Thanks to BigTexBD for bringing this to our attention first via the Comments to this post:
Bentley was considered a valuable role player on the free agent market because he is an exceptional special teams player along with having the ability to fill in as a starter when necessary.
He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2002 draft by the Cleveland Browns. He spent three seasons with the Seahawks and started five games during that span.
Source. I confess that I know next to nothing about Bentley. From what Clayton says, we should expect Bentley to make a splash on special teams, with the added bonus that he could be in the linebacking rotation; the latter is even more important in light of Charlie Anderson departing for Miami. Really, what all of this tells me is that Smithiak is bullish on Zach Diles contributing at LB in 2008, which would be damn impressive for a seventh-round draft pick. This would appear to be a solid signing, and it sure as hell doesn't require eight million dollars in guaranteed money. Nice work by Smithiak, and welcome to our fair city, Kevin Bentley.
Update [2008-3-3 17:50:9 by Tim]: Matt/MDC unearthed some combine numbers for Bentley and is pretty jazzed about his arrival. In related news, Matt just contracted smallpox as you read this.