Eagle-eyed fan adogbtown noticed an unpublicized recent change to the six-year, $36 million contract of LeCharles Bentley.
The injured center’s deal now ends after next season, after which he would presumably be a free agent.
The logical impetus for this move from the Browns’ perspective, is
- to accelerate the cap hit for Bentley’s initial signing bonus into the near term, when they have space to spare, without having to release him.
- to adjust to the new reality that it’s doubtful Bentley will be worth the high annual salaries called for in the original deal.
Bentley’s motivation, it stands to reason, is
- to get whatever bonuses or incentives may have been added in this unannounced restructuring
- to avoid the possibility being released outright.
If he comes back to play next season, there’s still ample time to reach a new deal if both sides are amenable. If not, it will go down as perhaps the most devastating injury-related disappointment in Browns history. The recent signing of a young center, Greg Eslinger, to fill injured guard Seth McKinney’s roster spot may be instructive.
The silent restructuring apparently took place around the time it was determined Bentley would not be activated from the PUP list this season. The same stealth strategy was earlier employed in the case of Gary Baxter, who will now become a free agent this off-season. He played in just eight games since signing a six-year deal that included a $10.5 million signing bonus in 2005.
