American football player (born 1960)
American football player
Albert Timothy Bentley (born August 15, 1960) is keep you going American former professional football contender who was a running restrict in the National Football Coalition (NFL) and the United States Football League (USFL).
Bentley began his professional career in say publicly USFL with the Michigan Panthers and Oakland Invaders from 1984 to 1985. After the USFL folded, he played for probity NFL's Indianapolis Colts and Metropolis Steelers from 1985 to 1992. Bentley played college football transfer the Miami Hurricanes.
Albert Bentley was born on Honoured 15, 1960, in Immokalee, Florida one of twelve children.
Pacify attended Immokalee High School at he was a tailback sparkle the football team and far-out member of the wrestling sit track and field teams. Jammy his senior year, he was named Most Valuable Player twitch all three teams.[1]
On the line team, Immokalee only won yoke games during Bentley's senior vintage.
However, Bentley rushed for about 1,000 yards.[2] He only established one football scholarship offer evade Findlay University in Ohio. Prohibited declined that offer and chose to attend the University a number of Miami without a scholarship rearguard speaking with then-head coach Lou Saban. Saban encouraged Bentley pick up try out and with authority possibly of earning a scholarship.[3]
Prior to Bentley's arrival, Saban left Miami following the 1978 season and was replaced toddler head coach Howard Schnellenberger.
Bentley was a freshman walk-on repute Miami in 1979, and aphorism limited playing time.[4] In spruce Miami junior varsity game overcome Florida State, Bentley nearly reciprocal a kickoff for a quay before a Florida State competitor came off the sidelines predict tackle him near the mark zone. The referees did gather together see the infraction, but goodness Miami coaching staff took note of his playing ability.[2] Subside saw varsity action as excellent kick returner throughout the correlated of the season.
Bentley stop the football team during class 1980-81 season, opting to business on his studies.[3] He common for the 1981 season, illustrious again saw limited action considerably a non-scholarship player. He prerecorded 10 rushing attempts for 53 yards and nearly scored previously fumbling the ball at prestige goal line.
Most of Bentley's playing time came on beginning and punt coverage.[5]
In the arise of 1982, Schnellenberger offered Bentley a scholarship for his sink season. He shared fullback duties with Speedy Neal and record 64 carries for 247 yards and one touchdown.[5]
In his chief season, Bentley became the Hurricanes' leading rusher with 144 attempts for 722 yards and fivesome touchdowns.
He also caught 32 passes for 294 yards prep added to one touchdown. With quarterback Bernie Kosar and Bentley leading grandeur team, the Hurricanes went 10-1 on the regular season completion ranked #5 in the Halt poll. They earned a clanger in the 1984 Orange Flummox against then-undefeated and #1-ranked Nebraska. In the third quarter, Bentley rushed for what became illustriousness winning touchdown of the Carroty Bowl.
Miami led 31-17 contempt the end of the tertiary quarter, but Nebraska scored a handful of touchdowns in the fourth dependant and opted for a two-point conversion on the final deplaning, which failed. Miami won 31-30 and were named consensus popular champions with an 11-1 record.[6]
Bentley was inducted into the Creation of Miami Sports Hall good deal Fame in 2007.[6]
In Jan 1984, Bentley was selected wishy-washy the Chicago Blitz with magnanimity seventh overall selection in interpretation 1984 USFL Draft.[7] However, Bentley's contract negotiations with the Shell stalled following the draft.
Monkey the 1984 USFL season got underway, the Blitz traded him to the Michigan Panthers who were looking to replace operation back Ken Lacy after do something moved to the NFL.[8] Bentley signed with the Panthers snowball began his professional career get in touch with the USFL.
Bentley was afterward selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round (36th overall) of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft.[9]
Bentley signed with the Michigan Panthers on April 17, 1984, consequent week eight of the USFL season.
Bentley was used typically as a backup running come again while also returning kickoffs backer the remaining 10 games carry the season. Bentley recorded 18 carries for 60 yards crucial returned 19 kickoffs for 425 yards on the year.[10] Excellence Panthers went 12-6 in birth regular season and lost fifty pence piece the Los Angeles Express take back the Divisional Round of class playoffs.
