While it’s very encouraging that LeCharles Bentley’s surgeon has cleared him to continue his football career, I’m not getting my hopes up for any meaningful on-field contribution from this local lineman in 2007.
In fact, the rather odd nature of his relationship to the team since his catastrophic knee injury last July may be set to come into more public view in coming days. The upshot may not be nearly as touchy-feely as suggested by the iconic photo of him sporting the Browns jersey upon his 2006 free agency signing.
As LCB told the MKC of the PD yesterday: “It doesn’t really matter to me what another doctor says at this point.”
Hmmm. That “another doctor” is no pro forma second opinion. It is the all-important judgment of the Browns medical staff, whose care Bentley has eschewed for the bulk of his traumatic ordeal.
Quite simply, if the Browns docs don’t pass him, he cannot practice, not even in no-contact drills. He can work out and attend meetings, but he won’t see the field during training camp. He won’t be making line calls. The coaches won’t be walking him through anything.
However, if and when he does get the green light to practice, he becomes ineligible for the reserve-PUP (physically unable to perform) list, which provides a roster exemption for the first six to nine weeks of the season. That means the Browns would have to count him as part of their 53-man roster if they want him to play at all this season.
This has the makings for a pretty serious conflict.
You’ve got a very motivated star player in Bentley, who wants and expects to be playing his preferred position of center for most if not all of the season. And you’ve got a coaching staff implementing a new offense who has seen very little if any of him. (Does he even have the playbook yet?) They want to protect their potentially $36 million investment for the long term, while also fielding a revamped line that needs to start fast by winning some big games in September.
The makings of a heavyweight training camp storyline are in place.
I’m, of course, hoping for the best, which may mean that Bentley is coaxed to accept a more limited role early on, going on PUP with the hope of stepping into the lineup, perhaps at right guard, by mid-season.
