Prisco Notes: on LeCharles Bentley

[WoodysGirl]

New Orleans Saints center LeCharles Bentley is generally considered one of the top free agents on the market. He's a young, aggressive player who can play both guard and center, although his preference is center. He's about to become a very rich man. Several teams are interested. The talk at the combine was that the Eagles would be one. Jacksonville, Cleveland, Miami and Minnesota are also thought to be ready to pounce.

One team that won't be in the mix is the Saints. They're still fuming about Bentley not playing in the final two games of the 2005 season. They have told some people that he sat out to protect himself, because the Saints were out of it and he knew he was about to become a free agent. There was even some talk that the Saints players got on him some for doing so, almost challenging him to play.

Bentley denied this was the case in a phone call this week. He said he didn't play because he had a problem with an elbow ligament. "That's why they're the Saints," Bentley said. "That isn't true." Bentley said he had no interest whatsoever in playing for New Orleans again -- even if they were to make him a big offer. "I would rather sit out a season than play for the Saints again," he said. Word is the feeling is mutual, which is why some team will be getting a heck of a player.

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[Hostile]

It gripes me we aren't considered a source. Oh well, More AJ in 06.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I wish Dallas would at least talk with him.....he may give us a bargain.....since we are Americas Team.....;-)

 

[ghst187]

I wish Dallas would at least talk with him.....he may give us a bargain.....since we are Americas Team.....;-)

that are we're a heck of a lot more likely to win a championship than a team like Cleveland or Jacksonville, ESP if we had him.

Although, I do think that Saban will win one in Miami if he's there long enough and finds a QB.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

It gripes me we aren't considered a source. Oh well, More AJ in 06.

You know what's crazy about AJ...is that he was considered a very good center coming out of college...most of us high on him. I went to a few game this year and he is a fat boy that needs to lose some baby fat still.

I honestly think he has the potential, but he needs a trainer to change his freakin body this off-season. I know for a fact if he was serious he could drop 20lbs of fat and replace with muscle....or just add the muscle and get to 300 lbs.

I'm not as sour on him as most, but he must be stronger and in better shape in TC....

 

[ravidubey]

Our centers suck and there's little hope they will get much better givent he type of running team we have been and the kind of QB we have.

 

[Echo9]

It gripes me we aren't considered a source. Oh well, More AJ in 06.

Not necessariily...now.

LeBentley is a guy who is going to cause a pretty big bidding war. If we were to get involvrd it would tkae up more space than we can afford.

As soon as I heard about the sheer number of teams interested, I figured we'd never even get involved.

On the other hand. Mawae is now available. Old? yes. Coming off an injury? yup.

Also close to one of the top Cs in the game? yes.

Short term only of course, but he provides a great safety net/mentor to AJ.

at 1/2 to 1/3 of the cost of LeBentley (percentages are a guess of course)

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Calling all Cowboy fans alike...I'm pulling up to the station ready to carry all the LeCharles Bentley bandwagoners across the country to petition signing him....come along for the ride if you're with me!!!!!!!!!

 

[baj1dallas]

You know what's crazy about AJ...is that he was considered a very good center coming out of college...most of us high on him. I went to a few game this year and he is a fat boy that needs to lose some baby fat still.

I honestly think he has the potential, but he needs a trainer to change his freakin body this off-season. I know for a fact if he was serious he could drop 20lbs of fat and replace with muscle....or just add the muscle and get to 300 lbs.

I'm not as sour on him as most, but he must be stronger and in better shape in TC....

That sounds like the exact opposite of everything I've ever heard about him...the media portrays him as a workout warrior...I don't see how you could know for a fact how much weight he could or couldn't add to his frame, have YOU ever added 20 lbs of muscle to your frame in 5 months? It's not all that easy, and yes, I have done it. I didn't start off at 280 though.

 

[lspain1]

That sounds like the exact opposite of everything I've ever heard about him...the media portrays him as a workout warrior...I don't see how you could know for a fact how much weight he could or couldn't add to his frame, have YOU ever added 20 lbs of muscle to your frame in 5 months? It's not all that easy, and yes, I have done it. I didn't start off at 280 though.

