LeCharles Bentley

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LeCharles Bentley
Date of birth	November 7, 1979
Place of birth	Cleveland, OH
Position(s)	Center
College	Ohio State\|
NFL Draft	2002 / Round 2/ Pick 44
Pro Bowls	2003, 2005
Statistics	Pro Football Reference NFL.com DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
2002-2005 2006-Present	New Orleans Saints Cleveland Browns

LeCharles Vernon Bentley (born November 7, 1979 in Cleveland, Ohio) is a National Football League center for the Cleveland Browns.

He played high school football at St. Ignatius High School in downtown Cleveland and went on to play college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes under head coach John Cooper. Bentley won the 2001 Rimington Trophy as college football's best center.

He was drafted as the 44th overall pick in 2002 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints and was signed to a four year deal worth $2.95 million. He excelled at the guard position in his first two seasons, being named Sports Illustrated's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2002 and earning a spot in the 2003 Pro Bowl a season later. In the 2004 season he moved back to his native center position and went on to earn a spot in the 2004 Pro Bowl at that position. He left the Saints saying he would rather sit out the season than play with them again.[1]

After backing out of an unofficial agreement with the Philadelphia Eagles ^[1], Bentley signed with the Browns in 2006, and was regarded by ESPN as the top-rated free agent. He is the highest paid center in NFL history.

Bentley suffered a serious knee injury in training camp on July 27, 2006 during the first 11 on 11 training camp session. Browns general manager Phil Savage has confirmed Bentley suffered a torn patellar tendon, which will keep him out for the entire season. In Feburary 2007 it was revealed that Bentley will need more surgery on his left patellar tendon that would cost him the 2007 NFL season and possibly end his career.[2]

On 20 December, 2006, Bentley presented his alma mater, St. Ignatius High School, with a check for $100,000. The money will be used for scholarships, which will be named after his mother.