Keys to the Bentley

My friend Marc called it on the phone last night.
The Browns "hit a grand slam out of the park" in free agency on Saturday. But it might not look like it to the fans stuck in Browns-will-eternally-suck mode.
Outside of Joe Jurevicius, some fans might not know much about the trio the Browns signed, which also includes offensive linemen LeCharles Bentley and Kevin Shaffer. But they are worth getting to know.
Bentley might be one of the top two or three interior offensive linemen in the league. The Cleveland native and Ohio State grad went to a pair of Pro Bowls as a member of the Saints, once as a guard in 2003 and this past year as a center. He was the offensive Rookie of the Year for Sports Illustrated in 2002. ESPN's Len Pasquarelli listed him as the top free agent on the market this spring. For a center to garner that type of hype is incredible.
You wanted a franchise offensive lineman. You have him now.
Kevin Shaffer will replace L.J. Shelton in the left tackle's slot. The former seventh-round draft pick is not the caliber of Bentley, but he brings consistency. Shaffer has started 39 of the past 40 games at left tackle for Atlanta.
For an offensive line that has been repeatedly derailed by injuries, the value of a left tackle who can suit up 16 games a year and do his job can't be underscored enough.
Jurevicius is the name everybody knows. A Cleveland-area native, he has a Super Bowl ring from the Buccaneers and two more Super Bowl appearances with the Giants and Seahawks.
It's not just a matter of luck. Jurevicius makes his teams better.
Last season, when the Seahawks receiver corps was wading through injury problems, Jurevicius stepped up and assumed the lead receiver's role, snagging 55 catches, 10 of them for touchdowns.
The arrival of Jurevicius greatly solidifies a Cleveland receiver corps waiting to see when and in what condition Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards will return.
Next on the Browns' plate appears to be punter Dave Zastudil, another Cleveland-area native, who could be in the corral by the end of today, The Plain Dealer reported.
Nabbing Zastudil, one of the league's elite punters, away from the Ravens, would go a long way to smoothing over a punter-fueled sore spot with fans that dates to the day when Chris Gardocki signed on the dotted line in Pittsburgh.
And the Browns will have more cash to spend after that. Stay tuned.