A Bentley in the future?
June 12th, 2008 – 4:07 PM by Judd ZulgadThe website ProFootballTalk.com speculated on Wednesday that recently-released LeCharles Bentley (Cleveland Browns) could be the next starting center for the Vikings in part because Matt Birk might be entering his final season with the franchise.
Vikings coach Brad Childress was attending the team’s annual golf tournament today at Rush Creek, so we got a chance to ask about Bentley. “I haven’t even sat down and looked at his … it’s out of my mind where he was at,” Childress said. “I know way back when the Eagles were interested in him and the Browns were. But I haven’t even sat down and grinded it through. We look at all those guys who come off the wire.”
Update: Jonathan Feinsod, who is Bentley’s agent, said today that about 10 teams have expressed interest in his client but would not name any of them.
The Eagles made a run at Bentley in 2006 — the same year Childress left Philly to come to Minnesota — and PFT’s reasoning is that Childress might have been part of the Eagles contingent that liked Bentley when preparation for the free-agent period was going on. Bentley, though, ended up with the Browns. He suffered a knee injury in the 2006 training camp and then had a staph infection. Bentley also sat out 2007 and left Cleveland without having played a down.
“You’d have to know something,” Childress said. “You’d have to know how he heals, put hands on him [to do an examination] and then you’d have to have a need.”
Birk is entering the last year of his contract and has yet to be approached about an extension. He hasn’t attended any of the Vikings’ voluntary workouts this offseason in part because of his contract situation and in part because he wanted to spend time with his family. Birk’s wife, Adrianna, gave birth to the couple’s fourth child on Thursday. (Grant Matthew Birk weighed in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces.)
“You always keep a book on all those guys,” Childress said when asked if he might want to take a look at Bentley. “You’re not going to workout a guy like that because he’s a vested veteran but we always keep a book on all those things. Right now we’ve got a lot of guys who are able to snap the football, which is rare. From the Ryan Cooks and Anthony Herreras to the John Sullivans and the Matt Birks. It’s a good thing that those guys have the ability do that because usually guys can multi-task at positions but it’s not always at the center.”
– Thursday’s tournament, which included several current and former players, raised about $100,000 for the Vikings Children’s Fund.
– Childress and Jared Allen both appeared on Chad Hartman’s show on KFAN Radio from Rush Creek today. Here are the interviews if you want to listen.
83 Responses to "A Bentley in the future?"
The guy hasn’t played in 2 years.
I would stick with Birk.
Smooter is the man.
GO Vikes
You suck Tan Ghost dork.
Kevin Seifert was the worst blogger of all time. Axe Murderer is not as horrible, but still terrible.
Seifert=packer sell out
I don’t think that would be a good move at all. Take a guy who has been injured for two years and expect him to start? replacing a perrenial pro bowler that is performing fine in his later seasons? Bad move.
I say award Birk an extension this season, so he can retire a Viking. We have a solid core of players that want to end their carreers here (sharper, birk, P Williams, S Hutch), and we need to take advantage of that.
“Grant Matthew Birk weighed in at 7 pounds, 7 pounds.”
A 14 pound baby? I feel sorry for his wife.
Thrilling…… I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to hear if we go after Bently or not… whoopie doopie…..
And the part that chilli says he wants to put his hands on Bently is down right disturbing….
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!!
We should maybe sign Bentley and then trade Birk for Hank Basket? Hank could take us to the Super Bowl……not
Go Vikes
Snap,
Thanks for the catch on the weight of the Birk baby. It’s fixed.
Check out Judd on this webshow:
http://media.myfoxtwincities.com/livestream/webcast/archive.htm
It’s worth a look if Birk is on his way out after this season (which I kinda hope he isn’t). Bentley could be a steal if he can return to Pro-Bowl level play. Big if, I know.
I’m out.
the team needs a QB
Resigning Birk (and Sharper for that matter) is the way to go if it is at all affordable. In Birk’s case, if he was extended for 3 years that could make a decent transition to either Sullivan or Mozes, who both will likely not be starter material for 2 years. Going after Bentley after he’s missed two years is not a good idea, especially since due to the greater fool theory, there will be other teams bidding up the price.
Yeah, that makes sense…we don’t want Birk…but we’ll take Bentley.
running back Adrian Peterson underwent an emergency appendectomy Monday night.
Hey, I heard Benson is available…
Tan Ghost is the worst thing that has happened to this blog, to this city, to this state, country and probably the universe. You are a horrible blogger, just like Kevin Seifert.
HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TAR, why don’t you put BEARS Running Back Adrian Peterson next time. You scared the heck out of me. I woul like to keep Benson off this team.
Get Bentley. When healthy he is one of the top 5 center in the game…possibly even better than Birk
Bentley hasn’t played in two years and would have to get adjusted to new system and new linemates. Then there’s nagging question of why Bentley wanted to quit Brown and why Brown would let him leave. Chemistry with Birk was good last year although less than ProBowl play.
I suspect problem for Birk is that coaches view him as the clubhouse lawyer. As former player rep how can he help it? He’s a Tice guy.
Agree that with the backups available Vike should resign Matt Birk. Winning should take care of locker room issues.
Until Bentley proves he can play again, and stay healthy for the long term, any team that is putting it’s trust in him is taking a huge gamble, like trying to draw to an inside straight.
He was a good player before getting hurt. Until he shows he can play again, and at or near the same level as before, I wouldn’t want to see him taking up a roster spot.
I’d like to know exactly who’s responsible for Birk’s contract not being extended. Is it Childress ego getting in the way of good judgement again? Birk needs to be resigned NOW, especially in the light of all that’s gone on with McKinnie. He’s been a class act his entire career, but if things go wrong on Offense this year, I’m starting to think Childress will blame it on Birk, and treat him the same way he treated Brad Johnson.
