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C LeCharles Bentley (2001 Rimington Award & 2 time Pro Bowler)

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Former Cleveland Browns center LeCharles Bentley left in limbo
Sunday, July 13, 2008 Tony GrossiPlain Dealer Reporter
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.
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Former Cleveland Browns center LeCharles Bentley left in limbo - Cleveland.com
 
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Agent: Bentley has "a lot of interest" ... does that include the Bears?
By Brad Biggson August 5, 2008

If the Bears are looking into the free-agent market for possibilities at guard, it's slim pickings.

That is what you would expect in early August when training camp rosters are full.

Ruben Brown, the ex-Bear, remains a free agent. He'd expressed interest in continuing his career in the spring but making a move to bring him back could be viewed as an admission of error that the Bears did not work to re-sign him after last season.

Then there is ex-Cleveland Brown LeCharles Bentley, who was let go in June. It's hard to say what he could offer. Serious injuries have prevented him from doing much of anything the last two seasons after signing a $36 million, six-year contract in March 2006 to move over from the New Orleans Saints.


"I'm not making any comment on specific teams,'' Bentley's agent Jon Feinsod said Tuesday afternoon. "But there is a lot of interest right now in LeCharles."
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Agent: Bentley has "a lot of interest" ... does that include the Bears? - Inside the Bears

LeCharles Bentley rumor still gaining momentum
By James Pete | August 4th, 2008

The rumors are flying about former pro bowl center LeCharles Bentley. Several sources have St. Louis, New England, San Francisco and Chicago in the hunt to sign the injured lineman to a league-minimum salary. This week, the Steelers re-signed center Doug Legursky which seemingly ended the rumors flying around that the Pittsburgh Steelers were not only in the hunt for Bentley, but leading the charge. Of course, since the Legursky signing, the Bentley rumors continued to heat up. Kudos go to my writing teammate Mike Frazer, who noted this possibility a few days ago.


How do I feel about Bentley? His talent was unquestioned when the Browns signed him in 2006. The former Ohio State Buckeye All-American was coming off his second All Pro season, and many felt he was the best center in the game. He tore his patellar tendon early in camp that year, and has been out since with a set of injuries that dominoed from that first one. Four surgeries later (two for the tear, and two for a subsequent staph infection that nearly caused doctors to amputate the leg), Bentley is attempting a comeback. Strangely enough, the Browns cut Bentley the week he passed his physical. He?s been a free agent ever since.
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The Steel Tradition | MVN - a Pittsburgh Steelers blog ? Blog Archive ? LeCharles Bentley rumor still gaining momentum
 
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Bentley visits Lions camp
by Tom Kowalski
Tuesday August 12, 2008

The once-great center LeCharles Bentley was at Allen Park today to visit with Detroit Lions officials and even came out to watch a little bit of the morning workout.

Before undergoing four surgeries on his leg in the last two years, Bentley was considered one of the most dominant centers in the NFL. Bentley, who recently asked for his release from the Cleveland Browns (which was granted), is trying to make a comeback.

A source close to the situation said the Lions had a good visit with Bentley, but the team is not interested in signing him.
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Bentley visits Lions camp - Detroit Lions: News, Blogs, Photos, Audio, Schedule & Stats - MLive.com
 
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Rams check out Bentley, ex-Pro Bowl lineman
By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/25/2008

Former Pro Bowl offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley, who has not played the past two seasons because of knee problems, was headed to St. Louis for a visit with the Rams and a physical Monday.

Bentley, 28, earned two Pro Bowl berths for New Orleans, starting 57 games at guard and center for the Saints between 2002-05. But after signing a six-year, $36 million free agent contract with his hometown Cleveland Browns in 2006, Bentley has not played another NFL game.

Bentley tore the patellar tendon in his left knee at the start of training camp that year. Complications developed, including a staph infection, and three more operations were needed. Doctors at one point considered amputating the leg.

Cleared to practice with the Browns in June, Bentley asked for and was granted his release.

If healthy, Bentley could provide a boost for the Rams at center or guard. The Rams currently have Nick Leckey and Brett Romberg competing for the starting spot at center. Romberg has been sidelined for the past couple of weeks with a broken hand.

The guard position suffered a blow when Mark Setterstrom suffered a season-ending knee injury Aug. 16 against San Diego.

It is not clear if the Rams are just checking out Bentley, or are intent on signing him if he passes his physical.
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STLtoday - Rams check out Bentley, ex-Pro Bowl lineman
 
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Offensive line earns praise against Ravens
By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/26/2008

LINEMAN STOPS BY

Offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley, a two-time Pro Bowler with New Orleans, took a physical Monday at Rams Park but left without signing a contract. It could not be determined whether Bentley, who hasn't played in two years after suffering a major knee injury, passed the exam.

The Rams are seeking additional linemen after losing guard-center Mark Setterstrom (knee) and tackle Brandon Gorin (shoulder) for the season.
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STLtoday - Offensive line earns praise against Ravens
 
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Link

Former Brown planning football camp in Avon

Jason Hawk | The Chronicle-Telegram

AVON ? Former Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley is looking at opening his own football school on Jaycox Road.
The LeCharles Bentley Offensive Line Academy would be a 4,800-square-foot training center for high school athletes from the Cleveland suburbs, according to a proposal to the Avon Planning Commission.

