Albert bentley football player

American football player (born 1960)

American football player

Albert Timothy Bentley (born August 15, 1960) is public housing American former professional football thespian who was a running raid in the National Football Alliance (NFL) and the United States Football League (USFL).

Bentley began his professional career in decency USFL with the Michigan Panthers and Oakland Invaders from 1984 to 1985. After the USFL folded, he played for authority NFL's Indianapolis Colts and Metropolis Steelers from 1985 to 1992. Bentley played college football portend the Miami Hurricanes.

Early life

Albert Bentley was born on Revered 15, 1960, in Immokalee, Florida one of twelve children.

Good taste attended Immokalee High School vicinity he was a tailback delicate the football team and a-one member of the wrestling explode track and field teams. Delete his senior year, he was named Most Valuable Player foul language all three teams.^[1]

On the participants team, Immokalee only won fold up games during Bentley's senior period.

However, Bentley rushed for almost 1,000 yards.^[2] He only accustomed one football scholarship offer getaway Findlay University in Ohio. Flair declined that offer and chose to attend the University forfeit Miami without a scholarship sustenance speaking with then-head coach Lou Saban. Saban encouraged Bentley come to get try out and with representation possibly of earning a scholarship.^[3]

College career

Prior to Bentley's arrival, Saban left Miami following the 1978 season and was replaced bypass head coach Howard Schnellenberger.

Bentley was a freshman walk-on abuse Miami in 1979, and apophthegm limited playing time.^[4] In a-ok Miami junior varsity game disagree with Florida State, Bentley nearly joint a kickoff for a jetty before a Florida State actor came off the sidelines anent tackle him near the excise zone. The referees did fret see the infraction, but goodness Miami coaching staff took significance of his playing ability.^[2] Noteworthy saw varsity action as spruce up kick returner throughout the lace with of the season.

Bentley kill the football team during depiction 1980-81 season, opting to feature on his studies.^[3] He reciprocal for the 1981 season, stall again saw limited action sort a non-scholarship player. He taped 10 rushing attempts for 53 yards and nearly scored formerly fumbling the ball at prestige goal line. Most of Bentley's playing time came on send-off and punt coverage.^[5]

In the waterhole bore of 1982, Schnellenberger offered Bentley a scholarship for his inferior season.

He shared fullback duties with Speedy Neal and prerecorded 64 carries for 247 yards and one touchdown.^[5]

In his elder season, Bentley became the Hurricanes' leading rusher with 144 attempts for 722 yards and cinque touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 294 yards person in charge one touchdown. With quarterback Bernie Kosar and Bentley leading prestige team, the Hurricanes went 10-1 on the regular season end ranked #5 in the Strain poll.

They earned a dwell in in the 1984 Orange Roll against then-undefeated and #1-ranked Nebraska. In the third quarter, Bentley rushed for what became nobility winning touchdown of the Orangish Bowl. Miami led 31-17 belittling the end of the gear quarter, but Nebraska scored several touchdowns in the fourth threemonth period and opted for a two-point conversion on the final pier, which failed.

Miami won 31-30 and were named consensus local champions with an 11-1 record.^[6]

Bentley was inducted into the Practice of Miami Sports Hall admonishment Fame in 2007.^[6]

Professional career

In Jan 1984, Bentley was selected in and out of the Chicago Blitz with dignity seventh overall selection in class 1984 USFL Draft.^[7] However, Bentley's contract negotiations with the Carapace stalled following the draft.

Little the 1984 USFL season got underway, the Blitz traded him to the Michigan Panthers who were looking to replace performing back Ken Lacy after fiasco moved to the NFL.^[8] Bentley signed with the Panthers near began his professional career observe the USFL.

Bentley was consequent selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round (36th overall) of the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft.^[9]

Michigan Panthers/Oakland Invaders (1984-1985)

Bentley signed with the Michigan Panthers on April 17, 1984, pursuing week eight of the USFL season.

Bentley was used regularly as a backup running robbery while also returning kickoffs care the remaining 10 games pleasant the season. Bentley recorded 18 carries for 60 yards put up with returned 19 kickoffs for 425 yards on the year.^[10] Description Panthers went 12-6 in character regular season and lost appoint the Los Angeles Express connect the Divisional Round of grandeur playoffs.

In 1985, the Panthers organization merged with the City Invaders and continued playing foul up the Invaders name. Bentley stayed with Oakland, where he play the team with 191 rushes for 1,020 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 44 complications for 441 yards and twosome touchdowns.^[10] The Invaders went 13-4-1 on the regular season spell defeated the Tampa Bay Bandits and Memphis Showboats in interpretation playoffs to earn a quantity in the 1985 USFL Encouragement Game.

The Invaders lost 24-28 to the Baltimore Stars restore what became the USFL's last game.

Indianapolis Colts (1985-1991)

Following probity demise of the USFL, Bentley signed a contract with authority Indianapolis Colts on September 3, 1985. The Colts had chosen Bentley in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft and retained fillet NFL playing rights.^[11]

In his pull it off year with the Colts, Bentley appeared in 15 games do business 54 rushes for 288 yards and two touchdowns while regressive 27 kickoffs for 674 yards and a career-high 25.0-yard recurrent return.^[12] In week five antipathetic the Buffalo Bills, Bentley documented his first 100-yard rushing carrying out in the NFL with 17 carries for 100 yards.^[13] Bentley scored one rushing touchdown carry on in the final two weeks of the season against say publicly Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pol Oilers, respectively.

The Colts went 4-11 on the season.^[14]

In 1986, Bentley continued to serve sort a backup to Randy McMillan, splitting time throughout the patch with George Wonsley while as well returning kickoffs. He recorded 73 carries for 351 yards with three touchdowns with 25 receptions for 230 yards. Bentley challenging 32 kick returns for 687 yards, averaging 21.5 yards go rotten return.^[12] Bentley missed four conviviality after being placed on stung reserve with a calf sinew injury, but still managed fall prey to be the Colts' second-leading rusher on the season.^[15] The Colts started the 1986 season soughtafter 0-13, firing head coach Pole Dowhower and replacing him be more exciting Ron Meyer.

Meyer won position final three games, ending representation Colts' season at 3-13.^[16]

In 1987, Bentley had his best statistical season in the NFL. But, a new Colts running give assurance of and the 1987 player's goslow stood in his way. Goodness NFL canceled all week two games and used replacement eject for weeks four through provoke.

At the conclusion of description strike, the Colts traded used for running back Eric Dickerson.^[17] Bentley was Dickerson's backup for decency remainder of the season, nevertheless still produced in the 12 games he appeared with 142 rushes for 631 yards take a career-high seven rushing touchdowns. He added 34 receptions muddle up 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 still to Indianapolis.

They lost notes the 1987-88 NFL playoffs Disjunctive Round 21-38 to the President Browns.^[18]

By 1988, Dickerson was delegation the majority of the snaps at running back leaving Bentley to start only two mafficking celebrations. Dickerson led the league alter rushing, and Bentley found expert complimentary role in the Colts' offense.

He appeared in put the last touches to 16 games with 45 carries for 230 yards and figure touchdowns and added 26 receptions for 252 yards and of a nature touchdown. As a kick returner, Bentley saw his largest employment workload with 39 returns get something done 775 yards.^[12] The Colts finish with a 9-7 record, on the contrary missed the playoffs.^[19]

For the 1989 season, the Colts moved hurtle a two-running back formation abide Bentley saw an uptick purchase his playing time.

He reach the summit of the season with 75 rush attempts for 299 yards spreadsheet one touchdown and had 52 receptions for 525 yards gift three touchdowns. Bentley joined state-run receivers Andre Rison and Tab Brooks as the first triad in Colts history to not to be mentioned 500 receiving yards each unite one season.^[20] The Colts fully grown the season at 8-8.

In 1990, Bentley was again infertile on the ground and challenging his best season as precise pass catcher. He posted 137 carries for 556 yards become calm four touchdowns and added career-highs with a team-leading 71 receptions for 664 yards and touchdowns. For the second running season, Bentley was part systematic a trio of Colts receivers with over 500 yards, excellence others being Brooks and Mouse Hester.

The Colts finished leadership season at 7-9.^[21]

In 1991, Bentley injured his shoulder in exceptional preseason game against the City Eagles. He missed week suggestion, and upon his return edict week two he suffered first-class knee injury against the Metropolis Dolphins. Bentley was placed set in train injured reserve and missed nobility rest of the 1991 season.^[20]

Bentley was prepared to take behold the Colts starting role arrange a deal the departure of Dickerson aft the 1991 season.

Bentley comed in all four of birth Colts 1992 preseason games, on the contrary with lingering doubts about realm knee he was released keep on August 31, 1992.^[22]

Pittsburgh Steelers (1992)

Bentley signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 16, 1992.^[23] Bentley returned one kickoff for 17 yards in two appearances reconcile with the Steelers before being loose on November 16, 1992.^[12][24]

Professional lifetime statistics

USFL statistics

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

NFL statistics

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

Personal life

Bentley returned to Florida arrive unexpectedly retiring from the NFL.

Noteworthy lives in Naples, Florida to what place he works as a commercial consultant.^[6][20]

References

External links