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Saints center denies he's plans to sign with Philly on Monday
Saturday, March 04, 2006
By Mike Triplett
Saints center LeCharles Bentley denied Friday a Philadelphia newspaper report that he is planning to sign with the Eagles as soon as free agency begins Monday. But whether he winds up in Philadelphia or not, Bentley will clearly move on after four years with the Saints.
Bentley has maintained throughout this offseason that he was disappointed the Saints did not sign him to a long-term contract extension before he became a free agent. Earlier this week, he made his strongest comment yet, telling CBSSportsline that, "I would rather sit out a season than play for the Saints again." Bentley, 26, said last week that things didn't end on a sour note in New Orleans, and that he enjoyed his four years with the Saints.
But he said Thursday night that he is ready to move on. "It was just a lot of things that I didn't like," Bentley told The Times-Picayune. "But in any relationship, nothing goes 100 percent right all the time. "I meant what I said last week, and I meant what I said (in the CBS report)."
Bentley had a brief war of words through the media with teammate Joe Horn after the season, in which he criticized the star receiver for speaking on his behalf about his contract status.
Then, in the CBSSportsline interview, Bentley was told that some members of the team and organization were upset with him for missing the last two games of the 2005 season with an elbow injury, suggesting he was protecting himself for free agency. "That's why they're the Saints," Bentley responded. "That isn't true."
Bentley said that interview was the first time he had heard about any such accusations, but he seemed upset by them. He said, "If anyone in that organization has any questions about whether I gave everything I had while I was there, then they can go to hell."
The two-time Pro Bowl center is one of the NFL's hottest free agent commodities. The Eagles are expected to be one his top suitors. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, a source close to Bentley said he was prepared to sign with the Eagles on Friday before the start of free agency was delayed by three days. Bentley, however, denied that report and had no further comment about his immediate plans.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
By Mike Triplett
Saints center LeCharles Bentley denied Friday a Philadelphia newspaper report that he is planning to sign with the Eagles as soon as free agency begins Monday. But whether he winds up in Philadelphia or not, Bentley will clearly move on after four years with the Saints.
Bentley has maintained throughout this offseason that he was disappointed the Saints did not sign him to a long-term contract extension before he became a free agent. Earlier this week, he made his strongest comment yet, telling CBSSportsline that, "I would rather sit out a season than play for the Saints again." Bentley, 26, said last week that things didn't end on a sour note in New Orleans, and that he enjoyed his four years with the Saints.
But he said Thursday night that he is ready to move on. "It was just a lot of things that I didn't like," Bentley told The Times-Picayune. "But in any relationship, nothing goes 100 percent right all the time. "I meant what I said last week, and I meant what I said (in the CBS report)."
Bentley had a brief war of words through the media with teammate Joe Horn after the season, in which he criticized the star receiver for speaking on his behalf about his contract status.
Then, in the CBSSportsline interview, Bentley was told that some members of the team and organization were upset with him for missing the last two games of the 2005 season with an elbow injury, suggesting he was protecting himself for free agency. "That's why they're the Saints," Bentley responded. "That isn't true."
Bentley said that interview was the first time he had heard about any such accusations, but he seemed upset by them. He said, "If anyone in that organization has any questions about whether I gave everything I had while I was there, then they can go to hell."
The two-time Pro Bowl center is one of the NFL's hottest free agent commodities. The Eagles are expected to be one his top suitors. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, a source close to Bentley said he was prepared to sign with the Eagles on Friday before the start of free agency was delayed by three days. Bentley, however, denied that report and had no further comment about his immediate plans.
