Conscience decision on the part of the Front Office. Bently could have been tagged. But the problem with tagging an interior lineman is that their salaries are the same as tackles who make the big money on the offensive line.

SFIAH

Mangold at #34, if he lasts that long, or Mawae for one year.

It's obvious the guy doesn't want to be here... screw him. Let the Eagles over pay for him. Mawae, Flanigan, Mitchell... doesn't matter, we'll be fine w/o him. He was an over rated center anyways. Use our 4th rounder and pick up Ross from BC and plug him in there... if he isn't quite ready, plug in one of those vets listed above for a year.

I totally agree with papz. We could pick up a center later in the draft and plug him in. We could also get a vet just in case. We could then add Leinart and a LB like Bobby Carpenter with our first to picks and pick up Bart Scott of Baltimore and a run-stuffing DT in Free-agency.

He says he wants to be here, and I think I believe him. No the Saitns never really tried to keep him, so why shold he stay where we don't wanna pay him? Over rated Center? He was a Pro Bowler, plus outta position over everything else. How many times do you see a run play and when its almost over you still see Bentley poushing people, trying to help out?

Bentley has maintained throughout this offseason that he was disappointed the Saints did not sign him to a long-term contract extension before he became a free agent. Earlier this week, he made his strongest comment yet, telling CBSSportsline that, "I would rather sit out a season than play for the Saints again."

I say let him go!! with an attitiude like that, we dont need that kinda thing on this team right now. there are already enough problems on this football team and we dont need another one.



http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...7357141580.xml

Ding ding! Read dbonlilv's post.

How is he playing out of his position when center is his natural position? He played center in college and was drafted as our center of the future. When he got here, Fontenot was still a good center so we moved Bentley to guard. So what if he was a ProBowler... I certainly didn't feel he deserved it playing center. In my opinion, he made it because of name like Charles Woodson has many times. It's a popularity contest. Is he a better guard? Hell yea. Should we overpay him to play center? Hell no.

I don't know if you watched the Saints and Falcons game last season but I definately saw Bentley get manslaughtered right up the middle by 7th round rookie draft picks over and over again. It was like he was giving up on plays in that game and I made up my mind after that.

Everyone knows he can't adjust the line to the way the defense is, OG is his more natural position IMO and everyone elses. I didn't wanna franchise him, and I want him long term.

I never saw that on dbonlilv's post, from what I have seen he really wanted back. I suck at trying to make a arguement to keep some players who are actually good :oops: :oops:

Don't get me wrong now... I think he's good. But if he's the top OL on the free agent market as everyone is saying, he's going to command very big dollars. What we should have done was lock him up last year, but oh well. Now it's going to cost us both arms and legs to keep him. I'll be sad to see him go but he's definately replaceable with much cheaper and effective options. Blame the front office... hopefully the same thing will not happen to Will Smith down the road. Re-work his deal now to keep him happy because he's going to cost more later down the road.

It's funny how it seems every time the Saints let a proven pro bowl vet go, a select group of fans seem to have to problem with it. They always say we can just sign this guy and draft that guy and we'll be ok. When was the last time it ever happened like that??? Glover? Roaf? Fields? Turley? Sure a couple of those guys aren't pro bowlers but they were very good when they were here, and we let them go for nothing. These guys we never adequately replaced. The good teams know who their good players are and retain them. I would've much rather we resigned Bentley last year and let Horn go. The front office continues to have their priorities mixed up.