The Bentley Factor

Well, by now I assume you have all heard the final news on LeCharles Bentley. The Pro Bowl center is gone for the year, having torn the patellar tendon in his left knee. An ominous silence fell over the practice field immediately after the incident, and soon after that, giant, dark storm clouds formed in the skies over Berea.

Bentley was the face of this year's free agent class. A Cleveland native, and former Ohio State Buckeye, Bentley was living his dream in playing for the Browns. And some reports have claimed the 6' 2" 309lb center actually cried the first time he put on the Browns uniform.

Bentley is the center this team has been looking for since their return in 1999. Big, nasty, tough, and a fearless leader, he's the kind of guy that teams build a line around.

Now it's Romeo Crennel's job to keep the team together, and make sure that the pall that fell over yesterday's practice isn't permanent.

Stepping into Bentley's place will be veteran free-agent pickup Bob Hallen. Hallen has played for the Falcons and Chargers in the past and has started before. He's also a Cleveland area native, having grown up in Mentor.

“(Hallen) is pretty strong,” Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. “He’s thick. He has some experience and some really good strength.

“He has versatility. He’s played in the league. We were looking for that center/guard combination and that’s why we signed him.”

But the injury to Bentley will have ripple effects over the entire offensive line. Hallen was to provide depth in case of injuries to either Joe Andruzzi or Cosey Coleman. With Hallen starting, that depth is gone. And now, young Isaac Sowells, taken in the 4th round of this year's draft will be faced with taking on that role. Dave Yovanovitz will also be in the mix.

GM Phil Savage has stated that the Browns will be shopping for additional free agent linemen to add depth to the depleted line.

For a team and fans that often feel cursed with serious injuries to star players (Winslow, Edwards, Courtney Brown, Verba, Miller, Faine, Couch, etc) it's yet another painful blow.