Patriots Player Departure Bentley released

[Ross12]

I have a tough time believing that they couldn’t even get a 6th rounder for him.

They most likely could have gotten a very late pick, but chances are that Vrabel respected him as a former captain and instead let him go for free so he can go sign wherever he wants before he hits 30 instead of being stuck wherever he got traded to. If someone was willing to send like a 3rd or 4th, or if trading him made a big difference from a money standpoint then yeah they'd have traded him - but if it's a super late pick they just do him a favor instead.

 

[gobesmug]

He was a team captain. Maybe they felt it was more respectful and better for locker room culture to release him then to trade him for a 7th rd pick?

 

[maust]

Only about $3.5M in dead money (and $1.9M in cap space gained) this year if he's a June 1st designation cut.

Or, if they can manage to trade him, it's only $4.3M in dead money and $1.1M in cap space gained. Changes if done post-June 1st also.

Generally I've found OTC is more reliable on the cost to cut a player. Where are your numbers coming from?

 

[Rob0729]

I really like Bentley, but he is a bad scheme fit for the Vrabel defense. He is a big and not particularly fast LB. Vrabel's system usually looks for LBs about 20lbs lighter and much faster.

Even coming off of injury, I would expect he might have some trade value. So I am hoping if he is leaving, it is via trade.

 

[TommyD4207]

I really like Bentley, but he is a bad scheme fit for the Vrabel defense.

Even coming off of injury, I would expect he might have some trade value. So I am hoping if he is leaving, it is via trade.

I'm going to echo some of the other posters here. I think Vrabel did him a solid letting him pick his new team, rather than getting pick 232 from someone. That **** does matter long-term.

 

[maust]

He was a team captain. Maybe they felt it was more respectful and better for locker room culture to release him then to trade him for a 7th rd pick?

If he's well thought of in the room that has merit. Outside of doing him a solid and/or how it may impact the room there's not much incentive to do it now

 

[Ross12]

Generally I've found OTC is more reliable on the cost to cut a player. Where are your numbers coming from?

OTC. We're talking about Tavai. I think you may be talking about Bentley...

 

[Rob0729]

 

[PowerRunRevival]

with the amount of cap space they have available I’m not really sure of the need to save $5 mm in salary by cutting him. I’d prefer they have at least given him the opportunity to compete for snaps/a roster spot in training camp.

Before this move I thought they were all set at backer and going to avoid to position in the draft. Now I think they absolutely draft a linebacker.

 

[JayNM]

Im surprised, thought he brought something different than other LB

But yeah, no one would trade a pick for him, at his best, Bentley was an ok player

Seems like a good one personality wise

 

[TommyD4207]

with the amount of cap space they have available q

This is more about playing time than cap space.

 

[Patsgofor4]

Don't like seeing him go but seems like Vrabel prefers smaller, more athletic LBs. He shouldn't have trouble finding a new home but the timing kind of sucks for him.

 

[Joey007]

Im surprised, thought he brought something different than other LB

But yeah, no one would trade a pick for him, at his best, Bentley was an ok player

Seems like a good one personality wise

I think he’s really similar to Spillane. I think Spillane is Vrabes new Bentley. (Or whatever luxury vehicle he prefers)

 

[ViperGTS]

The Chiefs will sign him I bet.

 

[TommyD4207]

The Chiefs will sign him I bet.

Possibly. I think the Bengals might be the best fit for him.

 

[Love The Drake]

Possibly. I think the Bengals might be the best fit for him.

Good call out, I was thinking Steelers or Ravens.

 

[JohnJH]

I stated the other day in the Bentley thread that even if he lost weight to be faster and quicker, that it wouldn't automatically translate to him being so. And that if the team saw him as not what they envision for what they want for an ILB, that he'd be cut or traded. So, there you go.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

This team is going to look very, very different. I'd trade Tavai though. Get his ass out of here.

why bc of the comment he made?

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I stated the other day in the Bentley thread that even if he lost weight to be faster and quicker, that it wouldn't automatically translate to him being so. And that if the team saw him as not what they envision for what they want for an ILB, that he'd be cut or traded. So, there you go.

I figured Tavai would be the first to go versus Bentley, since Bentley is just plain better at what he does, is a team captain, and doesn’t have PR controversy around him. But for cap impact Bentley was easier to let go of. Guess that’s the route they chose. Good luck to him going forward, but very interesting that we’re now down 5 captains from last year (Bentley, Wise, Brissett, J Jones, Andrews).

 

[signbabybrady]

If he's actually gone, he'll be someone I remember fondly to be sure. Dude worked himself from one of the worst pass-coverage LBs in the league to something resembling passable. That's impressive for someone his size.

I second this sentiment. Stars obviously drive the game but glue guys like Bentley just strike a cord with me as the players that you connect with in a different way. Jonathan Jones and Wise were a lot like that too. Vrabel going to have to groom some of his own guys like this.

I guess at the end of the day He was a little big for Vrabel's system and I guess he wanted his own guys.

I'd like to see Mapu at LB. I always felt he'd have a bigger impact as a coverage backer than a SS.