LeCharles Bentley

by ec on Jul 30, 2008 9:42 PM EDT

Jim Wexler at SteelCityInsider is reporting today that the Steelers plan to sign LeCharles Bentley. He cites ESPN as a confirming source. You can view the beginning of the article at:

http://pit.scout.com/a.z?s=68&p=2&c=773881&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2fpit.scout.com%2f2%2f773881.html

You have to have a subscription to view the whole article. I haven't seen this news anywhere else and am a little dubious about it. Does anyone know if there is truth to this?

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uh...

Wexell’s article says that ESPN is wrong. I saw something on ESPN’s blogs speculating that they might sign Bentley, but it clearly wasn’t based on any facts. I’d trust Wexell before ESPN. The FO (which denounced that myth) could be full of crap, but I don’t know why they would lie. I don’t think there’s any more reason to think he’s signing with us now than before.

Here’s the article I saw, which is just a prediction>

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcnorth/0-0-97/Fearless-AFC-North-predictions.html

by BadMaafala on Jul 30, 2008 10:03 PM EDT reply actions

thanks...

I couldn’t access the full Wexell article, but the Google cached summary seemed to suggest that he agreed with ESPN. I appreciate the clarification and agree that Wexell is more credible than some ESPN pundit. That said, I think Tomlin should try to get Bentley at a backup’s price. They went after a fifth or sixth RB, for goodness sakes. And they might be able to negotiate hard at this point. Afterall, the longer Bentley waits, the lower his likelihood of signing anywhere. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh can definitely use the insurance given the bad streak of injuries at camp, never mind how bad those other linemen seem to be playing right now. I mean, Woodley is good, but he’s no Lawrence Taylor (yet)...but this OL makes him look like LT’s second coming.

by ec on Jul 30, 2008 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

agreed

I’d agree that they should consider signing him if it’ a cheap 1 year “let me show the world I can still play” deal, but I’m not sure what he’s looking for. I also don’t know if he’d be any better than the guys we have (which is pretty bad). Let’s just hope Hartwig is a small step up.

by BadMaafala on Jul 31, 2008 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree,

at this point signing Bentley is a case of adding more quantity, not quality, and quantity is something we have plenty of. And though Z has made some puzzling statements regarding the line, I can’t see them giving a starting job to guy who hasn’t played for two years, sight unseen.

by Desroko on Jul 31, 2008 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

hmmm interesting developments...

As much as this puzzles me I also believe we should go out and sign Bentley. I mean why not? If he doesn’t work out then we just cut him before the season starts, if he does work out the FO looks genius and we upgrade the O-Line.
However I’m not sure what he would play, C or G? I know his former pro-bowl capable position is C but I have heard he can play G as well, and with our previous free agent addition of Hartwig it would seem silly to have 4 guys (Stapleton, Mahan, Hartwig, Bentley) whose best position is C, on the roster.

by iBleedBlack&Gold on Jul 31, 2008 12:50 AM EDT reply actions

probably why it wont happen

by tkired on Jul 31, 2008 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Actually, I’m pretty sure he made Pro Bowl at both, one each. But he prefers center.

Your plan doesn’t work b/c Bentley wants to start, and thus he wants starter money. He’d already be signed if he would accept 6th or 7th man responsibilities (and money). The only outside chance that he signs a deal so small that it could be “cut before the season starts”, is if he just purely wants to stick it to the Browns for its own sake. Which is something I could see happening.

I’ve also heard if he doesn’t land a starting gig he could retire.

by kwoog on Jul 31, 2008 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions