Bentley Passes Physical and Will Participate in Mini-Camp

by Chris Pokorny on Jun 10, 2008 11:14 AM EDT in General News

Remember the other day when I stated that even if LeCharles Bentley passed his physical, we shouldn't get too excited just yet? Well, I'm sorry...but I just can't help myself.

The Browns community received great news this morning when general manager Phil Savage told the media that the former Pro Bowl center will be practicing with the team today. If you didn't know, today is the official start of mini-camp. However, it is not a full-go for Bentley yet. Much like the past, he won't really be joining the team where it counts: seven-on-seven or eleven-on-eleven scrimmages. Instead, he'll work on individual drills while the team continues to evaluate his progress.

The same is true for defensive back Gary Baxter, who suffered patellar tears in both knees two seasons ago. Wide receiver Joe Jurevicius is continuing his rehab for the time being, and therefore is not participating.

The OBR is reporting that wide receiver Donte Stallworth and defensive back Brandon McDonald are not at mini-camp today due to deaths in their family. I'll have a more extensive recap of mini-camp later today if any more news becomes available.

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a mild celebratory woo! for LeCharles

Wooo!

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

by BringBackKosar on Jun 10, 2008 12:46 PM EDT reply actions

The legendary Ric Flair...

WOOOOOOOOOOO!

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by Chris Pokorny on Jun 10, 2008 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Best of luck to LCB!

by painaxl on Jun 10, 2008 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

NIce.

by rufio on Jun 10, 2008 2:45 PM EDT reply actions

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y263/sparroww77/14244a.jpg

Look at those guns!

by Estonianzulu on Jun 10, 2008 6:04 PM EDT reply actions

Massive…enough to win him a job by default ;)

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by Chris Pokorny on Jun 10, 2008 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions

those are Gholston-esque

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

by BringBackKosar on Jun 11, 2008 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Hope nothing but the best for him, he was such a great player before his injury. Even if he’s healthy, I’m not sure he’ll be ready to start. If he returns to form, he’d fit great back at center or at the RG slot.

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by MrNFL on Jun 10, 2008 9:50 PM EDT reply actions

The Toni Grossi report from today concerns me. I know he’s phenomenally and consistently pessimistic, and I always thought the whole “rift” between LCB and the Browns had to be incredibly overblown (who cares if he’s training at home… seriously?)... but this sheds new light about the very real differences b/w the two parties. It sounds like there is a grudge there, and more importantly, it sounds like the man is moving around like his old self. I know the FO has a crush on pear-shaped Fraley, but if LCB goes somewhere else and is even 80% what he once was, I’ll be upset. Like, Brandon Phillips upset.

by kwoog on Jun 11, 2008 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think it's anything a new contract and millions of guaranteed dollars won't fix.

LeCharles seems to want to play here. He seems a little sad/disappointed that 1. he hasn’t been able to yet, 2. the Browns didn’t activate him last year when he thought he was healthy, 3. he hasn’t been taken at his word that he will play again at a level close to where he was previous to injury, 4. his contract was severely reduced due to 3.

the Browns wanted to scale that contract back in case Bently could never play again. Unlike an ACL tear, the patella tendon tear is still a knee injury that can immediately end a career. That, plus a staph infection that almost killed him? I would want to protect myself from Bently retiring too. They wanted him to stay in Cleveland to hang out with teammates and stay around the team, but he didn’t. Maybe they took offense to that, but I doubt it. It seems like a business move for the Browns.

Bently, who has made a mostly emotional decision to play here (vs a business decision), was disappointed that the Browns wouldn’t make the same emotional investment in him.

If he is able to preform at anywhere close to where he used to be, he will get a big fat contract, playing time, and everything will be fine. I don’t see us letting him go anywhere if he can still play. He looks crazy-strong, and if he ran 20×40yds in under 7 seconds each…look out Hank Fraley. If he truly is stronger and more explosive than before the injury, 3 of our Olinemen will be in the pro bowl.

by rufio on Jun 11, 2008 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

crap

Bently missed a mandatory meeting and the 1st practice today.

by rufio on Jun 11, 2008 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Was apparently also seen leaving at lunch time with a suitcase

by Roger Dorn on Jun 11, 2008 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, he’s done.

You know Selig? Ombudsman.

by rolub on Jun 11, 2008 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, i completely gave the wrong link.

he’s done.

You know Selig? Ombudsman.

by rolub on Jun 11, 2008 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

We hang on to him for 2 years when most teams would have cut him and recouped their losses, and he repays us by demanding his walking papers because he wasn’t just handed a starting job?

Good riddance

Here is the article- http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/06/lecharles_bentley_asks_for_rec.html

by Estonianzulu on Jun 11, 2008 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

Restructuring the original contract into one with the minimum league salary with incentive bonuses is slightly better than cutting him.

Although the Browns did give him a life-threatening staph infection, free of charge.

I hope he does well if another team gives him a chance.

You know Selig? Ombudsman.

by rolub on Jun 11, 2008 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Why should I wish him well? After two years of even being willing to pay the guy (most teams would not have) he goes and leaves the first day he comes back? LeCharles Bentley never played a single snap for the team he claimed to love. Now, given the chance to fight back in camp and maybe one day earn a starting position on the offensive line, he chooses to go somewhere else.

I feel betrayed, as should most every Browns fan.

“He just feels he was not going to play the kind of role here he plans to play in 2008.”- He plans to play? Guy barely got back to the NFL, he should be counting his lucky stars he’s even able to play at all.

by Estonianzulu on Jun 11, 2008 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions