Countdown to Kickoff: LeCharles Bentley is the Saints Player of Day 65
The New Orleans Saints are a 65-day wait away from the 2025 regular season opener. New Orleans will host the Arizona Cardinals to kick off this season, their 59th in the NFL. They'll do it under new head coach Kellen Moore after a 5-12 record in 2024. There is no current player wearing No. 65 on the Saints roster. Therefore, we've dubbed former offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley as our Saints Player of the Day and taken a look back at his career here.
An all-state selection at the famed St. Ignatius High School in Ohio, Bentley merely trekked across the state for his collegiate destination. He was an instant contributor and a letterman in all four years with the Buckeyes. Bentley received second-team All-Big 10 recognition in 2000 before going on to essentially sweep the offensive line awards as a senior. In 2001, he was first-team All-Big 10, a consensus All-American, Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, and the recipient of the Rimington Award given annually to the best center in college football.
New Orleans selected Bentley with the 12th choice in Round 2 and the 44th overall pick in the 2002 NFL draft. He'd win a starting guard spot in training camp and started 14 games as a rookie, getting named to the 2002 All-Rookie Team. Bentley started 13 games in 2003, earning the first Pro Bowl of his career. The following season, Bentley was moved to his collegiate position of center. He'd be at that spot for the Saints for the next two years, starting 30 games in the middle and earning another Pro Bowl in 2005.
After ending the 2005 campaign on injured reserve, Bentley would hit free agency and vowed his refusal to return to the Saints. He'd instead sign a six-year contract with the Cleveland Browns. Bentley wouldn't play a down in 2006 after injuring the patellar tendon in his knee during training camp. Complications after surgery, including a near diagnosis of amputation of the leg, resulted in Bentley also missing the 2007 season. As it turned out, he'd never play football again.
LeCharles Bentley's last down of football came in a New Orleans Week 15 loss to the Carolina Panthers during the 2005 season. Bentley played four seasons with the Saints, starting all of his 57 games played. He is tied with Senio Kelemete as second only to Chris Naeole (67) in games played for the Saints in number 65.
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