Forget questions about Bentley, he's gone
Posted June 11th, 2008 by Dan
See Marla Ridenour's story here.
This will not adversely affect the Browns in the least. Some Browns fans (like most Cleveland fans are known to do) are probably freaking out right now.
"The Browns will now have a losing season and the line is going to fall apart."
"Derek Anderson is going to get destroyed."
"He's just the first LeClevelander that'll leave town."
Hogwash. (Fine, maybe not that last one)
Face it, Bentley probably wasn't going to be a starter this year. In fact, some doubted he'd even be able to play this season despite passing a physical Monday night.
It's not because he might be good, which is questionable. It's because Hank Fraley is that good. Bentley was never interested in playing guard for the Browns. "Well, I came here as a center. I would like to stay there," Bentley told reporters yesterday.
Wrong. At the end of the day, Bentley came here to make $16 million and not play a down. Not even in the preseason. Sure, getting injured forced the signing of Fraley, which made the line better, but that says nothing about Bentley.
Even after Bentley missed the past two years, fans seemed to rally behind him yesterday. They believed in the former local prep superstar.
All he's done in return is further fuel the paranoia and doubt of Cleveland sports fans.
Update: Make sure to check out Ridenour's latest article following General Manager Phil Savage's comments.
June 11th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I feel quasi-Nostradamus like…
June 11th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Hank Fraley is a serviceable center at best, even he admits that he is not as athletically gifted as Bentley. I wish it would have worked for LeCharles and the Browns; if he can play at 50% of his previous level, he would be a significant UPGRADE over Fraley who gets mauled by the huge nose tackles of the NFL.
June 11th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Fraley's intangibles like play calling get overlooked, plus he's a pretty good pass blocker. He's not as physically skilled ast Bentley, but how does anyone know that Bentley could anchor up underneath Casey Hampton? To call him just "serviceable" is really not giving him credit for not only stabilizing a bad line in 2006, but being an underrated part of 2007's success.
Really the scariest thing I see about the Bentley release is that the Steelers desperately need a center, because Hartwig and Mahan suck. If Bentley really physically can perform, which is again doubtful, and he goes to the Steelers, it would be a double ball tap from hell to Savage.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Crennel has stated since day one that all positions are open, and that each player has to earn their spot. It's what open competition for positions is all about. I think Bentley's belief was that the Browns would welcome him back with open arms, grant him the starting center job, and he was back in the glory days.
However, if I'm Crennel or Savage- I'm looking to test his skills after being off for two years. He's not been in pads yet, not been hit, and without having to pivot and dig in – they don;t know if he is really fully healed. Understandably, being able to run and perform tasks on an open field without equipment, and without impact from opposing payers is one thing. Having all the heart in the world cannot overcome the physical challenge if he cannot perform at his previous skillset level.
Consider there's the team liability – if he gets hurt during a team activity, then there's another year of liability for the Browns. If I'm Savage, I'm recalling this past year when the Browns had one of the lowest sack records in the league after week one, an offense that accomplished more than the previous 15 years, and tied for best record in the conference – all without Bentley.
This appears to me to be a no-brainer. Let's say Bentley's skills are good, but not justifiable enough at this point to displace Fraley. Will Bentley accept that, or will egos interfere with what's best for them team- and prehaps he gradually comes back, but isn't happy. Then you have a FAR worst scenario – a bad locker room which is like poison to any team.
The best scenario played itself out, the Browns are released from his contract with no hard feelings. None from the team, player or fans. We wish him well. If he does end up in the conference and plays well, there will always be the naysayers, and the "I told you sos". But no matter what the Browns do – second guessing team decisions has been common place since Red Right 88.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:17 am
If he's healthy enough to play he would have been the best center or best right guard on the roster.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
A comment from the proficient larry d.? An honor! Don't be a stranger, larry.
Anyway, I don't know if you can factor in Savage and Crennel into an opinion about releasing Bentley. He clearly wasn't happy earning a spot and asked for the release. It would be pointless to leave a disgruntled player on the team.
Whether or not he is healthy enough to play is such a huge if, which I don't think the Browns can gamble with at this point.
And I wouldn't think Bentley was just unhappy about the prospects of being a backup. I don't think he liked the idea of making "only" 600k this year, even though that's the contract he agreed upon.