Not resigning Birk is a stupid move.
A Blog about a Center…. gee when is the blog on our holder for FG’S and extra points??
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!!!!
A Blog about a Center…. gee when is the blog on our holder for FG’S and extra points??
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!!!!
Didn’t Bentley origninally play guard? Replace Herrera with Bentley.
Replace Tan Ghost with anyone. You are horrible.
Tan Ghost=no talent blogger. The only one close to as horrible as tan ghost is Kevin (packer sell out) Seifert
Bentley is Horrible!!!! Get real, seriously. Terrible.
Watch it.
Tan Ghost=pull the Judd Zulgad Axe out of your back already. You have the worst blog comments in the world and they never make any sense. Oh ya, replace Herrera with Bentley, right after the vikings just gave Herrera a big contact?? Do you ever sit back and think before you type something. You are just plain horrible.
Oh you will pay for that jerkpepper!
Tan Ghost: seriosly, you need to think before you comment on this blog. If I were you, I would probably never comment again and throw your computer in the garbage. You’re an trainwreck waiting to happen.
Oh, like I am scared Tan Ghost. What are you going to do take away my birthday? Oh, know tan ghost says I will pay, I’m so scared. I’m shaking.
You are not tough at all, bring it loser. You are horrible.
Tan Ghost=no talent blogger. You should throw your computer out the window and go back to the dumpster where you belong. Eat it.
VikingJ=amuzing himself…
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!!!!!
jer & tan, neither one of you has any more brains than ant spit… so maybe you should both go away, highly unlikely you’ll be missed….
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!
I’m pretty sure that’s illegal.
Buster: Maybe you should go away. You can go back to the dumpster as well. Eat it. Your posts are horrible too.
McKinnie, Hutchinson, Birk, Bentley, Cook = unstoppable
jerk, still using the old dumpster line… quite original… of course when you are as big of a dumbass as yourself I can see why….
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!!!
Fire Childress now isn’t very original either.
tan you dumbass, Bentley hasn’t played for 2 years…. what did you get “blessed” with “behold the power of wisvike”? Idiot…
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!!!
Peterson will rush for 2000 yards if the Vikings sign Bentley. Believe it or don’t.
I think I’ve seen McKinnie and Cook stopped many times, both of them are not very good
Ripley’s?
Believe it or not,
I’m walking on air.
I never thought I could feel so free-.
Flying away on a wing and a prayer.
Who could it be?
Believe it or not it’s just me.
FIRE BUSTER NOW!!!!!
What an idiot.
jerk, how many times a day do you do Tank Baskett??
FIRE CHILDRESS NOW !!!!!!!!
…and I say to myself…..
Man, Dana Carvey has had a little too much plastic surgery. He looks like a drag queen.
Seriously, I think the Vikings should make a run at Bentley.
Put Jerkpepper on the O line. He is too fat to play reciever and he has no hands.
Jerkpepper bruises easily and would not be able to play professional football. You can’t spend all of daddy’s money from a hospital bed.
Jerkpepper also wears girl cloths. Him and Buster Rhymes have tea parties together.
Although my name implies that I like rabbits, I actually prefer a good roll in the hay with sheep…… It’s bootylicious!
Thanks for sharing that Hoppy. What a wierdo.
Is Artis Hicks still on this team? Cut him immediately.
I like to bathe in used bath water. The scent of another mans sweaty body drives me CRAZY!
Tan Ghost & I like to have relations in the shower! HOPPY, can I join you in the hay with the sheep sometime?
Wow. Tan Ghost=Hoppy and both of you are little off.
To correct Buster, it’s Hank Baskett, not Tank Baskett, idiot.
FIRE BUSTER NOW!!!!
HEY! I want to get my gove on with you guys and the sheep too! Nuttin like a lil mutton bustin….. yum yum!
Someone thinks he is funny by impersonating me. Nice try Judd Zulgad you axe murderer.
Judd, maybe you should go back to eating someone’s face. Axe murderer
Just because one is an axe murderer does not make them a cannibal.
Hey Tan & HOPPY, I get to be in the middle in our next train. It’s my turn!!
How horrible of me to leave out that I give a good reach around.
Whoever is doing the impersonations needs to seek mental help. That is some disturbing stuff you are coming up with. I bet you have to register with the authorities whenever you move.
Sorry about that rant at 12:01.. I just get so jealous when I think about jerkpepper and HOPPY having relations without me. It makes me so very sad and I weep.
The most awesome feeling I have is when HOPPY,myself & jerkpepper hold hands and skip down the street singing Muskrat Love. Good times!
Nice impersonations of me, Judd. Horribles everywhere. Go back to sharping your axe.
I know it is painfully obvious of my love and passion for Judd. My feelings of love run deep for Judd. I wish he would marry me.
jerkpepper, what you just said about Judd hurts me. Last night, before HOPPY got there, when we were in the throngs of passion, you told me I was your one and only. You crushed me.
Not cool you 2.
I am deeply in love with jerkpepper & Tan Ghost. They are both good lovers.
It’s really me, some idiot (Judd Zulgad) is impersonating me. What an axe murderer.
Actually these impersonations are sort of funny.
Schizophrenic Hoppy is in town I guess.
Judd Zulgad…. I am burning up with desire for you!! Can I handle your axe? PLEASE!
That was pretty funny. Keep it up.
Impersonation me is really gay for some reason. (Judd Zulgad has some issues)
Impersonation Hoppy is also really gay.
Also Judd never asked me to marry him…
Seifert=horrible
Zulgad=terrible
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