WQAM's Big O reports Lecharles Bentley is now seriously being considered

Bentley wants to play guard. If we bring him in, and he's fully healthy, then either guard spot is his; I don't think Smiley will mind moving if Sparano wants Bentley at LG. That said, I doubt it'll happen. Our issue is depth at tackle, not guard.

 

Bring him in! The guy was incredible when healthy and is well worth the risk.

 

Seth McKinney's knee is coming around slowly, he has been knocked around pretty consistently in Training Camp, if we bring in Bentley, it could mean Seth is moving to the IR.

 

I would rather have Bentley than the guy who I wont mention as there are a million threads on!

 

I wouldn't mind bringing him in if he's healthy. I think he would make a great addition to the line if the coaches feel that Thomas isnt ready to start yet.

 

Bentley? Meh...for what? I agree with Desides the team needs tackle depth. The team already has a center in Satele.

 

I would think they'd want Bentley to play LG, moving Smiley back to his familiar RG spot. They just want a veteran presence next to Long and the guys we have just don't fit that bill, without moving Smiley...

 

It's Steve, Seth has been gone for a while now.

 

I would be against it. I would rather let Thomas play his way into being a pro. By all accounts one of the knocks is experience, and he won't get it watching a supposed malcontent play. He needs to be in there, right now.

I saw one game that Thomas played and he jumped off the screen at me, usually when that happens it means something. I know that sounds rather filled with self importance but I trust my gut implicitly.

 

i was a big fan of bringing him in when the saints let him go but i am liking the news of how donald thomas is doing at guard and while it seems we are at more pressing need at the tackle position depth we are in the same boat with the gaurd spot..who after smiley and thomas are really looking good? really nobody. atleast if bently is brought in it makes us better at one possibly 2 positions. even our center position lacks in depth..after satele theres mckinney who is having trouble both with his knee and blocking.

we could have bentley at gaurd while thomas gets a yr under or we could have bentley backing up both g/c(which reports are he doesnt want to be a back-up) or if we can talk him into playing center(afterall a job is a job)and move satele over (his original position was gaurd at hw)with thomas still getting a yr under.

 

Does Jake Long have a hook for a right arm in your sig? Kingpin style?

 

I think Bentley would be playing LG

 

Yeah, I'd be interested in bringing Bentley back but I like Thomas a lot. We're not going anywhere this year so it wouldn't be all that bad if Thomas struggled a bit. He has constantly been praised this off-season for being heavy and strong. Also, it would play into Parcells quote of the young players developing together.

 

Then where does that leave Smiley? The big FA acquisition. He hasn't been that impressive in camp but I'm sure they want him starting come season opener.

 

Which means that Smiley would be playing RG and Thomas would be without a spot.

 

If he hasn't been playing well in camp, then he will need to beat out Bentley.

 

Not if Thomas is outplaying Smiley.

 

I highly doubt that the FO is going to bench one of their big offseason investments for a rookie. As well as Thomas, Langford and Merling are doing, I don't see the FO starting them over the vets. That could all change later on in the season if the vets aren't getting the job done, but for now I think they're safe.

 

I think the FO is going to start the best players, whether they be rookies, UDFAs, or bums off the street. If they let a guy like Smiley just have the job because he is paid more, then you are telling Smiley and the team that poor play is acceptable if you are a high priced FA.

 

Where are people getting the impression that Smiley hasn't played well? I've not heard one negative comment on him. If we bring in Bentley its simply because we want a veteran instead of the rookie. And if Bentley is healthy (which is a huge "if") he's a top guard in this league.

 

With all due respect to everyone's opinion; I can't understand why anyone would be against bringing in a player if he improves the position right now
Bentley is 29. He's been to a couple of pro bowls.
If he's a better center than Satele why wouldn't you want him to start? The same holds true at G.
Typically rookies/developing players get their live game experience in pre-season and in regular season garbage time.
I understand building for the future, but I don't understand sacrificing the present for a future that may or may not include winning. It's not as if we would be sacrificing the future for the present in signing a guy like Bentley.
Right now look at our OL roster and tell me that Bentley wouldn't help it.

 

I haven't read anything from anyone saying that Smiley has played poorly, let alone so poorly that he is in danger of losing his starting spot. So that would mean that Thomas is the odd man out and by all accounts he is doing really well and getting the attention of the defensive players. I think we should stick with what we have and let the young players develop.

 

We are a rebuilding team, if we already have young players at those positions that are doing well, why bring in older players that will only stunt their growth and development?

 

I read a few things previously regarding Smiley getting thrown to the ground and generally being unimpressive. If these reports are true about our interest in Bentley, it would confirm that.

 

Because not everyone is of the opinion that it would stunt their development. Some would say that competition breeds excellence.

 

If healthy, Bentley is an upgrade to any teams Offensive Line. However, Miami or whoever signs him better bring him in quick.

 

Not to sound like a dick, but do you have a link on that? I'd like to read it because I totally missed it.

If we bring Bentley in it's because the FO wants him to start over a rookie.

 

So does experience and these guys aren't going to get experience by riding the pine.

 

If you have a Bentley, there's no way you can be seen driving a Honda, even if the Honda gets the job done.

 

If he's healthy, it's a no-brainer, you bring him in.

He'll be a major improvement to the line and you'll see Ronnie and Ricky really start to win some games for us from day one.

If you add Chad Pennington as well, I think some will be surprised just how many games we win this year.

 

I guess thats where we disagree. There is plenty of experienced gained by being a backup in the league.

 

My thoughts exactly. Bentley is a sure-fire upgrade over the G depth we have (Darilek, Murphy, Byrne, etc). However, given Donald Thomas' strong taking to RG, it'd be hard for me to move him to backup if I were Tony Sparano...just a thought.

As far as tackle depth, my $ is still on Pat McQuistan or whomever the odd man out in Dallas happens to be.

 

IMO there is something going on with McKinney that has not been published yet.Either he is not recovering from his injury or there is another issue involved.

I think thats one of the reasons that there has been so much interest in adding another OL since the draft.Sosa has been mentioned as well as Bentley .

 

Agreed and if he's truly struggling, it could be because he's been at LG and he's really a RG...I haven't heard anything negative about Smiley...

Ironic how the OL issues have dwarfed the QB battle going on...

 

OL issues?

There really haven't been that many.

Smiley has been ok, Thomas has done well, Satele decent, Long good, and Carey great.

What's the major issue? Depth?

 

yeah, we're ridiculously thin at tackle.

 

I expect someone to be signed still out of a TC battle that was lost. It's a problem, but not as bad as our WR performances after Hagan-Ginn.

 

About a month ago I had heard that Bentley was no where near healthy. Reportedly, he was running the 40 in the 7s. That's not what you want from a pulling guard. You don't need them to be sprinters but you need the offense to work in time. A time that slow is probably the result of him just not being healthy. That was reportedly the reason why he was cut and that nobody signed the young probowl lineman. I wonder if he's recovered or if the Big O is just hearing he's healthy from Bentley's agent.