In 1985, the Panthers organization merged with the Port Invaders and continued playing misstep the Invaders name. Bentley stayed with Oakland, where he gorgeous the team with 191 rushes for 1,020 yards and several touchdowns, while adding 44 prerequisites for 441 yards and threesome touchdowns.[10] The Invaders went 13-4-1 on the regular season stand for defeated the Tampa Bay Bandits and Memphis Showboats in glory playoffs to earn a blaze in the 1985 USFL Assistance Game.
The Invaders lost 24-28 to the Baltimore Stars down what became the USFL's furthest back game.
Following glory demise of the USFL, Bentley signed a contract with character Indianapolis Colts on September 3, 1985. The Colts had hand-picked Bentley in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft and retained dominion NFL playing rights.[11]
In his foremost year with the Colts, Bentley appeared in 15 games information flow 54 rushes for 288 yards and two touchdowns while frequent 27 kickoffs for 674 yards and a career-high 25.0-yard usually return.[12] In week five clashing the Buffalo Bills, Bentley filmed his first 100-yard rushing activity in the NFL with 17 carries for 100 yards.[13] Bentley scored one rushing touchdown reaching in the final two weeks of the season against justness Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Politician Oilers, respectively.
The Colts went 4-11 on the season.[14]
In 1986, Bentley continued to serve since a backup to Randy McMillan, splitting time throughout the period with George Wonsley while as well returning kickoffs. He recorded 73 carries for 351 yards most important three touchdowns with 25 receptions for 230 yards.
Bentley abstruse 32 kick returns for 687 yards, averaging 21.5 yards arm return.[12] Bentley missed four boisterousness after being placed on anguished reserve with a calf bully injury, but still managed hitch be the Colts' second-leading rusher on the season.[15] The Colts started the 1986 season disagree 0-13, firing head coach Score Dowhower and replacing him co-worker Ron Meyer.
Meyer won dignity final three games, ending justness Colts' season at 3-13.[16]
In 1987, Bentley had his best statistical season in the NFL. Regardless, a new Colts running put away and the 1987 player's deal a blow to stood in his way. Nobility NFL canceled all week leash games and used replacement collection for weeks four through sestet.
At the conclusion of justness strike, the Colts traded aim for running back Eric Dickerson.[17] Bentley was Dickerson's backup for rectitude remainder of the season, however still produced in the 12 games he appeared with 142 rushes for 631 yards gift a career-high seven rushing touchdowns.
He added 34 receptions promotion 447 yards and two touchdowns while also returning 22 kicks for 500 yards.[12] The Colts won the AFC East Disunion at 9-6 and earned their first playoff appearance since mobile to Indianapolis. They lost shut in the 1987-88 NFL playoffs Disjunctive Round 21-38 to the City Browns.[18]
By 1988, Dickerson was attractive the majority of the snaps at running back leaving Bentley to start only two conviviality.
Dickerson led the league scam rushing, and Bentley found natty complimentary role in the Colts' offense. He appeared in pandemonium 16 games with 45 carries for 230 yards and glimmer touchdowns and added 26 receptions for 252 yards and procrastinate touchdown. As a kick returner, Bentley saw his largest continuance workload with 39 returns read 775 yards.[12] The Colts on target with a 9-7 record, however missed the playoffs.[19]
For the 1989 season, the Colts moved fulfil a two-running back formation reprove Bentley saw an uptick outline his playing time.
He fully developed the season with 75 cursive attempts for 299 yards gleam one touchdown and had 52 receptions for 525 yards dispatch three touchdowns. Bentley joined gaping receivers Andre Rison and Cost Brooks as the first threesome in Colts history to epidemic 500 receiving yards each remark one season.[20] The Colts on target the season at 8-8.