Hmmmm....sounds like a job for the cream and the clear if you ask me!

 

[InmanRoshi]

Pretty good player, poor value. Someone is going to be buying Google at $450 a share with this guy.

 

[iceberg]

he's too young. it's quite possible he'd be able to play through his entire contact and where the heck would that leave us then????

 

[Portland Fanatic]

That sounds like the exact opposite of everything I've ever heard about him...the media portrays him as a workout warrior...I don't see how you could know for a fact how much weight he could or couldn't add to his frame, have YOU ever added 20 lbs of muscle to your frame in 5 months? It's not all that easy, and yes, I have done it. I didn't start off at 280 though.

20 lbs of muscle would be difficult, but possible if he started when the season was over...not to mention he's paid to be in that kind of shape.

Have you seen him in person? If so, you'd know what I'm talking about...he's soft!

 

[gbrittain]

he's too young. it's quite possible he'd be able to play through his entire contact and where the heck would that leave us then????

Post of the day!

 

[InmanRoshi]

he's too young. it's quite possible he'd be able to play through his entire contact and where the heck would that leave us then????

Again, obviously you only care about age. I care more about value. You don't mind Google at $450 a share, because its Google. Its the hot commodity. You gotta have it. I try to look for better value so I can spread my dollar to other areas. I don't think blowing our entire cap wad this offseason on a $14 million dollar signing bonus for 1 player on the OL (and not even our biggest area of need on the OL) is necessarily a wise strategy. You probably think differently. That's okay.

He could see the entirity of his contract, but its also entirely likely that he'll be released once he reaches the heavy base final years of his contract, and the team will take on deadmoney in exchange for immediate cap relief, like so many other former big contract guys have been today.

 

[Rush 2112]

What happened last time Eagles tried to buy a championship?

Kearse vs Ellis sacks last 2 years?

Nice try.

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

Again, obviously you only care about age. I care more about value. You don't mind Google at $450 a share, because its Google. Its the hot commodity. You gotta have it. I try to look for better value so I can spread my dollar to other areas. I don't think blowing our entire cap wad this offseason on a $14 million dollar signing bonus for 1 player on the OL (and not even our biggest area of need on the OL) is necessarily a wise strategy. You probably think differently. That's okay.

He could see the entirity of his contract, but its also entirely likely that he'll be released once he reaches the heavy base final years of his contract, and the team will take on deadmoney in exchange for immediate cap relief, like so many other former big contract guys have been today.

So let's spend millions on 35 year old guys like Rivera and Mawae instead who we know will give us cap damage and may not be able to play even one healthy year. Yeah, this all makes so much sense. Offensive line is the biggest problem. Both of our guards will be gone next year. The man is about to enter his prime. What a terrible signing.

I see 2004 all over again.

 

[InmanRoshi]

So let's spend millions on 35 year old guys like Rivera and Mawae instead who we know will give us cap damage and may not be able to play even one healthy year. Yeah, this all makes so much sense.

Or better yet, let's sign another Aaron Glenn to a 2 year contract and watch him outperform a 26 year old Fred Smoot who was paid 3 times more than his effective value because he was declared the "it boy" of the offseason.

We can use that $10 to $12 million we saved to address other positions.

 

[Manster68]

Or better yet, let's sign another Aaron Glenn to a 2 year contract and watch him outperform a 26 year old Fred Smoot who was paid 3 times more than his effective value because he was declared the "it boy" of the offseason.

We can use that $10 to $12 million we saved to address other positions.

 

[PacoReloaded]

he's too young. it's quite possible he'd be able to play through his entire contact and where the heck would that leave us then????

I'm with you. I'd much rather pay for a player entering his prime rather than an old player with his best days far behind him and on top of that overpaying for them.

If you're going to pay for a player pay for one who has his best days ahead of him.. and for crying out loud we need to stop paying players for what they did years ago.