Bentley apparently IS at the Novacare Center this morning

[PhillyPhreak54]

He also apparently said that he wanted Cleveland all along because everyone in his family lives there and he's from there and grew up a huge Browns fan. Also said all of his boys were calling him to ask why cleveland and he said that is where he wants to be/.

[PhillyPhreak54]

From PhilaFans

These are actual quotes. I listened to the press conference online and transcribed these. If you want to confirm he said these things then go to the Browns website and listen to the press conference.

LB: "This has been my dream...this is a dream come true. I played my high school ball at [some random Clev based high school], I played my college ball at The Ohio State, and I have to...this is my dream right here...[he unbuttons his suit coat and has a Browns jersey on underneath]...so I'm a happy man. I can die happy."

Q&A session - you can't hear the questions being asked due to no microphone in the audience, but here's some relevant quotes:

LB: "there was no truth to that...you know how the internet is, but there was no truth to that"

LB: "there was a lot of teams that were interested, but when THE BROWNS called, is...when...you know your dreams are becoming a reality"

Not quotes, but Bentley's parents were there with him and he talked about how he can go grocery shopping for his 85 year old dad now and that he has two boys there in the area, so he's very happy to be able to be close to all of them logistically.

LB: "There were a lot of options out there, but this is where I WANTED to be. I WANTED to be here. This is where my roots are, and this is where I WANTED to be."

[mpmcgraw]

Interesting the way he idolizes the Browns even if it is his hometown.

He realizes their logo is "The mistake by the lake" right?

[SunMo]

it's so embarassing, after reading his quotes, how obvious it is that he used the Eagles to set the market high for himself.  he wanted Cleveland the whole time and the Eagles made sure he got paid for it. 

[Wingspan]

Losing out on Bentley is awful enough... but to lose out on Bentley and have nothing in the works is beyond words.  They better have some shtein brewing right now. 

they dont.

we know this by now.

[California Eagle]

Just another example how it has become more of a business than a sport.

[mussa]

well if i were an athlete, i'd rather be on a team that has potential to win a superbowl, but aparently some players would rather rack in the bucks. u know what, if he's that kind of player...then farg him...we don't need him.

[bobbyinlondon]

From another MB about what LeCharles said in his PC:

Never had deal with Birds.

Cleveland was where he wanted to go all along.

Eagles were part of his backup plan with GB and MIA.

Story of no doctor BS. Story of backing out of verb agreement with Birds BS. No contact with anyone from eagles

IF this is true, how did so many think it was a done deal? 

He farged the Eagles, and now is trying to deny it.

Mutherfarging farger Mcfarginess.

According to Brookover's article in Sunday's Inky, it WAS ONE OF BENTLEY'S FRIENDS AND TWO UNIDENTIFIED LEAGUE SOURCES that said there was a deal in place withthe Eagles. Bentley's agent has denied there was even a thought about the Eagles, saying that Cleveland was where he wanted to be all the time.

[Don Ho]

well if i were an athlete, i'd rather be on a team that has potential to win a superbowl, but aparently some players would rather rack in the bucks. u know what, if he's that kind of player...then farg him...we don't need him.

Thank you.  It took 14 pages on this topic for someone to say farg him.  I agree.  Kiss my ass Bentley, who needs you, let's move on.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I have no problem with Bentley, after sleeping on it.  No matter what happened before free agency started, he had a right to go to his first choice team and get an offer, and he had a right to sign it.

The Eagles could still massively improve the offensive line by giving Runyan an offer and getting Mawae, Hutchinson, or even a guy like Stephen Neal from the Pats.

[ice grillin you]

"gold standard" = "mission accomplished"

[Rome]

After all is said and done, I'm neither pissed off at the Eagles nor Bentley.

He had every right to sign where he wanted to sign.  He signed with his hometown team, for God's sake.  How many of you would jump at the chance to sign for millions of dollars to play for the Eagles?

He obviously had no intention of signing in Philly.  If he used the Eagles front office to get a deal from the Browns, that's fine.  Good luck to him in Cleveland.  He'll certainly need it playing for that laughingstock of a franchise.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

KFFL:

Vikings | Team working on offer sheet for Hutchinson
Sun, 12 Mar 2006 05:14:21 -0800

Sean Jensen, of the Pioneer Press, reports Seattle Seahawks transition free agent OG Steve Hutchinson (Seahawks) is expected to visit with the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, March 12. The Seahawks placed the transition tag on Hutchinson, limiting his mobility in free agency, but the Vikings are enamored with Hutchinson and are believed to be working on an offer, which the Seahawks would have seven days to match.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

All factors considered, I think the Eagles weakest spots on the line for the upcoming season are Center and Right Tackle, as of now.  Andrews was still playing back into shape last year, but I think he's solid at RG, and I really like Clarke at LG and think his ceiling is way high.  Jackson isn't quite there yet at C, and Fraley is overmatched physically.  The hole at RT can't be ignored.

Besides the obvious solution of making a run at Mawae to play C for a year or two and re-signing Runyan, I was thinking of other possible options.  One thing I came up with was Mike Williams, cut by Buffalo.  Guy was a beast and a top-5 pick coming out of college and never caught on right with the Bills.  I wonder if he could be a possibility at RT.

Still, I'd rather re-sign big Jon if nothing else.

[ice grillin you]

i just decided i want bently to pull a wendell davis this year