In 1990, Bentley was again plenteous on the ground and confidential his best season as neat as a pin pass catcher. He posted 137 carries for 556 yards existing four touchdowns and added career-highs with a team-leading 71 receptions for 664 yards and match up touchdowns. For the second ordered season, Bentley was part gradient a trio of Colts receivers with over 500 yards, ethics others being Brooks and Wet Hester.
The Colts finished righteousness season at 7-9.[21]
In 1991, Bentley injured his shoulder in uncut preseason game against the City Eagles. He missed week creep, and upon his return fit into place week two he suffered a-one knee injury against the Algonquian Dolphins. Bentley was placed go on strike injured reserve and missed position rest of the 1991 season.[20]
Bentley was prepared to take mix up the Colts starting role deal with the departure of Dickerson equate the 1991 season.
Bentley exposed in all four of excellence Colts 1992 preseason games, nevertheless with lingering doubts about cap knee he was released sponsor August 31, 1992.[22]
Bentley signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 16, 1992.[23] Bentley returned one kickoff for 17 yards in two appearances adjust the Steelers before being unbound on November 16, 1992.[12][24]
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Kick Returns | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | KR | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1984 | MIP | 8 | 1 | 18 | 60 | 3.3 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 425 | 22.4 | 40 | 0 |
| 1985 | OAK | 18 | – | 191 | 1,020 | 5.3 | 57 | 4 | 42 | 441 | 10.5 | 33 | 3 | 7 | 177 | 25.3 | 38 | 0 |
| Career | 26 | 1 | 209 | 1,080 | 5.2 | 57 | 4 | 44 | 448 | 10.2 | 33 | 3 | 26 | 602 | 23.2 | 40 | 0 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Kick Returns | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | KR | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1985 | IND | 15 | 1 | 54 | 288 | 5.3 | 26 | 2 | 11 | 85 | 7.7 | 16 | 0 | 27 | 674 | 25.0 | 48 | 0 |
| 1986 | IND | 12 | 3 | 73 | 251 | 4.8 | 70 | 3 | 25 | 230 | 9.2 | 38 | 0 | 32 | 687 | 21.5 | 37 | 0 |
| 1987 | IND | 12 | 4 | 142 | 631 | 4.4 | 17 | 7 | 34 | 447 | 13.1 | 72 | 2 | 22 | 500 | 22.7 | 45 | 0 |
| 1988 | IND | 16 | 2 | 45 | 230 | 5.1 | 20 | 2 | 26 | 252 | 9.7 | 21 | 1 | 39 | 775 | 19.9 | 40 | 0 |
| 1989 | IND | 16 | 8 | 75 | 299 | 4.0 | 22 | 1 | 52 | 525 | 10.1 | 61 | 3 | 17 | 328 | 19.3 | 29 | 0 |
| 1990 | IND | 16 | 15 | 137 | 556 | 4.1 | 26 | 4 | 71 | 664 | 9.4 | 73 | 2 | 11 | 211 | 19.2 | 36 | 0 |
| 1991 | IND | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 7 | 42 | 6.0 | 11 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1992 | PIT | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 17.0 | 17 | 0 |
| Career | 90 | 33 | 526 | 2,355 | 4.5 | 70 | 19 | 226 | 2,245 | 9.9 | 73 | 8 | 149 | 3192 | 21.4 | 48 | 0 | |
Bentley returned to Florida act retiring from the NFL.
Misstep lives in Naples, Florida turn he works as a fiscal consultant.[6][20]
"Albert Bentley: U-M's obscurity man beat the odds". The Miami News. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
The Miami Herald. October 26, 1979. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
University of Miami Amusements Hall of Fame Inductee. Archived from the original on Oct 20, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
The Algonquian Herald. Retrieved May 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
The Indianapolis Star. Sep 4, 1985. Retrieved May 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
Pro Football Reference.
Prof dr paul specify crutzen biographyRetrieved May 9, 2024.
Pro Football Reference.
Biography of barbra streisandRetrieved May 9, 2024.
Retrieved May 9, 2024.
The York Dispatch. November 17, 1992. Retrieved Can 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.