I have to say I wish him all the best. What do you think for a team signing him? It seems like a low risk high reward thing... cuz he can't cost that much on the market I'd think.

They were going to cut him anyway and made a deal with him and the doctors, to clear him - so he can sign 'injury free' with another team.

Yeah, this one's a head scratcher ... I had a genuine WTH moment when I read it ...

Reading a Cleveland area paper /blog, and some fans are pissing all over Bentley, like it is his fault that he had a terrible knee injury followed by a staph infection (that effected other Browns players as well)

Would very much like to see him on the Buffalo Bills.

I'm always saddened by stories like this... When he signed that contract, it really was a great deal for everybody; now, both parties are worse off through no fault of their own.

#6

I'm not sure about the "no fault of their own" part, at least for the Browns. IIRC a number of Browns rehabbing injuries have had serious staph infections, and that suggests a problem somewhere. Of course, I'm not a medical man, so if anyone can show this to cluster of infections to be random, then I'll slink off into a corner somewhere.

Why shouln't the Steelers take a shot at him and bring him to training camp?...low risk, high reward...I'll bring him...and get some more competiton along the o-line...and dump that All Time KCW Team Mahan guy...the bastard...

Re #6 & 7:
While I can't 'show this cluster of infections to be random', I can say that staph infections are becoming a MAJOR problem across the country.

I've linked just one brief article on the subject in my name, but if you google for 'staph infections hospital' you'll get a slew of articles and reports and whatnot from across the country.

I wouldn't be quite so quick to blame the Browns... the MRSA staph infections can be spread through 'casual contact'.

Anybody know the specs on that contract? How much did he get paid for his two practices?

(not a shot at him, just curious. has to be one of the most bizarre contracts ever)

IIRC, there was a rash of staph infections at the Cleveland Clinic around the same time. Most people that I talked football with think they were related.

And yes, he should be a no brainer for the Steelers to look at, but he's oldish, and a free agent, and they don't like either of those things.

#9, Interesting stuff. MRSA is a big issue on this side of the pond as well. Perhaps the Browns are just unlucky; Butch Davis ran their draft for 4 years and that stinks of a cursed organisation.

As for Bentley, I wouldn't mind him getting a training camp look in Miami; it's not like they're flush with quality Guards.

Well, he could come back for a look with the Saints, since his replacement just went to the Bucs.

If he's willing to be a backup, the Skins are in the market for a vet center. Or they could continue to give snaps to Jon Jansen. (Seriously, Jon Jansen is the backup center.)

re #11: I wouldn't call Bentley oldish hes only 28, 29 in November, which is pretty much prime age, depending on how hes recovered from his injuries he might even play younger as hes missed 2 years wear and tear, alternatively he could just be shot.
I absolutely think hes worth taking a flyer on if he can pass a medical as he was a top performer at centre previously and can play guard as well. He must surely be worth an incentive based contract with an inexpensive opt out after a year just to see if he can play close to his preinjury level.

He has come out and said he wants to only play guard.

15: Ask Fannica. That's kind of old for the Steelers.

If Minicamp practices (like the last few days) count, I think Bentley had more than two practices. He didn't get hurt until the first day of training camp two years ago. I'm pretty sure he participated in a mini-camp prior to that. But that's just nitpicking. The guy got 16 million and never made it into a game. It's possible the Browns had tried to work a trade for Bentley prior to this. It may be that he just didn't have any trade value, even with his favorable/cheap contract.

I'm guessing he's s

drobviousso, Faneca was waaaay too much expensive for his age, way off in the value over price ratio for the Steelers...Bentley certainly will not be asking for that amount of money...

Florio reports that there was massive bad blood between the player and the team - the Browns, apparently, were unhappy that Bentley chose to rehab elsewhere and that he didn't have a second surgery subsequent to the infection. I guess that could explain some ill-feeling towards him from the fans.

I'm with Tim: some team should sign Bentley to a contract with a low guarantee and base salary, but lots of money in achievable incentives and a sizeable option bonus due before the draft in year two. That way if he plays well he gets paid what he's worth, and if he's done the team's not on the hook for anything much.

The Bears should take a flyer on this guy, we need a LG pretty badly and he was a Pro Bowler at that spot for the Saints. If he can play at his old level he would immediately upgrade a potential trouble spot and maybe help out the rookie LT who has to play against what is effectively a "who's who" of top DREs this year.

It makes too much sense for the Bears to do it though.

#10
$16.6 millions it seems.
Or $8.4 millions per practice.

Wow !

Re 21:

We may not have the cap room, if we are still planning on re-upping Harris, Hester, and Urlacher.

I bet he still wakes up with cold sweats screaming "Why didn't I sign with Philly instead of just using them to drive up the Browns' offer!"

Re 24:

Philly has magic knee injury prevention? If so they should use it on McNabb.

#23

They should do, especially now that Benson can't reach his likely to be earned incentives (although 'likely to be earned' and 'Cedric Benson' may not be as automatic as for most players, unless the targets involved include tequila shots or similar).

Seriously though if the Bears can't find a way to make these contracts work and leave enough room for a contract for a player like Bentley then they need to replace their capologist. The Bears still have plenty of wiggle room this year and are in great cap shape for the forseeable future. If Bentley's agent is a reasonable man (I know, big assumption) then any contract he signs will only pay off big time to Bentley if he earns it on the field. If he tries for a contract with up front money he will find there is a pretty low ceiling on any offers on the table, the guy hasn't played a snap in two years. A short contract with reasonable incentives clauses this year and a hefty roster bonus in February '09 to force the team to either renegotiate or release him would be sensible.

Re: 25

I know you were just taking a shot at McNabb's apparent propensity for injury, but I'll respond anyway.

Different circumstances would have likely resulted in a different outcome. And even if you want to argue that he was destined to have his knee blown up and that it was an unavoidable outcome, I've never heard of any staff injection issues with the Eagles.

Actually, I was trying to use absurdity to say that signing with the Browns wasn't a bad choice because he got injured. There is no guarantee that if he had signed with Philly, that something even worse might have happened.

I agree with #26...
~75% of the teams in the league should be inquiring about Bentley... the opportunity to get a potential All-Pro caliber guard for cheap means the risk/reward potential here is huge... but it also means each team needs to know when to walk away. Its only a reward if you recognize the risk involved, and price it accordingly.

It is odd to see so many people speculating about what teams should do when I am sure they have about 1000x beer info about Bentley's injury situation and current performance level than the commenters here.

Well, count me as one of the people willing to bring him in for an evaluation and physical. If he would play center, and close to his old level, he could be the final piece to a top-quality O-line in Cincinnati.

Re: 30

"...[teams] have about 1000x beer info..."

Sigh. Yet another reason why NFL Personnel Guy must be the greatest job ever.

I spent about a month in a Cleveland hospital about ten years ago, and came out with a staph infection. It was not pleasant.

Does he have a gun charge? If so, my Cowboys might want to take a look at him.