One of the biggest offseason mysteries has been the lack of clarification on the future of former New England Patriots captain Ja’Whaun Bentley, who was released by the team back in March.
The arrival of newly-hired head coach Mike Vrabel came with sweeping changes for a team that still felt deeply rooted in the old Bill Belichick ways of doing things. Even Jerod Mayo’s one-and-done run as coach felt like a chip off the old block given how closely he worked with the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach before getting promoted as his replacement.
Players like Bentley, Jonathan Jones, David Andrews, Joe Cardona and Deatrich Wise Jr. were the last remaining remnants of the old guard that Vrabel was clearly looking to move away from. Andrews decided to retire from football, but Jones, Cardona and Wise all found jobs elsewhere in the NFL, while Bentley remains the lone unsigned free agent.
Bentley suffered a season-ending torn pectoral muscle in Week 2 of the 2024 season. Unless he’s run into some complications, one would think he’d be 100 percent and ready to go at this point. Bentley might not have been a scheme fit for Vrabel’s vision in New England, but he is still one of the more talented linebackers in the league. If he’s ready to go, surely, someone will come knocking.
With that said, Bentley might simply be playing the long game and waiting for the best opportunity to open up. The season hasn’t started yet, and teams will still be looking to sign players throughout training camp.
As a free agent, Bentley will be in a position to pick the best possible opportunity for himself and his family.
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