It would prep local seniors to play as offensive linemen on collegiate teams, but an advanced program also would provide services to college and NFL players.

Continued..............
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Link

Avon planners approve football academy

Jason Hawk | The Chronicle-Telegram

AVON ? Looking at LeCharles Bentley, ?fat? isn?t the word that comes to mind.
But the former Cleveland Browns center said that?s exactly what he wants to combat with his new football academy, set to open in January ? the idea that bigger is better.
Bentley, at 6-foot-2-inches and 309 pounds, lumbered over a microphone Wednesday night and persuaded Avon?s planning commission to let him open a 6,000-square-foot training center on Jaycox Road.
He said he wants to teach area high school offensive linemen power and technique instead of carb-loading.
?Size isn?t the real barometer of a good player,? he said. ?That?s such a fallacy. There are so many guys who are smaller, better players.

Continued...............
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Bentley resurfaces
Posted January 21st, 2009 by Marla Ridenour

LeCharles Bentley attended Wednesday night's Greater Cleveland Sports Awards at the Renaissance hotel in support of his old high school football coach, Chuck Kyle of St. Ignatius, who received the lifetime achievement award. Bentley has opened the O-Line Academy in Avon, a training center for offensive linemen that he said is the first of its kind in the country.

A Pro Bowl center who was a prized free agent signing of the Browns in 2006, Bentley hasn't played football since tearing his patella tendon on the first day of training camp that year and needing three additional surgeries for what he said was a life-and-limb threatening staph infection. Bentley asked for his release from the Browns last June and the team complied.

"There's still offers out there, but I'm not entertaining anything right now," Bentley said. "I've lived the NFL dream, better than 90 percent of the guys have ever lived it."

As for playing again, Bentley said, "I play football every day, I've got three boys. That's what I'm doing now."

Bentley appeared in great shape and said he had lost a few pounds since he passed the Browns' conditioning test in minicamp.
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Cleveland Browns ? Blog Archive ? Bentley resurfaces
 
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LeCharles Bentley opens academy in Avon for offensive linemen
by Mary Kay Cabot, Plain Dealer Reporter
Friday January 30, 2009

large_bentley.jpg

Tracy Boulian / The Plain Dealer
Though LeCharles Benltey, former Brown, Buckeye and St. Ignatius grad, has opened an academy in Avon for offensive lineman, he still has dreams of playing in the NFL again.

Former Browns center LeCharles Bentley hasn't slammed the door shut on his NFL career just yet, but for now, he's focusing on opening doors for offensive lineman all over the country.

Bentley, who asked for and was granted his release from the Browns in June, announced Thursday the opening of the L. Bentley O-line Academy in Avon, dedicated to enhancing the performance of offensive linemen at the high school, college and pro levels.

"This is my baby right here," said a fit and trim Bentley, sweeping his hand around at the inside of the scarlet-and-gray-themed facility, a nod to his Ohio State days. "It's the first of its kind in the country and I promise it will be the best."

That's not to say that Bentley, a two-time Pro Bowl linemen, is content to keep his jersey in a shadow box like the ones in the foyer of the 6,500-square foot facility.

"I haven't gotten playing completely out of my mind yet," said Bentley, who hasn't played the past three seasons since suffering a torn patella tendon and subsequent potentially limb- and life-threatening staph infection in the knee. "There's still some interest out there and I'm not going to back myself into a corner and completely retire from it. If the right opportunity comes along, we'll see what happens."

But for now, he's channeling all of his passion and energy in the academy and his "Bentley Report," an evaluating and analyzing service for high school linemen and college recruiters.

"When I played, I had blinders on," said Bentley. "It was Hall of Fame or bust. If I wasn't going to be the best, there was no point in me being out there. Now, if this isn't going to be the best thing in the country, I'll close it down and hit the road."
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LeCharles Bentley opens academy in Avon for offensive linemen - Cleveland Browns football NFL News - cleveland.com
 
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Q: My Chiefs need a new OC,OG, and probably a RT. Why not give LeCharles Bentley a look? He's still fairly young, and was dominant before that injury. From what I understand, he should be ready to play. Where is Bentley right now? Is his career over?

A: Talking to Bentley a couple of weeks ago, I got the feeling that the Bills are interested in him. The Chiefs might be, too. Obviously, his knee problems would be a concern. With the infection he suffered in the knee, he doesn't have full motion, but he is confident the knee is good enough to play. He's worth a look. Bentley does need to get in an offseason program as early as possible as long as he is healthy. He's all football. He's running a training academy trying to help young athletes learn football, particularly young offensive linemen. Because of the problems with his knee, he wasn't going to be involved in the first, second or third wave of free agency. Now, half the free-agent list is gone. It's time for the Bentleys of the world to get their test drives.
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John Clayton examines the Jay Cutler saga and answers some mail - ESPN
 
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