of July.

Crennel expected bumps in the recent rookie minicamp in which quarterback Brady Quinn was on the field for the first time as a Brown. Likewise, players were trying to absorb the scheme of offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski -- a scheme they hadn't seen until about 15 hours before the first practice.

Practice was sloppier the second day than the first. All in all, Quinn acquitted himself well. He definitely had command of the huddle.

Players lined up incorrectly at times, some passes were off the mark and some passes hit receivers in the hands, then kept right on going. The errors were the growing pains of a team trying to run a practice with an abundance of players who will not be invited back for the full-squad minicamp next month.

In all there were seven draft picks, nine undrafted rookies under contract and 32 tryout players in the minicamp. Crennel and his staff needed the 48 bodies to conduct practice.

"We added some more stuff (the second day) and it looked like we added stuff because we couldn't get lined up and we didn't throw as well as we did against the air the first day," Crennel said. "I tell everybody, 'You look better in shorts and against air than you ever do against bodies and in pads.' I told them they have to keep up or they're going to get left behind."

Quinn was part of the mess at times, but it was impossible to know for sure whether the incomplete passes should be blamed on Quinn or the receiver when the ball landed about five yards in front of the target. Judging by the way receivers coach Wes Chandler barked at tryout player Willie Idlette, Idlette might have been the culprit.

"When you throw more stuff out there and guys are running routes they are not supposed to run, your quarterback doesn't look as good compared to throwing against air," Crennel said. "We've had to adapt to what he has to work with."

Quinn was on target on two deep throws. One was to Idlette and one was to Kendrick Mosley.

THE WEAKEST LINK: One area that will be addressed heavily next offseason is the defensive line. Despite signing end Robaire Smith and nose tackle Shaun Smith in free agency, the line is still the weak link of the defense. That is due in part to the fact the Browns have not drafted a defensive lineman on the first day since they drafted Gerard Warren in the first round in 2001. They drafted two defensive linemen this year, but they waited until the end to do it, taking Melila Purcell from Hawaii in the sixth round and Benjamin Pittman from LSU in the seventh round.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think the practice was a little bit too short for me. I've been waiting so long for this opportunity and now that it's come, I guess I'm excited about tomorrow and the next day." -- Quarterback Brady Quinn after the first day of rookie minicamp.

http://browns.scout.com/2/643461.html

Good read. It'll be interesting to see how a lot of things go down this year at training camp.

Re LCB - If he as any doubts whatsover, he would be smart to give it another year; he's still young enough and has some prime years ahead. JMHO

This was not a very promising sounding article regarding LCB. I really hope he beats expectations and is able to play this year and continue on with his career.

As hard as that might be,, it's the right thing if he is questioning it at all....

So essentially, this update told us we don't know anything certain yet and we'll need to wait longer for a firm answer on his future status.

Greeeeeaatt update (not towards the TC {thanks for posting}....just the writer).

if coming back early would in any way jeopordize his career, take the surgery. if he wouldn't be at full strength till mid season, take the surgery.
all of our prayers are with you LCB, get COMPLETELY WELL even if this means washing this year too.

Quote:

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Bentley has been training in Arizona. In February, general manager Savage said the leg had to get stronger before surgery could be performed. If there is another surgery Bentley won't play until 2008 and might never play again.

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That sounds to me like if he needs the surgery then he might never play again. So screw the surgery, Bents, lets lace 'em up!

Maybe I just see the glass as half empty. But this makes me think Bentley should call it a career. I don't see him playing any meaningful time for us for at least 2 years. By that time he'll have been out of it for so long he might as well call it a day. JMHO

The wording of this sentence jumped out at me:

Quote:

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If there is another surgery Bentley won't play until 2008 and might never play again.

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From the way I read it, the surgery itself might be the issue that ends his career. If that truly is the case, I can see why it might take LeCharles this much time to decide what to do.

Look at it this way- If the knee joint can be rehabbed enough to be servicable for a year or two without surgery, but that same surgery is inevitable down the road, LeCharles might want to come back... partially because of heart, Luv4Browns and all that, but also to get paid. If that's the case, I wouldn't blame him for being tempted to 'tempt fate.' The dollars he'd make in not being bought out for another two years would certainly be incentive enough to seriously consider. It's a long life after a player's career is over, and financial security counts for something.

If LeCharles is putting off this surgery BECAUSE it's career-ending, and playing for awhile is actually an option, look for him to try a comeback. If I've misread this article, and surgery can actually repair the damage and give good odds at an 08 comeback, look for him to take the operation.

Since we don't really know the details, and can only go on the words we read from this reporter, we're left to speculate wildly. I wish he'd given a little more background to support that line of his I quoted. Would have been nice to see that sentence framed by a little backup data.

Bummer that a guy who was to figure as a 'lead-pipe cinch' at an important position still has this bigazz question mark hanging over him. Guess it's just another part of the unpredictable drama that makes being a Browns fan so compelling... it's maddening, frustrating, and exhilarating...

...but it's never boring.

Get ALL THE WAY well, LeCharles. You joined a family that cares about its players, and nothing would make us happier.

Thats one hell of a way to look at it Clemdawg that I hadn't really given much thought too! Thanks for the added thinkin! I am sure Bentley will make the best choice for himself and his family and I wish him the best of luck.

just another interpretation on Bentley...

i (over)read this as implying the 1st surgery and subsequent staph infection have left his repaired tendon abnormal in some way...and that abnormality may cause the tendon to be weaker/more vulnerable than it should be...the initial feeling after having a look was that he will need a 2nd surgery to try and make it more normal/stable, but that such a surgery could very well make things worse...i.e. this is not something as simple as removing scar tissue, as players often do...

the optimistic part of this speculation is that, while abnormal, Bentley's knee may FEEL ok so far, and he's considering moving on without further surgery as long as it keeps feeling alright...

Not sure how it affects his salary ?? He's getting paid his contract as if he was playing, he CAN'T be cut do to injury without a settlement. His NEXT contract is the only thing at risk.

If he decides to come back and try to play this season, he is no longer considered injured. That said, the Browns might want to cut him loose before he blows his knee out again.

What we don't know in all of this is the Browns position on the matter. I know what we read...they say it is up to him.....but in private they have to be thinking he needs the surgery or he doesn't and needs to try it.

If we were in a tighter cap situation, you can bet we would be pushing for something, or even offering a injury settlement.

At any rate, I think it is a safe bet to say Bentley is done.

Half of the opinions he gets say he needs more surgery to clean things up. The other side says he doesn't...probably meaning there isn't much benefit to having the surgery...or...the odds of having the surgery improve anything are 50/50 at best.

I get the feeling if the Browns offered Bentley a injury settlement if he was to retire, he would.

i think what people need to remember is there are two situations to consider....

first off we are talking about his patellar tendon....as far as i know, no other damage was reported to his knee...

basically this tendon is what enables a person to move there lower leg from a flexed position to a straight position...nothing more, nothing less...


as it stands right now he can walk, and we have also heard that he is working out, and we even heard that he is doing some hitting on a sled....

right now there are two types of recovery...

1. fixed for everyday living (that imo is where he is now) its strong enough for him to function in the basic things we do all day...

2. the other is for it to be strong enough for massive amounts of force...i.e. pushing people around....

that is the real question that we are dealing with...


i'm speculating that maybe the staph damaged the tendon, or maybe the inability to rehab caused a loss of flexabiltiy in the leg....

another thing to consider is just how weak is the affected leg...it may be that he has to get that leg back up in strength before he'll know anything....


i though i read an article back when this happened that said aggressive rehab was needed for a quick recovery and to ensure full range of motion....well the staph had to have messed that up....


time will tell...but imo this isn't about having a knee thats ok for the rest of his life......its about playing football for the browns....

It is very possible you are correct.

He could very well be racked up enough his playing days are over but being on "Dancing with the Stars" is still an option.

It is very possible all of us are playing a guessing game and we will know NOTHING until we here from LCB himself, or get official word from the Browns.

Sort of good news...note him rehabbing in Arizona probably has more to do with the dry air than fear of Staph or something here.

As for economics...Bentley got his Guaranteed signing bonus - it was subtantial and he is set for life. His motives seem pretty genuine and is to be part of the resurgance of the Browns that all on the team feel.

Bentley has been training in Arizona. In February, general manager Savage said the leg had to get stronger before surgery could be performed. If there is another surgery Bentley won't play until 2008 and might never play again.

I didn't like the way that was written at all. I am 99% sure that last sentence was the opinion of the writer regarding if Bentley had another surgery he might never play again...of course without the results of rehab after surgery there's always a chance a player might never play again. But they made it sound so grave and included in with the statement made by Savage about getting his leg stronger either way (Surgery or obviously regular rehab).

on the Rookie Mini-Camp.

What was not noted in this article I remember listening to RAC about the confusement of the entire situation as they all were rookies and he laughed about BQ remarking that he showed he was pretty smart. Cause he picked up on the fact that Kendrick Mosely who was with us last season as a UDFA??? and was the only WR with experience and it showed...and was always looking to throw to Mosely after a while.

Weakest Link...DE is okay. NT is the question mark as so much is riding on TW and Shaun Smith. It would be nice to see progress from Parker or Kelley but I wouldn't count on it. NT is the Key on our 3-4 DL as far as getting and needing the most talent. No use investing in 2nd day guys.

RB and NT I see as our 1st day needs next draft.

JMHO

well one positive we have to remember is Phil paid LeCharles his roster bonus. the reports dont sound good but u gotta think it would have been an injury settlement instead of a roster bonus if the browns drs didnt think Lecharles would play.

We all must admit.............it would be a miracle if Bentley was to come back this season and be anywhere close to 100%!

I just am not even going to think about it..................it would be the greatest thing that ever happened for us Browns fans................in a long long time.....but reality says he may be down for good!

I am not giving up hope.............it was so cool to see him...................the first day he came into Cleveland Browns stadium...........never seen anyone that wanted to play for the Browns more then him.................a very sad situation indeed!

Here's to a LeCharles Bentley return soon!